News and Events
Racsa Earns Arthur G. Weinberg Resident Research Award
The Arthur G. Weinberg Resident Research Award was created to promote scientific research by residents in the Department of Pathology. The recipient has conducted an original research project or generated significant new information from observations of a single case during his/her pathology training at UT Southwestern.
A selection committee of faculty judges the manuscripts and bases their decision on scientific merit and clarity of presentation, including their judgment as to the potential significance of the paper to pathology literature.
Lori Racsa, D.O., earned this year's award for her manuscript, "Beta-Globin Gene Sequencing of Hemoglobin Austin Revises the Historically Reported Electrophoretic Migration Pattern." Lori will receive $500 and a small plaque. Her name will be engraved on a larger permanent plaque that hangs in the Chair's Office. Congratulations on a job well done.
Mihail Firan, M.D., Receives Small Group Teaching Award
This "informal" award is given annually in the form of a certificate, as a gesture of recognition for a job well done, to the pathology resident who receives the highest marks from the medical students when they teach the Sophomore Course.
Lucas and Emmons Receive Teaching Award
The Vernie A. Stembridge Faculty Teaching Award is presented annually in honor of Vernie A. Stembridge, M.D., in recognition of his dedication and commitment to excellence in house staff teaching. Residents choose two faculty recipients (one AP and one CP) for their role in the residents' training.
This year's recipients are Elena Lucas, M.D., for Anatomic Pathology and Jacqueline Emmons, M.D., for Clinical Pathology. Dr. Lucas and Dr. Emmons will both received a small plaque and their names will be engraved on a larger permanent plaque that hangs in the Chair's Office. Congratulations to both for a job well done.
Evers Receives Bruce D. Fallis Resident Award
Bret Evers, a first-year Pathology resident, is this year's recipient of the Pathology Department's Bruce D. Fallis Resident Award.
The award was established to honor Dr. Fallis' dedication to teaching medical students and residents. The recipient is selected annually by the Pathology Endowment Awards Committee, which includes the Residency Program Director, using first-hand information and experiences committee members have had with the recipient.
Recipients are active in teaching at many levels - medical students (both as a resident and as a medical student - e.g., as a TA), residents, and perhaps even Allied Health students. The award amount is $750.
Malter Receives NIHLB Funding
James S. Malter, M.D., and two principal investigators from the University of Wisconsin have received funding from the NIHLB for their ongoing collaborative research into the molecular mechanisms of airway scarring in chronic asthma.
Dr. Malter's project focuses on the role of Pin1, a cis-trans peptidyl isomerase, in TGF-beta mediated signaling. This Program Project Grant (PPG) was renewed for five additional years, providing $356,325 annually to the Malter Lab.
Dr. Malter is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology.
Teaching Awards Presented at Annual Roast
Dennis Burns, M.D., and James Richardson, D.V.M., Ph.D., were selected as outstanding teachers by the class of 2015. Each year the members of the sophomore class select five high exposure teachers (four or more lectures) and five low exposure teachers (three or fewer lectures). Drs. Burns and Richardson were honored in the high exposure category. Congratulations!
Dr. White to Lead American Association of Neuropathologists Meeting
Charles L. White, III, M.D., Professor of Pathology, will preside over the upcoming 89th annual meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists in Charleston, S.C., June 20-23, 2013. The meeting will culminate with a Presidential Symposium entitled, "Seeing Differently: Digital and Quantitative Neuropathology," and will include a lecture by Dr. White on "Quantitative Neuropathology: History and Opportunities." The four-day meeting is the only national society meeting dedicated solely to neuropathology topics. It is attended by practicing neuropathologists, neuropathology trainees, and other neuroscientists from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Reade Quinton, M.D., Receives Lt. Bill Walsh Award
At the annual Appetite for Advocacy Luncheon on April 3, Reade Quinton, M.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, received the Lt. Bill Walsh Award for his commitment and dedication to the field of child abuse prevention, investigation, prosecution, and healing.
The annual luncheon supports the program and mission of the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) and to raise awareness about the issues of child abuse within the Dallas community. The award is named for Lt. Bill Walsh (Ret.), a co-founder of DCAC.
Dr. Quinton has been actively involved in child fatality investigations and previously was team leader for Texas in the Centers for Disease Control's Sudden Infant Death Investigations (SUIDI) initiative. He is the medical examiner representative to both the Dallas County Child Death Review Team and the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team. Dr. Quinton is also a medical examiner at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Congratulations on a well-deserved award.
