Two years ago, a team of Pathology staff embarked on a journey to become culture-change advocates by obtaining FISH! Philosophy Trainer certifications. They received a Wellness grant from Michigan Medicine and began training faculty and staff in the FISH! Philosophy, collecting pre- and post-training data. This team, made up of Melina Adler, Karren Barron, Gloria Barkley, Chris Distelrath, Lynn McCain, and Julene Pummill, supported by Drs. Jeffrey Myers and Kamran Mirza, recently published their data in Laboratory Medicine. 

One of the lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Gabriel Núñez, is that in many situations we can work effectively from anywhere. Originating from Seville, Spain, Núñez, who has been faculty in the Department of Pathology since 1991, has taken this lesson to heart. He purchased a home in Seville and, since 2023, spends the winters there working remotely. 

The University of Michigan Medical School is committed to serving those in Michigan and the world, and the faculty in the Department of Pathology live that out daily. One of these faculty is Dr. Gabriel Núñez. Through the years, Núñez has trained researchers from many countries, including nine who are now full professors in Japan. One of these was Dr. Nobuhiko Kamada, who is at the University of Michigan Medical School with a joint appointment at Osaka University in Japan.

Dr. Amir Dehghani Joins the Department of Pathology

One of the most heartbreaking things a parent can hear is “Your child has an aggressive, malignant brain tumor.” When that is followed up with the physician saying there is no effective cure, parents are left devastated. This is what motivates Dr. Sriram Venneti and his research laboratory to dedicate their all to finding a cure. Venneti focuses on Group 3 medulloblastomas, which are very aggressive pediatric brain tumors with no known cure.

In August 2018, Alexander (Alec) Monovich began a journey that culminated in the successful defense of his doctoral thesis on April 15, 2025. Monovich, who was raised in Naperville, Illinois, joined the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS) graduate program immediately following his graduation from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, with a B.A. in Biology. After an exploratory year, Monovich joined the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program and later completed his dissertation work in the laboratory of Dr. Russell Ryan, assistant professor of pathology.

Four years ago, a group of eight bright-eyed, newly minted, doctors crossed the threshold of the Department of Pathology to begin their residency training. On Sunday, June 8^th, these now well-trained pathology residents, along with the year’s graduating team of fellows and advanced clinical trainees, were celebrated at the annual Residents and Fellows Farewell Celebration held at Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor.

The Keys to Dr. Analisa DiFeo's Success

On June 5, 2025, Jessica Teitel completed her doctoral journey in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, defending her thesis, Pan-Cancer Myc Modulator Induces Selective Cell Death Following Mitotic Catastrophe, and earning her PhD. Teitel’s journey began with a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree with Distinction in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware. This is when she discovered her interest in research and completed a senior honors thesis in a neuroscience/psychology laboratory. Over the summers of her undergraduate years, she interned at Merck. There, she learned molecular biology techniques and was encouraged to pursue graduate studies.

Dr. Roberta Caruso's Sources of Joy

Dr. Greg Dressler retires from the Department of Pathology

In the Department of Pathology, we have scholars at all levels working in our laboratories. One of these, undergraduate Harini Ram, was recently recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Astronaut Scholarship, the only one to receive this scholarship from the University of Michigan this year, and only the 18^th in the history of this award. According to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, this award is presented to students in their junior or senior year of college who are pursuing a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) with the intention of conducting research or advancing their field upon completion of their final degree. These scholars represent the “best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity, and excellence in their chosen field,” reports the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Imagine your friend is in kidney failure and desperately needs a new kidney. You are tested, but you are not a close enough match. You watch as your friend struggles to survive, going through dialysis. You feel helpless…but there is nothing you can do. Or is there?

The University of Michigan participates in the nationwide paired donation program that enables patients on the kidney transplant list to obtain donor kidneys more quickly [...]

Dr. Jennifer Brazil's Contributions to Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), which measures your heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood out to your body, remains a leading cause of death and hospitalization worldwide. Over the last three decades, clinical trials have highlighted the efficacy of four key medication classes- Beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis), angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). Together, these medications form the pillars of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), which has significantly improved patient outcomes, contributing to up to a 70% reduction in mortality among HFrEF patients.

A fascinating glimpse into cutting-edge research

Dr. Catherine Ptaschinski Tells Her Story

On April 15, 2025, the Board of Regents announced faculty who were approved for promotion, and fifteen Pathology faculty are included on the list!  These promotions will become effective on September 1, 2025.  Please join us in congratulating our faculty

Richard and Susan Rogel were passionate about supporting the education of the next generation of physicians and researchers. In their honor, the Rogel Cancer Center Graduate Student Scholarship was established. These scholarships are awarded to graduate students who display outstanding potential in the field of cancer research. This year, Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Student Grace McIntyre was selected to receive this $25,000 award.

Pathology Welcomes Dr. Yang Xiao

The Molecular and Cancer Therapeutics journal recently awarded Dr. Analisa DiFeo, professor, with their annual Outstanding Journal Article Award for 2025 for her article “Small Molecule Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage Induced Cell Death.” The journal editors select the best article published over the previous two years, focusing on “articles that have the potential to shift paradigms, inspire translational activity, and raise awareness of new scientific areas.” Articles that exhibit novelty, scientific merit, and impact are prioritized.

