What's New in the Department of Pathology



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Welcome Administration Divisions Faculty Directory Research Aging & Cancer Cellular & Molecular Pathogenesis Conservation Medicine CTRF Cancer Genomics Cytogenetics Molecular Diagnostics Oncogenomics and Proteomics Paleopathology TDAAC Clinical Services Anatomic Pathology Clinical Pathology Cytogenetics Molecular Diagnostics Toxicology Transfusion Medicine Education General Pathology 601 Graduate Program Resident Program Undergraduate Medical		department of pathology NEWS Archives 2007 < BACK December 2007 (return to top) Dr. Marcella F. Fierro, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, retired after more than 30 years on Dec. 31, 2007. Both the Washington Post and the Richmond Times Dispatch carried news of this woman pioneer in the field of Forensic Pathology. Read the Washington Post story ... Read the Richmond Times Dispatch article ... Catherine I. Dumur, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Division of Molecular Diagnostics, presented the last Research in Progress seminar for 2007. Her abstract regarding, "Genome-wide Gene Expression Profiling for Predicting the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Chemoradiotherapy Treatment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas," is available on our website. Read more ... Marvin J. Allison, PhD, Co-Director of the Paleopathology Research Laboratory, has exciting new research findings regarding the origins of malaria in Peru. Dr. Allison specializes in the study of Infectious Diseases - Paleopathology, and the Diseases of Ancient Man. This new study, "Malaria: A Native Pre-Columbian American Disease," is now available on our website. Read more .... Richard A. McPherson, MD, Chair of the Division of Clinical Pathology, Director of Clinical Pathology Services, Harry P. Dalton Professor of Pathology, recently received an award from the British Medical Association during their 2007 annual book awards. This award recognizes the authoritative text, Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, Twenty-first Edition. Read more ... November 2007 (return to top) W. Gregory Miller, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Director of Clinical Chemistry and Pathology Information Systems, received another award from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. This award recognized his recently completed outstanding service as Chairholder of the Working Group on Reagent Water. Drs. James Burns, Richard McPherson, and Enrique Gerszten recently presented awards to the top three students from the General Pathology course in the VCU Dental School. Read more ... Scott Henderson, PhD, Director Microscopy Facility, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, recently presented Pathology Grand Rounds. His topic, "New Microscopy Resources to Support Biomedical Research: More Than Just Pretty Pictures" highlights the capabilities of these VCU imaging resources. Read more ... Lynne W. Elmore, PhD, Co-Director of the Aging & Cancer Laboratory, and Assistant Professor of Pathology, was a collaborating scientist on the team responsible for identifying the enzyme sphingosine kinase 2 as a possible new therapeutic target to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for colon and breast cancer. This important research breakthrough was also published in Science Daily, "Potential New Therapeutic Molecular Target To Fight Cancer." Read VCU News feature ... Visit Science Daily website ... Paulie Papavassiliou, PhD, who recently earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Genetics, presented last week's grand rounds lecture. Dr. Papavassiliou is now working toward her Medical Degree in the School of Medicine, VCU. Read more ... The VCU Pathology Honor Society celebrated the academic achievements of second year medical school students during a recent induction ceremony. This year two students were honored for excellence during the M-II Pathogenesis course. Read more ... Amanda Garza, a pathology graduate student in the Oncogenomics and Proteomics Research Laboratory under the direction of Youngman Oh, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Biochemistry, recently shared her ongoing research with faculty and students. Read more ... Welcome Lorin M. Bachmann, PhD, to the Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Bachmann comes to VCU from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where she recently completed three years as a Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine fellow. As an Assistant Professor of Pathology, she will also perform the role of Associate Director of Clinical Chemistry. Read feature story ... October 2007 (return to top) Dr. William Gardner, Executive Director, American Registry of Pathology, Washington, DC, was the guest speaker during last week's Pathology Grand Rounds. Dr. Gardner's lecture, which highlighted the 4th Alumni Reunion continuing medical education seminars, covered the topic, "Prostate Cancer: Yogi Berra, WMDs, and Deja vu." Read more ... Seven Pathology faculty members were honored for their superior teaching during the School of Medicine's 9th Annual Faculty Excellence Awards Program. .Read more .. Carl E. Wolf, PhD, MS, was a member of the team which received the 2007 Education Innovation Award for their novel web-based curriculum on the assessment and management of chronic nonmalignant pain. Read more ... Visit the VCU News Center for complete award details - click here ... Manjunatha R. Kini, PhD, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, was the guest speaker during last week's Pathology Grand Rounds. Dr. Kini discussed, "Novel anticoagulants from snake venoms: Structure, function and mechanism." Read more ... Pathology faculty featured in VCU School of Medicine fall newsletter: (read SOM newsletter) Alphonse E. Sirica, PhD, received a School of Medicine Research Recognition