Galindo Named Cancer Society Research Scholar
Rene L. Galindo, M.D., Ph.D., has been named a Cancer Society Research Scholar by the American Cancer Society. The lifetime designation recognizes the contributions that Dr. Galindo has made on behalf of cancer research.
Dr. Galindo's study, titled "New Pathways underlying Rhabdomyosarcoma Pathogenesis," examines the biologic mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of the most common and deadly childhood soft tissue malignancy, rhabdomyosarcoma. The goals of the project are to exploit complementary animal model systems – unique to Dr. Galindo's lab – for gene discovery, and then to translate these finding to the designs and development of new therapies. The award amounts to $720,000 over four years.
Dr. Galindo is an Assistant Professor of Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Pediatrics, and Associate Dean of Medical Student Research. Congratulations!
Karandikar Leaves UTSW for Iowa
James Malter, M.D.
It is with great pride but considerable sadness that we say goodbye to Nitin Karandikar, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Pathology. He departs for the University of Iowa, to head the Department of Pathology. Dr. Karandikar leaves behind a legacy of success and myriad friends. We all wish him great success in this new endeavor.
Resident Wins USCAP Award
The United States & Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) awarded Jake Dennis, M.D., a PGY-2 resident, the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology (ADASP) Award for Surgical Pathology at their 2013 Annual meeting. The award of $500 is given by ADASP and USCAP to the best poster by a pathologist-in-training on a morphology-based surgical pathology study. The United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP/IAP) is one of the largest professional organizations in the field of Pathology and has a rich 100-year heritage of supporting education, research, and clinical practice.
Dr. Dennis's winning poster, "Evaluation of HER2 IHC Staining Using the Ventana Image Analysis System: Correlation with HER2 Fish Amplification," was created under the mentorship of Venetia Sarode, M.D.
Dr. Dennis grew up in San Antonio where he attended Health Careers High School. He completed a double major in Biochemistry and Genetics at Texas A&M University and attended medical school at UT Houston. He chose UT Southwestern because of the academic quality of the residency program.
Education Awards
D.V.M., Ph.D.
UT Southwestern Medical Center recently announced its Excellence in Education Awards. In all, more than 50 faculty members were recognized at the annual teaching award program.
The UTSW teaching award program, launched in 2005, allows medical students to nominate and recognize outstanding work in preclinical and clinical instruction.
Those receiving the honors and recognition from pathology include:
Dennis Burns, M.D., Professor
Preclinical Teaching Award from the Class of 2014 and 2015
Kathleen Wilson, M.D., Associate Professor
Preclinical Teaching Award from the Class of 2015
James Richardson, D.V.M., Ph.D., Professor
Preclinical Teaching Award from the Class of 2014
Terri Crook, M.D., Assistant Professor
Preclinical Teaching Award from the Class of 2014
Congratulations to all.
Inaugural Transfusion & Laboratory Medicine Conference Poster Contest Results
The 6th Annual Transfusion & Laboratory Medicine Conference was held February 13-15 at Children's Medical Center Legacy. For the first time, staff, residents, and fellows from Children's Medical Center Laboratory and other hospital departments and services as well as other UT Southwestern-affiliated institutions were invited to participate in this competition.
Children's is private, not-for-profit, and the fifth largest pediatric health care provider in the nation. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children's medical staff conducts research that is instrumental in developing treatments, therapies, and greater understanding of pediatric diseases.
The results were:
First place - Lori Racsa, D.O.
Homozygous Hemoglobin S with Concomitant hemoglobin G-Philadelphia: A Diagnostic Challenge
Second place - Fernando Castro-Silva, M.D.
Increased Bone Marrow Mast Cells, Enumerated by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry, are Associated with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Third place - Jessica Sugianto, M.D.
From the Factory Floor to the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory: Applying the Principles of LEAN Production to Gastrointestinal Biopsy Specimens
Honorable Mention - Linlin Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Alpha-Globin Gene Sequencing is More Reliable Than High-Performance Liquid Chromotography for the Identification of Hemoglobin I
Honorable Mention - Adam Hoffhines, M.D., Ph.D.
Routine Mixing Studies for Evaluation of Prolonged Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time: To Mix or Not to Mix - Is That The Question?
Congratulations to everyone who participated and to the winners.
2013 Mini-Symposium on Molecular Diagnostics
Sponsored by the Association of Molecular Pathology, the session will examine topics including lung cancer diagnostics, molecular pathology codes, and international standards in pathology coding. The symposium is free and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. March 13 at the A.W. Harris Faculty-Alumni Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Contact Jean Hurley at jeanhurley@att.net to register.
