Laura Lamps, MD Becomes Newest Endowed Professor

By Elizabeth Walker | November 20 2017

Dr. Godfrey Dorr Stobbe was known for his meticulous attention to detail and intense love of learning. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Michigan in the mid-late 1930s. After serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1941-1946, Stobbe went on to study pathology in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York before practicing at Grace Hospital in Detroit. However, he remained passionately loyal to the University of Michigan and, upon his death, gave his entire estate as a gift to the Medical School.

Last month, part of that gift was invested as Dr. Laura Webb Lamps became the inaugural recipient of the Godfrey Dorr Stobbe Professorship in Gastrointestinal Pathology. Lamps, a leader in gastrointestinal, hepatic, and infectious disease pathology, joined the University of Michigan from the University of Arkansas in February. She is serving both as Director of Gastrointestinal Pathology and as Michigan Medicine’s first patient safety officer. "Laura is the sort of pathologist who puts any program of which she is a part of on everyone’s top-five list," says A. James French Professor of Anatomic Pathology and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Quality, Dr. Jeffrey L. Myers.

Lamps was initially drawn to pathology by a love of photomicrographs, “I loved the images, and how central the gross and microscopic features of disease entities were to making diagnoses on patients,” she recalls. After taking a pathology class as a second-year medical student, she was hooked. Lamps completed her medical degree, residency, and fellowship at Vanderbilt and then joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Known as an accomplished and highly-sought educator, Lamps has lectured at over 60 institutions both in the U.S. and abroad. Her expertise and love of writing have led her to co-author or author several major pathology textbooks including Surgical Pathology of the Gastrointestinal System: Bacterial, Fungal, Viral, and Parasitic Infections; Diagnostic Pathology: Hepatobiliary and Pancreas, and the upcoming edition of Rosai and Ackerman’s Surgical Pathology. Her commitment to continuing education mirrors Stobbe’s who rarely missed one of the Medical School’s continuing medical education programs, frequented conferences and seminars, and often worked at the bench alongside technicians.

The Godfrey Dorr Stobbe Professorship in Gastrointestinal Pathology brings the number of professorships named for Stobbe to four. Previous professorships were established in Pathology (1987), Education (1995), and Research (2013). Lamps states, “Dr. Stobbe is an example for all of us in giving back. His legacy continues even years after his death.”

Lamps is excited about working with long-time colleagues on a day-to-day basis now that she’s at the University of Michigan. She enjoys problem-solving and is passionate about collaborating with stakeholders across Michigan Medicine to bring the highest excellence in patient safety to those who entrust the institution with their care. Lamps’ involvement at U-M will be ideal for maintaining and growing the department’s already-strong brand in Gastrointestinal pathology. “To be named the first Godfrey Dorr Stobbe Professor of Gastrointestinal Pathology is a huge honor,” Lamps says.

The Inauguration of Laura Webb Lamps was held on October 3rd. Remarks were made by Carol R. Bradford, MD, Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Charles J. Krause, MD, Collegiate Professor of Otolaryngology, and the Department of Pathology’s Jeffrey L. Myers, MD and Department Chair, Carl Vernon Weller Professor of Pathology, Charles Parkos, MD, PhD.