PATHOLOGISTS' ASSISTANT

Graduated in 2016

Q: Why did you choose WSU?

A: The decision to attend Wayne State University was, in many ways, an easy choice to make. My father is a proud WSU alumnus from the medical school class of 1980, while on a more personal level I had always been drawn to the university's urban campus and deep history. However, the most important factor that made the decision for me was Wayne State’s Pathologists' Assistant program, one of the first in the country and highly respected on a national scale yet within an incredibly small profession that usually flies under the radar even within the health care field —although this is rapidly changing. My sights had been set on attending the Pathologists' Assistants program for years before I applied, and this was truly the reason I aspired to attend WSU in the first place.

Q: What inspired you to pursue your field?

A: My first nudge toward the field of pathology in general came from my father, a physician pathologist in a hospital laboratory less than an hour from Detroit. He was kind enough to bring me along with him to work from time to time, and I quickly gained a love for science and medicine. However, as fascinating as it was to look at human tissues under the microscope, my favorite part of the lab was the grossing suite where surgical specimens were examined and precisely dissected using scalpels and scissors in preparation for microscopic diagnosis. I will never forget watching with awe as the pathologists' assistant dissected everything from a child's tiny appendix to a full lower limb amputation. It was, without a doubt, the most captivating thing I could possibly imagine doing "when I grew up."

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: While I had several excellent and entertaining professors over my two years with the Pathologists' