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.

In 1985, the field of toxicology, the study of various drugs, metals, and poisons in the body, was reporting research on how to measure cannabinoids in the blood, calculate blood alcohol levels, and the dangers of using propylene glycol as part of intravenous injections. It was also the year that the Department of Pathology welcomed a new member to their toxicology laboratory, medical laboratory professional Brian Wright. Wright had just graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and Microbiology. His interest in pathology was sparked by performing scientific testing on biological specimens during his undergraduate training.

If at any point you worked or trained in the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan, you likely had an opportunity to work alongside some of the most highly regarded pathologists and staff in the world. We are lucky to have so many dedicated mentors in our department, who have devoted themselves to enhancing the lives and careers of our trainees. Three of these mentors have affected hundreds of trainees over the years, namely Henry Appelman, MD, Barbara McKenna, MD, and Joel Greenson, MD. These three outstanding pathologists, teachers, and mentors were pioneers in our world-renowned gastrointestinal pathology service.

Imagine you are a patient who just had a biopsy completed. You wait nervously for the results and check your patient portal to see if any results have been received. After an anxious couple of days, you receive the results, only to read them and have no idea what they mean. It is Friday afternoon, your doctor’s office is closed, and you fret all weekend. This scenario plays out frequently and was the impetus for a research study conducted by Dr. Cathryn Lapedis and colleagues.

Reflecting on a Career Filled with Innovations, Leadership, and Lasting Impact

Congratulations to Dr. Kristen Lozada Soto, who successfully defended her thesis Claudin-23 Regulates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function and Mucosal Wound Repair on Monday, December 9, 2024, marking a significant milestone in her journey to becoming a physician scientist. As a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) fellow at the University of Michigan, her doctoral work has unveiled exciting new insights into the mechanisms by which a tight junction protein, Claudin-23, regulates intestinal epithelial barrier function and mucosal wound repair. When reflecting about her PhD research contributions she states “it is so exciting to envision how this work can help pave the way for identifying novel therapeutic targets for people with ‘leaky gut’ or those with compromised wound repair, as is typically the case in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is exactly why I love training to become a physician-scientist - we get to connect the dots between discoveries and real patient care.”

Nearly 19 years have passed since a force of nature swept into the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan and permanently altered the landscape. Dr. Jeffrey Myers’ time in the Department was celebrated on November 25^th as he approaches retirement at the end of 2024. Hundreds of current and former faculty and staff attended his retirement celebration, recalling his impact on their lives personally and professionally.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sem Phan, professor of pathology and renowned pulmonary pathology researcher, following a protracted illness.

Although Sem was a gifted researcher, he was also a kind and generous person.  He was a devoted husband to his wife, Katherine, and their two children, Nicholas and Louis.  He provided faithful and loving care for his wife during her illness.  His colleagues knew him as a gifted investigator but, more importantly, one who was always willing to share his expertise and (graciously) provide help whenever called upon.   He was a gourmet cook and a wine aficionado and eagerly shared these talents with his friends.  He loved music, especially his son Nick’s opera career, and delighted in the joys of grandparenthood. His love of travel took him to many countries around the world.  Dr. Phan was a gifted pathologist, an accomplished scientist, a consummate teacher, and a strong role model for all he encountered. He is leaving a hole in our hearts and department and will be deeply missed.

The family has announced  the following plans for memorial services.  There will be a viewing at 10:00 and a service at 11:00 on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Rd, Ann Arbor.

Another stellar symposium planned by our Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Students 

The Department of Pathology's first Global Pathology Summit highlighted critical advancements in pathology to address global health disparities, with a strong focus on digital pathology, AI, and sustainable partnerships. 

15th Annual New Frontiers in Pathology Conference

On this Veteran’s Day, the Department of Pathology wants to extend its gratitude to those who served in our armed services, sacrificing home, family, comforts, and safety to help those around the world be able to keep theirs.

Today, we want to recognize the veterans serving in our department. While we have many more, these are the veterans who responded to our call. Please join us in thanking these and all veterans for their service.

