Pathology residents present at national meetings

Residents from the USA Health department of pathology recently presented at the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

A total of 19 abstracts, with contributions from nine pathology residents, were accepted for presentation. Of those, two were selected as Posters of Distinction at the CAP meeting:

• “Primary smooth muscle tumor of breast: an unusual case presentation” by residents S. Shawn Liu, M.D., Ph.d.; Krutika S. Patel, M.D.; and faculty Andrea Kahn, M.D., professor of pathology.
• “Complex dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor with pilocytic astrocytoma component” by residents Shalla Akbar, M.D.; Sandhya Dasaraju, M.D.; Krutika S. Patel, M.D.; and faculty Osama R. Elkadi, M.D., assistant professor of pathology.

Krutika Patel, M.D., who serves as chief pathology resident and contributed to both winning abstracts, said, “The pathology department is very proactive and encourages the residents to participate in scholarly activity as well as attend national meetings like these.”

According to Andrea Kahn, M.D., professor of pathology, the residents are involved during the entire process, from diagnosis to presentation. “Once the case was selected for research, they conducted the literature search, analyzed the data, summarized the information and designed the presentation,” she explained. “There is close communication with all the members of the research team, but residents take the most active role.”

Kahn said many residents present more than once during their training at regional or national meetings. “Pathology residents are generally curious and engage in research projects naturally,” she said. “Our faculty members and department leadership are supportive of their research endeavors, providing guidance and mentorship.”