Pathology residents participate in College of American Pathologists annual meeting
Six pathology residents represented USA Health at the recent College of American Pathologists meeting in Chicago. The five-day meeting served as a platform to discuss research and projects through abstract submissions and poster presentations.
A record number of six pathology residents represented USA Health at the recent College of American Pathologists meeting in Chicago. Four residents presented academic papers and two residents represented the program in resident forums.
The College of American Pathologists (CAP), the leading organization of board-certified pathologists, fosters and advocates excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For resident physicians and pathologists-in-training, the five-day meeting served as a platform to discuss research and projects through abstract submissions and poster presentations.
“The greatest takeaway was the opportunity to meet leaders in clinical pathology and learn how other institutions adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, from challenges in testing via antibody and PCR techniques to test interpretation,” said Zan Ahmed, M.D., third-year chief pathology resident. “A novel idea in conception is the use of laboratory consultation services, known as diagnostic management teams (or DMTs), as an avenue for clinicians. Participation in CAP21 has inspired me to dive deeper towards enhancing patient care in day-to-day practice.”
Ahmed presented two posters as the primary author and two posters as a supporting author. He discussed how the laboratory department was integrated into the patient safety and quality improvement council as well as a process improvement initiative involving the placement of labels on patient specimen collection tubes at USA Heath.
Third-year resident Vindhya Bellamkonda, M.D., reported on the unique autopsy case of a 57-year-old female with achondroplasia – a type of short-limbed dwarfism caused by FGFR3 gene mutation – valvular heart disease and superimposed infective endocarditis.
Shuo-Shawn Liu, M.D., Ph.D., a fourth-year resident, presented the case of a 56-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma that spread after remaining dormant for 15 years. A biopsy of a suspected abdominal wall abscess revealed a primitive tumor with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation.
Mohamed A. Masoud, M.D., a second-year resident, reported the case of a 57-year-old woman with solid, cystic masses on her left and right ovaries. Microscopic examination revealed bilateral ovarian invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma.
Fourth-year residents Sara R. Avalos Hernandez, M.D., and Jordan Lowery, M.D., attended the House of Delegates sessions and the 2021-2022 Residents Forum Executive Committee.
Avalos said it was an honor to represent the USA Department of Pathology as a delegate and to build connections with residents and pathologists from all over the United States and the world.
A session titled “If I Knew Then What I Know Now” particularly impacted Avalos. “During this session some of the top-notch pathologists of the country shared their experiences and tips for transitioning to practice,” she said. “One of the tips they emphasized was about well-being, and how important it is not to forget to take a moment every day for ourselves.”
The residents expressed their gratitude to Guillermo Herrera, M.D., professor and chair of pathology, and the department for covering their travel expenses to the conference and for supporting their research.