Pediatric and Perinatal Pathology – Review and Update
This one-day conference will highlight common entities in pediatric and perinatal pathology, with focus on both common and unusual presentations. there will be a variety of pediatric pathology subspecialties represented, including general surgical pathology, perinatal pathology, as well as renal, cardiac, and neuropathology. The course, designed for practicing pathologists, pathology residents, and fellows, will take place on May 18 at Children's Medical Center Dallas, 1935 Medical District Drive.
Nassem Uddin, M.D., Returns to Pathology Department
Naseem Uddin, M.D., received his medical degree from Karachi Medical and Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan. He then joined the combined AP/CP residency program in the Department of Pathology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and subsequently finished a Pediatric Pathology fellowship at Children's Medical Center. Dr. Uddin pursued clinical cytogenetics training at UTSW and at the University of Utah/ARUP laboratories in Salt Lake City.
After completion of training he joined Saint Louis University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor. At SLU he practiced as a Pediatric Pathologist and Clinical Cytogeneticist. He also directed the hematology laboratory at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center and was the Associate Fellowship Director of the ACGME-accredited Pediatric Pathology fellowship program at SLU/Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
Dr. Uddin is excited to return to UTSW and rejoin the Department of Pathology, his founding postgraduate training institution. Dr. Uddin's academic interests include pediatric oncologic pathology, placental pathology, cancer cytogenetics, and genomic microarray technology. We are delighted to have him back.
Veena Rajaram, M.D., Joins Pathology Department and Children's Medical Center
Veena Rajaram, M.D., received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Berhampur University in Orissa, India. After immigrating to the United States, she joined the Anatomic Pathology residency at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., and completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology followed by fellowships in Surgical Pathology, Pediatric Pathology, and Neuropathology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Before coming to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Rajaram spent eight years as an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, where she participated in medical student teaching and received the "Outstanding Teaching Award in Problem-based Learning" in 2012.
During this time, Dr. Rajaram was also a staff pathologist at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital (Children's Memorial Hospital) in Chicago practicing Pediatric and Neuropathology with a primary focus on Pediatric Neuropathology.
Dr. Rajaram's clinical focus is on pediatric neuropathology with a research interest in pediatric brain tumors and CNS developmental malformations. She will be located at Children's Medical Center.
Elizabeth M. Kurian, M.D., Joins Pathology Department
Elizabeth M. Kurian, M.D., received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, followed by a combined anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Kurian gained expertise in cytopathology through the fellowship program at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Before coming to UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Kurian spent three years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. While there, she completed the institution’s first Junior Faculty Development Program and served as an Associate Course Director for Cancer Concepts, an introductory first-year medical school course.
Her translational research interests include using automation for cytologic evaluation, and applications of immunohistochemistry or molecular testing using cytology or small biopsies for diagnosis or prognostic utility. She is an editorial member of the American Society of Cytopathology's ASC Bulletin, as well as a reviewer for Diagnostic Cytopathology and CytoJournal.
Dr. Kurian's primary clinical focus is cytopathology with expertise in immediate rapid interpretation and performance of fine needle aspiration, plus general surgical pathology with an interest in thyroid pathology.
Welcome Purva Gopal, M.D., to Pathology
Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, Purva Gopal, M.D., received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Following that, she returned to Kentucky where she completed her Master’s degree, medical degree, and residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Louisville. After residency, Dr. Gopal moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she completed a general surgical pathology fellowship with a focus in gastrointestinal and liver pathology at the University of Michigan. The following year, she received additional fellowship training in gastrointestinal and liver pathology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Purva enjoys practicing in general surgical pathology, however has special interests in gastrointestinal and liver pathology, and resident/ fellow education.
Her office will be located in the POB Building. Please welcome her to the group.
Gina Aloisio Receives Green Center Trainee Fellowship Award
Gina Aloisio, an MSTP student in Dr. Diego Castrillon's lab, has been selected as the recipient of the of the 2012-2013 Green Center Trainee Fellowship. Her research project is on the control and maintenance of spermatogonial stem cells. Applications were received and evaluated by a committee of five faculty members. Gina will receive $25,000 for tuition and stipend support during the 2012-2013 academic year. The Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences is an endowed center at UT Southwestern Medical Center directed by Lee Kraus, M.D. The Center's mission is to promote and support cutting-edge, integrative, and collaborative basic research in reproductive biology, with a focus on signaling, gene regulation, and genome function.
