Crohn’s disease (CD), one of the major forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, is a chronic relapsing intestinal disorder that affects millions of people globally. The cause of CD is unknown, but it is thought to result from a dysregulated immune response against environmental factors, including intestinal microbes, in genetically susceptible hosts.
The weather was unseasonably warm as pathologists and trainees gathered at The Graduate Hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 15th Annual New Frontiers in Pathology Conference on October 26-28. For two and a half days, attendees heard 20 case presentations by a variety of Michigan Medicine Pathology specialists and participated in break-out sessions for deeper dives into selected subspecialties.
Every October, Michigan Medicine recognizes Quality Month as a reminder that we work to create an environment of excellence for patients, families, faculty, and staff. Here in the Department of Pathology, our Division of Quality and Health Improvement, or DQHI, is a unit that supports operational quality activities, providing expertise and resources in various ways.
Congratulations to Dr. Allecia Wilson for her recognition by the Michigan Medicine Alumni Society with the Early Career Distinguished Alumni Award, presented to her October 12, 2023. Dr. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Forensic and Pediatric Pathology, Director of Forensic Pathology, and Director of the Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program. She also serves as the Medical Examiner for Washtenaw County.
Every year Hour Magazine publishes its list of Detroit's top doctors. This year, the Department of Pathology’s Dr. Rohit Mehra was one of 1,000 recognized physicians in 96 specialties, with only six pathologists named.
Dr. Asma Nusrat, F. Peyton Rous Professor and Director of Experimental Pathology, was awarded the 2024 Rous-Whipple award at the American Society for Investigative Pathology Annual Meeting on Sunday, October 22, 2023 in Baltimore, MD.
I never imagined I would come to Michigan,” began Dr. May Chan, Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at Michigan Medicine. “I really thought I would stay in Boston following my fellowship training. I interviewed at Michigan because it was one of two academic dermatopathology jobs available at the time, and a position at my home institution didn’t open until after I applied elsewhere.
As with many adults, the career path for the new Division Director for Molecular and Genomic Pathology, Annette S. Kim, MD, PhD, was not without its pivots. Kim was a chemistry major at Harvard University when she decided to continue her education there and obtain an MD with a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry, which focuses on designing and synthesizing biological relevant molecules and improving the existing methods of synthesis.
In honor of Women in Medicine month, the Department of Pathology would like to highlight our newest women leaders. We have several women who have moved into positions of senior leadership in the department over the past several months, joining many women colleagues serving and leading in the department.
The death of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett brought sadness to those of us who grew up listening to his music and enjoying the beach vibe. Buffett died from a rare, but aggressive, form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This cancer usually appears as a rapidly growing flesh colored or reddish-blue nodule on sun-exposed skin.