Logistics Coordinator Chris Smith Shares His Story

The Department of Pathology’s Clinical Pathology Symposium, held on April 22^nd, offered participants opportunities to learn about sustainability, heavy metal toxicities, and a legal victory. Participants also engaged with booths offering trivia, games, prizes, and a chance to learn what others in the laboratory do. In honor of Earth Day, this symposium offered sustainable food options and zero-waste products.

The American Red Cross is holding blood drives with a critical need for donors and an emergency shortage of Type O blood and platelets. Please consider donating blood and saving a life!

To schedule an appointment, log onto RedCrossBlood.org (sponsor code: goblue) or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  Appointments are highly recommended. Walk-ins accepted as space permits. Photo ID required.

Celebrating Laboratory Professionals Week.

Dr. Suguna Narayan utilizes her unique skillset

We are excited to announce another new PhD from our Molecular and Cellular Graduate Program! Noah Puleo, PhD, successfully defended his thesis “Identification of Novel Mechanisms and Drivers of Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis and Chemotherapy Resistance,” the culmination of his educational journey, which also included a graduate certificate in Precision Health.

Introducing Navin Mahadevan, MD, PhD

We are pleased to announce that Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and assistant chair for pathology education, was awarded the Pakistani-American Pathologists’ Society’s Distinguished Service Award at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. This award recognizes visionary pathology leaders whose impact will be felt for generations.

We are pleased to announce that Laura Jacobus has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 GME Program Administrator Excellence Award by the Graduate Office of Medical Education at Michigan Medicine. Awardees are nominated by colleagues and selected by a committee of their peers. This is a highly competitive award that recognizes the service, spirit, and initiative of the nominee.

On Thursday, March 20^th, the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute presented its Rising Scholars Lecture with pathology’s Dr. Abhijit Parolia, assistant professor of experimental pathology, entitled NSD2 is a requisite subunit of the AR/FOXA1 neo-enhanceosome in promoting prostate tumorigenesis. Rising Scholar lectures showcase NCI-supported early career researchers with outstanding research findings.

Congratulations to Molecular and Cellular Pathology graduate student Shih-Chun Alec Chu for successfully defending his thesis, “Multimodal and Multiomic Integration in Precision Oncology” earning the coveted PhD degree.

One of the key qualities of expert pathologists is that they learn to expect the unexpected. In the Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology, our pathologists and collaborators recently reported on some of these unexpected findings.

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumors (MESTs) are rare, usually benign tumors that are typically found in the kidney in perimenopausal women. These tumors can clinically  mimic malignant tumors, so accurately identifying them is essential. Most of the time, these tumors are found incidentally, but some patients will present with abdominal or flank pain.

Michigan Medicine First in State to Join the Alloantibody Exchange

Pathology is a field that thrives on curiosity, precision, and collaboration—and our residents and fellows embody these qualities every single day. Their dedication, resilience, and commitment to learning are the heartbeat of our department, shaping not just the present but also the future of pathology.

Dr. Daniel Hovelson Directs DGG Informatics Efforts

They are the Gift that Keeps on Giving

Dr. Meredith Herman Recounts Her Inspiration Story

When one hears “Artificial Intelligence” – what comes to mind? For some, it may be Terminator-style beings or rogue artificial life forms. In Pathology, however, AI is bringing enhanced patient care and improved satisfaction to pathologists, patients, and clinicians alike. In a recent article in CAP Today, Michigan Medicine’s Department of Pathology was highlighted for its advanced digital pathology workflows. Drs. Ul Balis and Mustafa Yousif described the process for initiating digital pathology into our standard of care, which required significant advanced facilities planning, research, development, and investments.

Multidisciplinary team collaboration is essential in clinical research, as it brings diverse expertise and perspectives to enhance the comprehensiveness and quality of studies. Our recent publication “Performance of Arima Genomic Sequencing Classifier in Binary Subcategories of Atypia of Undetermined Significance Thyroid Nodules: Single Versus Repeated Diagnosis” in Thyroid®, a prestigious official journal of the American Thyroid Association, exemplifies this approach. Authored by Drs. Xiaobing Jin (the first author), Madelyn Lew, Amer Heider, and Xin Jing (senior author), as well as Brian Smola, CT, and a group of clinicians specialized in thyroid diseases, this study represents a significant collaboration between cytopathologists and clinicians. It highlights the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in advancing medical research and achieving impactful publications.

At the University of Michigan, we constantly uncover new career options that many of us never realized existed. One of these is our Medicolegal Death Investigators. The Department of Pathology is home to eight Medical Examiner Investigators (MEIs), six of which are Diplomates of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (D-ABMDI): Chelsea Cammarata, Lindsay Crater D-ABMDI, Edward Farrugia D-ABMDI, Jessica Hagan D-ABMDI, Eric LaPres D-ABMDI, Monique Micallef D-ABMDI, Troy Murrish D-ABMDI, and William Piper RN, MSN.