Agnes Witkiewicz, M.D., Joins the Department of Pathology
Agnes Witkiewicz, M.D., is an accomplished academic surgical pathologist specializing in breast and skin pathology. After AP/CP training at University of Massachusetts and Beth Israel/Deaconess in Boston, Dr. Witkiewicz completed fellowships at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Breast Pathology and in Dermatopathology at New York University. She joins the Department of Pathology from the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Clinically, Dr. Witkiewicz will be an integral part of the subspecialty Breast Pathology team. Her translational research program focuses on the use of advanced technologies to identify biomarkers relevant to the progression or treatment of breast and pancreatic cancers. She is the author and the co-author of 115 peer-reviewed publications and the recipient of an NIH R01 award.
The Department of Pathology Welcomes Erik Knudsen, Ph.D.
Erik Knudsen, Ph.D., is an established and highly successful investigator who has joined the faculty as Professor of Pathology. After training at UCSD and serving five years as a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Knudsen joined Thomas Jefferson University, advancing to Professor of Cancer Biology in 2007. He served as Deputy Director for Basic Research at the Kimmel Cancer Center and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Cell Biology. His research focuses on cell cycle regulation and the functional role of the Rb protein. Of late, he has become increasingly translational, teaming with Agnes Witkiewicz, M.D., to identify novel biomarkers informative for the prognosis of breast cancer. He is the author and co-author of 108 papers, serves on multiple editorial boards, and is currently funded as PI on 3 NIH R01s.
Adi Gazdar, M.D., Receives Funding from U. S. Department of Defense
Adi Gazdar, M.D., recently received a $422,666 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to support his research regarding blood-based biomarkers for lung cancer early detection and evaluation of CT-based lesions. Dr. Gazdar, holder of the W. Ray Wallace Distinguished Chair in Molecular Pathology Research, is a Professor in the Department of Pathology, as well as the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology. He has also been named by the Institute for Scientific Information a list of the world's most cited authors – comprising less than one half of one percent of all publishing researchers, based on the important scientific developments of the last two decades. Congratulations, Dr. Gazdar.
New Chief Residents for 2013 Announced
James Malter, M.D., is pleased to announce that Adam Hoffhines, M.D., and Amanda Hernandez, M.D., have been appointed Co-Chief Residents for 2013-2014. Adam and Amanda will assume their official duties on April 1, 2013. Congratulations to both. I would also like to take the opportunity to recognize our current Chief Residents for 2012-2013, Scott Bevan, M.D., and Theresa Kinard, M.D., for their excellent service to the Department. Thanks for a job well done.
Errol C. Friedberg, M.D., Retires After More than 20 Years of Service
Errol C. Friedberg, M.D., was named Senator Betty and Dr. Andy Andujar Distinguished Chair of Pathology in 1991 after 20 productive years at Stanford. He oversaw the expansion of UT Southwestern's Department of Pathology into a diversified and modern clinical service provider, a national respected academic unit making consistent contributions of our understanding of immunology and cancer, and a high-quality medical student, resident, and fellowship training environment. We are greatly appreciative of his years of service and stewardship, tireless support for UTSW and mentorship and guidance of many highly successful academic pathologist. We wish him well in whatever journey he pursues next.
Dennis Burns, M.D., to Lead Admissions Committee
Dennis Burns, M.D., Professor of Pathology, will lead the Admissions Committee at UT Southwestern Medical School. A faculty member since 1983, Dr. Burns also graduated from the Medical School in 1978.
The Admissions Committee is responsible for evaluating the large number of applicants seeking admission to the Medical School. Last year, more than 4,000 applications were received. Over a five-month period, 829 applicants were interviewed by 169 faculty members. The Committee conducted a final detailed review of these candidates, and 230 students were accepted.
Dr. Burns holds the Jane B. and Edwin P. Jenevein, M.D., Chair in Pathology.
Congratulations, Dr. Burns!
Adam Hoffhines Appointed to DPA Board of Directors
Adam Hoffhines has been appointed to serve a one-year term on the Digital Pathology Association's (DPA) Board of Directors beginning on January 1, 2013. His involvement will include attending in-person meetings, including a meeting in conjunction with the USCAP meeting in March and the Pathology Visions Conference in September.
The DPA was founded in 2009 as a collaborative venture between practicing pathologists, researchers, and the digital pathology technology industry with the goals of supporting digital pathology education initiatives, defining best practices, influencing standards and interfaces, and organizing an annual conference that addresses the diverse needs within the industry.