Award for 2007 (page 7) Dr. Richard McPherson led the 7th straight year of Phlebotomy Training for VCU medical students (page 14) Catherine Dumur, PhD, received a patent for a new algorithm to standardize the sample handling procedures for microarrays. W. Gregory Miller, PhD, received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry from the AACC. (page 15) The department welcomed Dr. Mary Jo Martin in Neuropathology and Dr. Marie C. Do in Transfusion Medicine. Linda Ferrell, MD, Professor & Vice Chair of Pathology, Director of Surgical Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, was the guest speaker during last week's Pathology Grand Rounds. Dr. Ferrell's topic addressed, "Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The New Epidemic". Read more ... Anne Eder, MD, PhD, Executive Medical Officer, American Red Cross National Headquarters, Washington, DC, was a guest speaker during a recent Pathology Grand Rounds. Dr. Eder's topic engaged audience members in a discussion of, "Complications of Blood Donation and Transfusion: the Hemovigilance Program of the American Red Cross". Read more ... Our Molecular Cytogenetics Diagnostic Laboratory has expanded and recently moved to a newly renovated facility. To celebrate this significant growth, an Open House reception was held on Sep 27. September 2007 (return to top) The Department of Pathology has published a new website for the Tissue and Data Acquisition and Analysis Core (TDAAC). TDAAC represents a close collaboration within and between multiple disciplines and departments at VCUHS. The goal is to provide a clinical and tissue data resource extending from tissue acquisition and informed consent to genomic analysis. A permanent link to this site can be found under our RESEARCH links on the left side of most pages: TDAAC: Specimen Procurement & Related Services Pathology Grand Rounds resumed last week, with a presentation by Richard Winn, PhD, Associate Professor, and Director of the Aquatic Biotechnology and Environmental Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia. Dr. Winn presented, "Fishing for mutations: Insights from transgenic models". Read more ... For the seventh year, Pathology employees have provided essential hands-on phlebotomy instruction to third year medical students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Richard McPherson, Professor of Pathology, has directed these sessions since 2001. Read more ... The Pathology Clinical Laboratory Sciences Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to senior undergraduate students in the VCU School of Allied Health Professions, Department of Clinical Laboratory Services. This year's scholarship was awarded to three students in the amount of $10,000 each. Read more ... VCU Libraries presented, "Forensic Pathology: CSI vs. Reality in Virginia," a lecture by Dr. Marcella F. Fierro, Chief Medical Examiner for Virginia, and Professor of Pathology. August 2007 (return to top) The Science Museum of Virginia has announced their Mini Medical School focus for Fall 2007: "Medication: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." This session is administered by Eugene G. Maurakis, PhD, Director of Science Education and Museum Scientist, Science Museum of Virginia; David S. Wilkinson, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman, and Joy L. Ware, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University. For a more details visit their website. Pathology faculty featured in VCU School of Medicine summer newslettter: (read SOM newsletter) MCV Physicians recently held the nomination process for a Chair position and for a Non-Chair position on the 9-member Board. David S. Wilkinson, MD, PhD, was selected as the Chair member and will serve a second three year term. (page 2) Margaret M. Grimes, MD, will chair the Graduate Medical Education Committee effective July 1. Dr. Grimes has been a member of the GMEC since 1997 and chair of the Accreditation Review Committee since 2001. She is currently pursing a Masters in Education at VCU. (page 6) A special Pathology Grand Rounds was held for visiting Professor of Pathology, C. Bruce Alexander, MD. Dr. Alexander is Vice Chair of Pathology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. In an effort to recognize and differentiate pathology services to patients in general, Dr. Alexander's topic answered, "What do pathologists do??" read more ... Catherine I. Dumur, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, has added a newly patented algorithm to her impressive career in the field of Molecular Diagnostics. Regarding the application and significance of this new technology Dr. Dumur explains: "The patented algorithm incorporates the raw laboratory microarray data into decision functions in a template. The application of this template is the automated calculations that are required to perform the multiple synthesis reactions involved in the test. Thus, it streamlines the process eliminating possible human error in individual calculations. Quality control (QC) of this or any laboratory test is crucial in a clinical setting. Since microarrays are on the verge of becoming a clinical test, built-in, numerical and objective QC metrics will play an important role in good laboratory practice using microarrays in the field of Molecular Diagnostics.".. view the VCU flyer for details ... -- In addition to her cutting-edge research in microarray gene expression analysis, Dr. Dumur finds time to encourage future women scientists. During the "Career Possibilities in Science" seminar she described her career path from basic research graduate student in Argentina to clinical laboratory scientist at VCU Health System. The lunch seminar hosted by VCU student organization, "Women in Science" on August 8, introduced VCU students to possible science career paths. .. view Dr. Dumur's CV ... Greg Miller, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Director of Clinical Chemistry, and