Dr. David Cho's intersection with MCP Graduate Student Leads to a New Career Path

30 Years of Service Coming to an End

On a sunny October day, the Department of Pathology hosted its well-loved annual Fall Picnic at Wiard's Orchard in Ypsilanti, Michigan, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd of faculty, staff, trainees, and their families. The event featured a delicious spread of food and an array of autumn activities, from hayrides to pumpkin picking, creating a perfect setting for community building and relaxation. Dr. Charles Parkos and Yvonne Beadle both highlighted the significance and success of the event, expressing gratitude to everyone who helped make the day enjoyable and memorable.

Dr. Brian Harry finds the right combination at Michigan

Faculty and staff from across the Department of Pathology gathered over the lunch hour on Friday, October 4^th, to honor their colleagues at the annual Workplace Recognition Reception. Employees were recognized for years of service as well as for going Above and Beyond in the performance of their duties over the past year. This year, Pathology recognized 106 individuals, with a team award going to the Inpatient Phlebotomy team.

Michigan Alumna returns as Professor of Pathology

With great sadness, we share the passing of Denise Flannery, a Medical Technologist Specialist in our Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. She began her career as a microbiology technologist in 1991 and worked at Providence and Botsford hospitals before joining us at Michigan Medicine in 2016. She was a leader in the bacteriology area of the lab, lending her expertise to complicated cases and improving laboratory procedures. A celebration of life will be held in honor of Denise on Saturday, October 12th from 12:00 - 4:00 pm at the Suburban Collection Showplace [...]

Congratulations to Dr. Rohit Mehra for being named to Hour Detroit’s 2024 Top Docs List for the second time. The physicians on this list represent those whose peers nominated them as the best in their field on a survey of physicians located in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. These nominees were then screened and selected by the Professional Research Services for inclusion as this year’s honorees.

Target: Improved Patient Care and Access, Enhanced Efficiency

Personalized medicine utilizes an individual’s genetic and genomic make up to treat and prevent diseases. The promise of personalized medicine continues to grow as new scientific discoveries uncover previously unknown features and drug sensitivities for tumors. In a recent study, Dr. Aaron Udager, associate professor of genitourinary pathology and co-director of our PSTP program, was co-senior author on a publication with Dr. Sofia Merajver, professor of epidemiology and internal medicine and the director of the breast and ovarian cancer risk evaluation program. 

An article recently published by the Nuñez lab provides an exciting discovery for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and certain other autoimmune diseases caused by aberrant NLRP3. The research, led by Dr. Jie Xu with Drs. Joseph Pickard and Gabriel Nuñez, discovered that a common, safe, FDA-approved drug used to treat alcoholism and cocaine addictions, disulfiram, inhibits the production of NLRP3 inflammasomes. When NLRP3 is activated, it can cause inflammation leading to multiple health issues.

Congratulations to Carol Young, MLS(ASCP), clinical research project manager in microbiology, on her selection as the 2025 American Society of Microbiology’s Scherago-Rubin Award for Clinical Microbiology recipient.

This award recognizes an outstanding bench-level clinical microbiologist involved in routine diagnostic work who has distinguished themself by excellent performance. The award was established by the late Sally Jo Rubin, an active member of ASM's Clinical Microbiology Division, in honor of her grandfather, Professor Morris Scherago.

Five from U-M Pathology Honored in 2024

Researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have uncovered a key reason why a typically normal protein goes awry and fuels cancer.

They found the protein NSD2 alters the function of the androgen receptor, an important regulator of normal prostate development. When androgen receptor binds with NSD2, it causes rapid cell division and growth leading to prostate cancer. The study, published in Nature Genetics, may suggest a new way to therapeutically target prostate cancer. The findings illuminate a phenomenon not previously understood.

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Myers, A. James French Professor of Diagnostic Pathology and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Quality, on receiving the Ward Burdick Award for Distinguished Service to Pathology from the American Socity for Clinical Pathology at their 2024 Annual Meeting.