The stated mission of the DPA is, "To facilitate education and awareness of digital pathology applications in healthcare and life sciences." Members of the DPA are encouraged to share best practices and promote the use of technology among colleagues in order to demonstrate efficiencies and awareness that will ultimately benefit patient care.
Adam Hoffhines is a PGY-3 AP/CP pathology resident at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
29th Annual Current Issues in Surgical Pathology
Save the Date: Thursday – Saturday, April 25-27, 2013
Registration and Agenda Information
Todd Eagar, Ph.D., Named Winner at Annual Competition
Todd Eagar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology, was named the winner of the annual Trinkle-Banowsky Abstract and Case Presentation Competition at the Texas Transplantation Society's 25th Anniversary meeting held recently in Galveston. His winning case presentation was titled, "Compound Chimerism Post-Bone Marrow and Liver Transplantation in a Patient with Swachman Diamond Syndrome." The Texas Transplantation Society, with membership of nearly 300, is a professional association that facilitates transplantation in Texas. Named for two of the society's founding members, J. Kent Trinkle and Lynn Banowsky, the competition awards a $500 cash prize, plus travel stipend for the annual meeting. Congratulations, Dr. Eagar!
Administrative structure and leadership changes
James Malter, M.D., Chair of the Department of Pathology, announces these changes:
Jyoti Balani, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, has agreed to assume the duties of the Departmental Quality Officer. In this role, she will facilitate QA/QI efforts both internally as well as with other departments. I would like to thank the many volunteers who offered to participate.
Jose Torrealba, M.D., Associate Profesor of Pathology, has assumed Medical Directorship of the Histology and IHC laboratories. I would like to thank Charles White, M.D., Professor of Pathology, for his many years of service to this critical lab. This change will free up time for expanding his academic activities.
Ibrahim Hashim, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology, has agreed to become the Chief of Clinical Pathology. He will be working closely with our hospitals and CP faculty to ensure strong clinical practice, high quality and robust academic activity, and the implementation of new testing technologies.
Rene Galindo, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, has accepted the post of Associate Dean for Medical Student Research here at UTSW. Dr. Galindo will oversee the placement of medical students into research environments. I hope that many students will find significant experiences within our Department. Those faculty interested in participating should contact Dr. Galindo.
Dennis Burns, M.D., Professor of Pathology, has agreed to chair the School of Medicine Admissions Committee. This critical role will unavoidably necessitate Dr. Burn's recusing himself from his Departmental P&T Chairmanship. In his stead, Charles Timmons, M.D., Ph.D. and Makoto Kuro-o, M.D., Ph.D. have agreed to co-chair our P&T Committee.
Charles L. White III, M.D., elected President of the American Association of Neuropathologists
Charles L. White III, M.D., Professor of Pathology, assumed the office of President of the American Association of Neuropathologists at its 88th annual meeting in Chicago in June 2012.
Dr. White had previously served as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of AANP for four years, with primary responsibility for oversight of its continuing medical education program. He has also been a member of the AANP Executive Council since 2008. White was elected President-elect in 2011. As president, his duties will include programming and oversight of AANP’s 2013 meeting in Charleston, S.C.
The American Assocation of Neuropathologists is the professional organization for neuropathologists in the United States. The AANP traces its origins to the early 1930s and was incorporated in Pennsylvania in May 1960. The AANP's purpose is to advance the science, teaching, training, and practice of neuropathology, a discipline that focuses on the study of diseases of the nervous system.
Neuropathology is the oldest subspecialty recognized by The American Board of Pathology. Currently, AANP has more than 800 members, including many from Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Dr. White has been a practicing neuropathologist and Director of the Division of Neuropathology at UT Southwestern for 29 years. His clinical and research interests focus on neurodegenerative brain disorders. He holds the Nancy R. McCune Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research, and directs the Winspear Center for Research on the Neuropathology of Alzheimer’s Disease. He also is the training director for the Neuropathology Fellowship program at UT Southwestern.
Pathology Participates in $6.9 Million CPRIT Grant Award
Rene L. Galindo, M.D., Ph.D., and Dinesh Rakheja, M.D., are investigators on a multi-investigator project “Molecularly Targeted Therapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Texas” that has been funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas for a total amount of $6,918,248. This project is headed by Stephen Skapek, M.D., (Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology) and is a collaboration between researchers at UTSW (Stephen Skapek, James Amatruda, Rene Galindo, Dinesh Rakheja, Patrick Leavey), UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (Yidong Chen), and Baylor College of Medicine at Houston (Donald [Will] Parsons).