Director of Pathology Information Systems, received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry at the annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry in July. This award is considered the premier award of the Association. Individuals selected for this award have made significant contributions in all aspects of clinical chemistry, particularly in education and research; have achieved international stature and reputation by virtue of their efforts; and have demonstrated long standing service to the AACC, either at the grass roots or national level. visit the AACC web site ... -- Furthermore, Dr. Gary Myers, AACC President, presented Dr. Miller a Presidential Citation, “in appreciation for the positive influence you have had on my career and the careers of so many other clinical chemists. For me you have been a role model, a colleague in work, but most importantly a good friend.” view Dr. Miller's CV ... July 2007 (return to top) The Department of Pathology welcomes new residents and fellows! An orientation breakfast and catered evening reception at the Science Museum of Virginia highlighted the welcoming activities. To learn more about the 2007-2008 Pathology residents and fellows, visit their web site. VCU Tompkins-McCaw Library presents a traveling exhibit, Changing the Face of Medicine, which pays tribute to the contributions women have made in all fields of medical sciences. An opening reception for the exhibit was held on June 29. VCU alumnae featured in the exhibit include Dr. Marcella F. Fierro, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner who is also a Professor of Pathology at VCU and Chair of the VCU Department of Legal Medicine. Read more ... Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University hosted the 3rd conference for The International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association on June 29th-July 1. The conference was held at the Alumni House on the VCUHS campus. Conference activities included presentations given by nationally recognized scientists, health care providers, and educators who are experts in the field. In addition, there were activities for children and youth, as well as opportunities to participate in research studies. Dr. Colleen Jackson-Cook, Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory, and Paulie Papavassiliou, MD/PhD doctoral candidate, were selected as the keynote speakers for the conference. They presented the results of their studies of genotype:phenotype correlation in people having mosaicism, which is an international study. June 2007 (return to top) The Department of Pathology sponsors a Career Development Program for VCUHS Department of Pathology employees. Qualified employees can obtain free tuition and paid skills development. Assistance for Medical Laboratory Technician studies includes free textbooks and tuition assistance at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Read about the first graduate of this program ... The Virginia Commonwealth University Office of Graduate Medical Education recently sponsored the Fourth Annual VCU Health System Resident Research Day. Three residents in the Department of Pathology presented their research posters during the event. Patrick McDonough, MD, 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, third-year Pathology resident, and Chief Resident for 2007-2008, won 2nd place in the poster competition. Read more ... On June 1, 2007, the Department of Pathology held its annual Graduation Banquet to honor graduating and departing faculty, residents, fellows and doctoral candidates. Each year's banquet concludes with the presentation of special awards for dedication and excellence. To view names and photos of this year's honorees, click here ... The final Research in Progress seminar for this spring was held on Monday June 4. The presenter was Dr. Alphonse Sirica, Chairman of the Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis. Dr. Sirica discussed his research in progress regarding, "Development of a Novel Preclinical Model of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Progression that Reliably Recapitulates the Advanced Human Disease." May 2007 (return to top) Kimberly Haydu, graduate student in the Jackson-Cook Cytogenetics Laboratory, recently outlined her current research on "Age-related genetic and epigenetic chromosomal changes: A twin study." To view the abstract from this Research in Progress seminar, click here ... As part of the celebration of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2007, employees in the Department of Pathology held a raffle to raise money for the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. The proceeds were given to the VTCC to assist in their work to improve the mental health of all Virginians. View photo ... Lyman M. FIsher, a retired professor of clinical pathology for the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, recently passed away at the age of 84. He will be greatly missed. Visit the Richmond Times Dispatch website to read more ... George K. Michalopoulos, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently presented Pathology grand rounds. Read more ... Dr. Alphonse Sirica recently presented his research findings regarding a correlation between bile duct obstruction and ductal cancer at Experimental Biology 2007 in Washington, DC. Dr. Sirica, Chairman Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory, Professor Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine at VCU, gave his presentation as part of the scientific program of the American Society for Investigative Pathology. Read the full story on Medical News Today website ... Read VCU News coverage of Dr. Sirica's research ... We are pleased to announce our fourth Alumni Reunion to be held on October 26 and 27 in Richmond, Virginia. