"I heard about U-M's program and did an away rotation at Michigan my last year of medical school. I absolutely fell in love with the program and knew that Michigan is definitely where I wanted to be."
James "Logan" Ballard grew up in Georgia, where he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, majoring in microbiology and biochemistry. He enjoyed the interface of basic sciences and its application to diagnosis and treatment, so he decided to pursue a medical degree at the Medical School of Georgia in Augusta.
How did you choose a career in Pathology?
Early on, I knew Pathology was the specialty I wanted to pursue. I was introduced to Pathology in high school, where I was exposed to microbiology techniques, including Gram stains and bacterial growth. That is when I first heard about Pathology. During my undergrad research, I studied tropical diseases (African trypanosomiasis) and was involved in microscopy which made me even more interested in diagnostic techniques. Then I shadowed a breast/GYN pathologist during undergrad where I was exposed to Anatomic Pathology. It was fascinating how so much could be determined from such a small amount of tissue. As I entered medical school, I had my eye on becoming a Pathologist from the beginning.
How did you decide on U-M for Residency?
During my final years of medical school, I began exploring various programs to gain a deeper understanding of the available options. My home program in Georgia had a more generalized pathology approach. My advisor recommended I look at some of the larger programs with more subspecialty options to see what fit best. I heard about U-M’s program and did an away rotation at Michigan my last year of medical school. I absolutely fell in love with the program and knew that Michigan is definitely where I wanted to be. I ranked Michigan as my first choice, and Michigan ranked me highly. Then the match system did its work, and I was matched to U-M’s program as an AP/CP resident.
What are you looking forward to?
I am looking forward to exploring all the different subspecialties of Pathology during my rotations. While I enjoy Hematopathology and Microbiology, I am also interested in several of the Anatomic subspecialties. One of the reasons I chose Michigan is it offers so many areas to explore. If there is a subspecialty in Pathology, you can find it at Michigan. This gives me opportunities to find where I want to land for the future. I am especially looking forward to my first surgical pathology rotations. I will soon be doing the Room 1 rotation with lung, head and neck, and soft tissue pathology. That will be my first time getting a lot of microscopy work and being able to preview cases on my own.
Who were your key mentors on your journey?
Dr. Josef Venable, with whom I shadowed during my undergrad program, was a key mentor for me. He gave me advice and stoked my interest in pathology and kept me engaged even as I was learning the basics. In medical school, Dr. Amanda Barret and Dr. Matt Powell, who direct the pathology residency program at the Medical College of Georgia, were two other key mentors along my journey. They gave me so much advice and help as I went through medical school and as I considered residency options.
What advice would you give to younger students considering a career in medicine?
Most people think Pathology is CSI on TV. I’ve met general attendings who are not even aware that Pathology has other subspecialties. I encourage students to explore the many opportunities in Pathology. Reach out to pathologists and see if you can shadow them or visit a laboratory to observe how it functions. Consider joining a Pathology interest group in medical school. The sooner you begin to explore, the more opportunities you have to discover all Pathology has to offer and see if it’s a good fit for you.
Tell us about your perspectives on the Ann Arbor area and some of your extracurricular interests.
Now that I’m in Michigan, I am beginning to think about winter. I have never lived outside Georgia and am a bit concerned about what it will be like. I will be asking people for advice as to what I will need to prepare for the winter. I’ve never seen more than a couple of inches of snow over the winter. I am also looking forward to exploring the area. I enjoy hiking and being out in nature. I have already discovered a few trails, and I enjoy Ann Arbor’s numerous opportunities for exploration. I also enjoy playing video games and reading fantasy books in my downtime. I am currently reading the third book in the Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer. This is a good series that I would recommend to anyone. I also love any nerdy hobbies – board games, card games, etc.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Logan Ballard to the Department. We are delighted he is part of our family.
ON THE COVER
Breast team reviewing a patient's slide. (From left to right) Ghassan Allo, Fellow; Laura Walters, Clinical Lecturer; Celina Kleer, Professor. See Article |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
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ON THE COVER
Autopsy Technician draws blood while working in the Wayne County morgue. See Article |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
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ON THE COVER
Dr. Sriram Venneti, MD, PhD and Postdoctoral Fellow, Chan Chung, PhD investigate pediatric brain cancer. See Article |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Director of the Neuropathology Fellowship, Dr. Sandra Camelo-Piragua serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Residents Ashley Bradt (left) and William Perry work at a multi-headed scope in our new facility. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Dr. Kristine Konopka (right) instructing residents while using a multi-headed microscope. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Patient specimens poised for COVID-19 PCR testing. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Dr. Pantanowitz demonstrates using machine learning in analyzing slides. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
(Left to Right) Drs. Angela Wu, Laura Lamps, and Maria Westerhoff. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
|
ON THE COVER
Illustration representing the various machines and processing used within our labs. |
newsletter
INSIDE PATHOLOGYAbout Our NewsletterInside Pathology is an newsletter published by the Chairman's Office to bring news and updates from inside the department's research and to become familiar with those leading it. It is our hope that those who read it will enjoy hearing about those new and familiar, and perhaps help in furthering our research. CONTENTS
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MLabs, established in 1985, functions as a portal to provide pathologists, hospitals. and other reference laboratories access to the faculty, staff and laboratories of the University of Michigan Health System’s Department of Pathology. MLabs is a recognized leader for advanced molecular diagnostic testing, helpful consultants and exceptional customer service.