The major goal of this project is to improve the survival of children and young adults with soft tissue sarcoma and Ewing Sarcoma Family Tumors. The project will identify key, actionable genetic changes that occur in pediatric sarcomas and will lead to a molecular classification of sarcomas that will precisely guide treatment decisions. In addition to discovering genetic changes in sarcomas, the major efforts will be functional validation and clinical implementation – efforts that will impact patients’ lives in real time. UTSW will be the parent institution for this program allowing for pediatric sarcoma-related tissues, resources, and cases to come to the University from around the state. This will put UTSW in the forefront of research for childhood sarcoma diagnostics and research. Dr. Galindo is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Molecular Biology and Associate Dean of Medical Student Research. Dr. Rakheja is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Interim Chief of Pediatric Pathology at UT Southwestern and Interim Division Director of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Children’s Medical Center. Congratulations to all participants!
Welcome José Torrealba, M.D., to Pathology
Dr. Torrealba, Associate Professor of Pathology, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He graduated from the Central University of Venezuela "Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, followed by a combined residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and then a fellowship in organ transplant immunopathology at the University of Toronto in Canada. He came to UTSW from the University of Wisconsin and W. Middleton VA Hospital, where he was a transplant pathologist and Interim Chief of Surgical Pathology. He and his wife, Susanna, have three children - 13-year-old Valerie, 10-year-old Stephanie, and eight-year-old Diego. They currently reside in Carrollton. Dr. Torrealba chose to come to UT Southwestern because of its excellent academic reputation, tremendous research opportunities, and to be able to live in Dallas. For UTSW, he will be the Director of Renal Pathology, Medical Director of Histology and IHC laboratories, and Associate Director of Anatomic Pathology. His research interests include immunopathology of transplantation tolerance and chronic allograft injury.
Franto Francis, M.D., joins Pathology Department
Franto Francis, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, is originally from southern India. He received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB/BS) from the University of Calcutta. After immigrating to the United States, he matriculated at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he received a PhD prior to completing his AP/CP residency at NYU Medical Center in New York City. He has received additional training in the Oncologic-Surgical Pathology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and the GU pathology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. He, his wife Bensy, and their 4-year-old son, Paul, have found a home in the Las Colinas section of Irving on Lake Carolyn. Dr. Francis chose to come to UT Southwestern because of its superb academics, the opportunities the city offers, and the welcoming impression he received during the interview process. He will be signing out GU cases in surgical pathology. We are delighted to have him here.
Christopher Doern, Ph.D., and his micro team featured on CW33 news
Dr. Doern was featured this week on Channel (CW) 33 news to announce the benefits of a new Mass Spectrometer located at Children's Medical Center. For the laboratory environment, the Mass Spectrometer is considered the biggest advance in microbiology in recent years. The device can reduce the time needed to identify bacteria from three days to approximately 30 minutes. It is being hailed as a revolution in the field of microbiology and is hoped to carry that on to improved patient care. Dr. Doern is the Director of Microbiology at Children's and an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern. Watch the segment
Welcome Aboard – Allen Hendricks, D.O.
James Richardson, D.V.M., Ph.D., Recognized as Outstanding Teacher
Dr. Richardson has received the Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award in recognition of his performance and innovation in the classroom and the laboratory. The Outstanding Teaching Award is the highest honor granted by UT System Regents and was created in 2008 to recognize and reward faculty members who serve undergraduate students in an exemplary manner. Dr. Richardson is a Professor of Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern.
Patricia Jones, Ph.D., Elected to Serve for NACB
Patricia Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology, has been elected President-elect of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) for 2013 and will serve as the NACB President for 2014. Composed of leading scientists, NACB is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of laboratory medicine. This is accomplished in three ways: by advocating for scholarship through scientific research; by promoting scientific discovery, application, and integration through educational programs; and by publishing Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines (LMPG), NACB's signature program, which applies clinical biochemistry to medical diagnosis and therapy.
