DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Research Abstract

I work as a diagnostic surgical pathologist on busy gastrointestinal (GI) and general surgical pathology services. I conduct clinical and translational research in gastrointestinal, pancreatobiliary, and head and neck pathology, my major research interests being the diagnosis, classification, and pathobiology of disease. I participate in formal and informal teaching of pathology residents, fellows, and medical students.

My research in the luminal GI tract has centered on the serrated pathway of neoplasia and the closely related DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system; I am currently exploring the effects of neoadjuvant therapy and tissue fixation on the variability of MMR protein detection (by IHC) in colorectal cancer. My current work in pancreatobiliary pathology focuses on the delineation of prognostic and predictive factors, especially in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and mucin-producing cystic neoplasms.

I am engaged in the teaching of residents, fellows, and medical students, both formally and informally. Most of that teaching occurs at the microscope, while engaged in daily sign out. I also supervise the prosection of complex GI pathology specimens, in particular pancreatobiliary resections. I have given formal lectures to the pathology housestaff on "diagnostic hepatobiliary pathology" and "pathology of colorectal cancer with deficient MMR function." Also, I have presented courses on colorectal neoplasia at the Ohio Society of Pathologists (October 2009) and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (March 2010) Meetings.

My goals are to continue to sharpen my diagnostic skills in anatomic pathology, particularly in my subspecialty area, and to continue to improve as a clinical consultant. I want to produce high-quality clinical and translational research, and to foster research collaborations with my clinical colleagues.

Publications

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