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend, as there will be lectures, continuing medical education, laboratory tours, dinner, and a trip to Colonial Williamsburg. A new website for the alumni reunion is now available. Click on the link Alumni Website on the right-hand side of our home page to get to the Pathology Alumni Reunion Website. ***April* *2007 (return to top)* Dr. Greg Miller, Professor of Pathology, is the 2007 recipient of the Excellence in Consensus Management award from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The award was recently bestowed on Dr. Miller during the CLSI Annual Leadership Conference & Workshop. Read more ... Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, Marcella F. Fierro, MD, is the subject of a recent news story, "Famed medical examiner tends to Va. Tech victims." The article, posted by Scripps Howard News Service, highlights the ongoing efforts of Dr. Marcella Fierro, who is also a Professor of Pathology at VCU and Chair of the VCU Department of Legal Medicine. Read this news story ... Zichen Zhang, PhD, Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory under the direction of Division Chairman Alphonse Sirica, PhD, recently shared his ongoing research with faculty and students. Read more ... Marie Do, MD, and Shah Giashuddin, MD, both from the Department of Pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University, presented grand rounds lecture for faculty, residents and staff. Read more ... Dr. Enrique Gerszten*, Professor of Pathology and Vice Chair of Pathology Education programs at VCU, fielded prospective fellows' questions during the USCAP Pathology Fellowship Fair in San Diego, California, on March 25, 2007. Read more ... New* resources now available on our web site: Link to the new PET website, Practicing Excellence in Transfusion Therapy, available on the Transfusion Medicine Clinical Laboratory Services web page - click here ... Link to a copy of the new Dermatopathology Services brochure available on the Outreach Laboratory Services page - click here ... Link to our new AP Research Services web page - click here ... ***March* *2007 (return to top)* Pathology Grand Rounds were presented by guest speaker Donald S. Karcher, MD, Professor of Pathology and Acting Chair from the Department of Pathology at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C. Read more ... Malissa Liu, a graduate student in the Elmore/Holt Research Laboratory, presented her ongoing research regarding, "Telomere - associated protein expression during breast cancer progression". Read more ... Dr. Joy L. Ware, Professor of Pathology, has been appointed as the first Director of the VCU Conservation Medicine Program. This new research program is a collaboration involving the Department of Pathology and the Rice Environmental Science Center; additional sites are also joining the program. The VCU Rice Center recently featured this new program on their web site. .Visit the Rice Center web site ... In a related story, the Richmond Times Dispatch spoke with Dr. Ware about her new course offering in Conservation Medicine. Read the Richmond Times Dispatch article.Additional information on the VCU Conservation Medicine Program will soon be available on the Department of Pathology web site. Bradley Miller, MD, PhD, Faculty Instructor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, presented grand rounds lecture for faculty, residents and staff. Read more ... Ranjitha Veerappan, MBBS, and Dan Klink, MD, both fellows in the Department of Pathology, presented grand rounds lecture for faculty, residents and staff. Read more ... *February* *2007 (return to top)* Regina Burton, MD, and James Fulcher, MD, both residents in the Department of Pathology, presented grand rounds lecture for faculty, residents and staff. Dr. Regina Burton, also Chief Resident for 2006-2007, spoke on the topic, "Parvovirus B19," and Dr. James Fulcher, 3rd year resident, presented, "Granulocytic Sarcoma." Read more ... Grand Rounds continued with presentations by Pathology fellow Jean Thomsen and fourth year resident Karen Cline-Parhamovich. Read more ... Dr. Aaron Bensimon, of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France shared his research in progress on "DNA replication is perturbed in Human Inverted repeats," Dr. Bensimon works in collaboration with Dr. Colleen Jackson-Cook, Director of the Jackson-Cook Cytogenetics Laboratory in the Department of Pathology. Read more ... Lynne W. Elmore, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology was recently recognized by VCU as an exceptional BIRCWH Health Institute Scholar. Dr. Elmore is Co-Director of the Elmore/Holt Research Laboratory which investigates the role of telomeres in aging and cancer. Read VCU news feature ... Outreach Laboratory Services** have several new helpful web pages available to assist hospital customers, employees, residents and faculty. These new pages contain forms, critical values list, STAT testing menu, and other important resources including expanded contact information. Read more ... *January* *2007 (return to top)* Patrick McDonough and Marielis Triana, Pathology residents at VCU, presented last week's Grand Rounds lecture for faculty, residents and staff. Dr. Triana presented "Ectopia Cordis" and Dr. McDonough presented, "The Case of the Mysterious Buccal Mass. " Read more ... Chief Residents for the 2007-2008 Academic Year in the Department of Pathology will be Patrick McDonough and James Fulcher. James Fulcher, MD, is a 2004 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and Patrick McDonough, MD, is a 2004 graduate of University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. For more information about our Pathology Resident Training Program, click here ... Mary Jo Martin, MD, Neuropathology fellow in the VCU Department of Pathology, presented the first Pathology Grand Rounds lecture this spring. Dr. Martin's topic, "Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors," described the histology of some common pediatric CNS tumors. Read more ... Updated March 3, 2008