Charles Timmons, M.D., Ph.D., Receives Presidential Service Award
At the Spring meeting of the Society for Pediatric Pathology, Charles Timmons, MD, PhD, received a Presidential Service Award for his work as the Chair of the Society's Fellowship Committee. Dr. Timmons was also elected to serve on the Executive Council for the Society. The Society for Pediatric Pathology, founded in 1965, is an educational and scientific organization of physicians and scientists who share a common interest in this vital field. Over 500 members of the Society practice in more than 60 children's and university hospitals in the United States, Canada, and the world. It is the aim of the Society to foster research, education, and practice as they pertain to pediatric pathology, and to provide a forum for discourse among its members. Dr. Timmons is a Professor of Pathology and Director of Resident Training at UT Southwestern. He practices at Children's Medical Center Dallas.
Charles Timmons, M.D., Ph.D., Elected Secretary of the Program Directors Section of APC
Dr. Timmons has been elected to serve as Secretary and councilor ex officio for the Program Directors Section of the Association of Pathology Chairs (secretary-elect for 2012-2014 and secretary for 2014-2016. The Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) serves as the voice of academic Pathology. The APC exists to provide leadership and advocacy for the dynamic discipline of Pathology and to enable academic departments to meet the demands of their three missions - medical education, research, and practice. The APC provides education, training, information resources, and networking opportunities for chairs, residency program directors (through PRODS), medical student educators (through UMEDS), department administrators (through PDAS), and graduate program coordinators (through GMEAS). Dr. Timmons is a Professor of Pathology and Director of Resident Training at UT Southwestern. He practices at Children's Medical Center Dallas.
Weinberg Retires After 42 Years of Service
Arthur Weinberg, M.D., is a humble and thoughtful man of many talents. As a pediatric pathologist of great esteem and talent, he served in many capacities locally, regionally and nationally. He is past President of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and was Chief of Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center Dallas from 1970 to 2001. He has trained countless medical students, residents, and fellows in pediatric pathology during his career. For many years, he led the pathology residency training program and pediatric pathology fellowship programs.
As an academic, he has published more than 120 papers and four book chapters, many with trainees as co-authors. He has served for 42 years as an attending staff physician at both Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital, being a nearly limitless resource of diagnostic knowledge and expertise.
Dr. Weinberg has received many awards and accolades for his outstanding performance. He holds the John Lawrence and Patsy Louise Goforth Professorship in Pathology; he received the Distinguished Service Award in Medicine from Children’s Medical Center in 1996; he was named in Best Doctors in America in Pediatric Pathology from 1996 to the present; and he received the Stembridge Award for Pathology Resident Teaching and the John J. Andujar Citation of Merit from the Texas Society of Pathologists in 2005.
In 2004, Dr. Weinberg personally established an endowment to fund an annual Resident Research Award. Each year, a resident has used these funds to further their scientific and academic development. Beyond all the accolades, this generous gesture perhaps best summarizes the character of Art Weinberg. While we wish him well in retirement, we will miss him very much.
Pathology Residents Receive Awards at ASFA Annual Meeting
The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) held its 33rd annual meeting from April 11-14 in Atlanta. At this meeting Neil Shah, M.D., received the Junior Investigator Award - for the second year in a row - for his work comparing lymphomononuclear yield on two Photopheresis devices. Nicole De Simone, MD, also received the best poster award in "therapeutic apheresis category" for her work on plasma exchange in neuromyelitis optica. Ravi Sarode, M.D., chaired the organizing committee for the annual meeting as well as for the consensus conference on Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, where the world's leading experts deliberated for one day. Dr. Sarode was nominated to be the society's president for 2012-2013.
Sutor Elected as Director of America's Blood Centers
Laurie Sutor, M.D., Professor of Pathology, has been elected as a Director of America's Blood Centers. Founded in 1962, America's Blood Centers is North America's network of non-profit community blood centers. America's Blood Centers represents more than 60 donor centers and subscribes to a community-based blood banking philosophy. Community donors know that the blood they give stays in that community first - helping family members, friends, and neighbors. Any excess supply is shared with other communities who need it most. They currently provide blood products and services to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities across North America. America's Blood Centers also provides hospitals and their patients with the majority of the nation's tissue, bone marrow, stem cell, and transfusion services and provides nearly 10 million blood components to hospital customers annually. She will serve from March 2012 through March 2015.
Errol Friedberg, M.D., Receives Honorary Fellowship
from the Royal Society of South Africa
The Council of the Royal Society of South Africa confirmed at its meeting in February that Errol Friedberg, M.D., Professor and former Chair of Pathology, be honored with Honorary Fellowship of the Society. Honorary Fellows are elected from persons who have done scientific research of exceptional distinction in South Africa. Dr. Friedberg has been recognized for his work in molecular biology as well as his work as an editor of the journal DNA Repair; senior editor of DNA Repair and Mutagenesis, the standard text in the field; and author of several significant publications on the history of science. He is also recognized for his continuing engagement with South Africa: he is the author of a biography of South African Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner, and has supported and worked with the University of the Witwatersrand and other South African institutions.
Meet our New Chief Residents
On April 1, 2012, the two new Chief Residents in Pathology took office. Both are outstanding residents with strong backgrounds in educational and administrative activities. They will serve through March 31, 2013. Meet our new incoming Chief Residents
Meet Pathology's New 2012 Residents
After four years slugging away at a grueling academic regimen, the next phase for UT Southwestern Medical School students happened in a matter of seconds - when they learned on national Match Day where they will serve their residencies. The Pathology Department will be welcoming eight new residents to the program here at UT Southwestern. Meet our incoming residents.
Galindo's Lab Discovers Potential Breakthrough in Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment
Rene Galindo, M.D., Ph.D., and his team of researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Simmons Cancer Center, have discovered a potential breakthrough in the treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common and deadly childhood soft tissue malignancy. Dr. Galindo's lab's research efforts revolve around uncovering the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying childhood cancer in general, with a particular focus at present on RMS. The television news link below covers the breakthrough Dr. Galindo and his team recently reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Watch the segment.
Shah Receives Multiple Honors
The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) has selected Neil Shah, M.D., to receive the 2012 the ASFA Junior Investigator Award based on the abstract he submitted entitled “Therakos: New Extracorporeal Photopheresis System, Cellex, Offers Superior Lymphomononuclear Cell (Lmn) Collection in Addition to Shorter Treatment Times and Lower Extracorporeal Volumes Over the Old Standard, Uvar-Xt.” This award is given to the primary author of an outstanding abstract submitted by a junior investigator who is an ASFA member. The award will be presented at the ASFA Annual Business Meeting on April 13.
Dr. Shah also received a $2,000 subspecialty grant from the American Society for Clinical Pathology for a 4-week elective in informatics at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Shah’s main focus will be to work as part of a team on their “actionable results” project, which aims to automate the electronic health records process so that results which require physician action are resolved. The ASCP grant program is designed to allow residents to broaden their training experience by allowing them to work with prominent pathologists of their choice.
Sarode Presents at 2012 International Stroke Conference
The International Stroke conference organized by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association was recently held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ravi Sarode, M.D., Professor and Interim Medical Director of UT Southwestern Medical Center was an invited guest speaker in the session “Thrombolysis in the Era of Novel Anticoagulants.”
This session was devoted to the new oral anticoagulants (direct thrombin inhibitor and direct FXa inhibitor). Dr. Sarode presented laboratory evaluation of these novel anticoagulants and participated in the discussion on the management of bleeding (especially hemorrhagic stroke)associated with these new agents.
Scheuermann Receives Honorary Appointment
Richard Scheuermann, Ph.D., has received an honorary appointment as a Research Professor of Statistical Science at Southern Methodist University. The appointment is based on the collaborative research work that Dr. Scheuermann has done with this department over the past several years, and with his efforts in mentoring several SMU Statistical Science PhD students and helping two of their faculty obtain NIH R15 grants. Dr. Scheuermann holds the John H. Childers, M.D., Professorship in Pathology, and is also the Director of the Division of Biomedical Informatics in the Department of Clinical Sciences.
Karandikar Wins GDIACC Award
Nitin Karandikar, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Pathology, was honored by the Greater Dallas Indo-American Chamber Commerce (GDIACC) at their recent Awards Banquet for Outstanding Contribution to Science and Medicine. The award was presented at the hands of Hon. Minister Anand Sharma of the Republic of India.
The goal of Dr. Karandikar's research is the understand the immune interactions that underlie the pathogenesis and regulation of immune-mediated diseases. A major focus of his laboratory is to delineate the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis and its therapy. Dr. Karandikar also participates in several collaborative projects including allodepletion for GVHD, understanding mechanisms of immune therapies in asthma and HCV infection, improving leukemia/lymphoma diagnostics, and developing better immune assays for clinical testing. He holds the Vernie A. Stembridge, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Pathology.
Doern Named to CCTC Executive Board
Christopher Doern, Ph.D., has been named to the Clinical Chemistry Training Council Executive Board. The goal of this board is to develop a clinical pathology educational program through the AACC. Although the Board is run under the auspices of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, it will be designed to apply to all disciplines of clinical pathology. Dr. Doern&rsquo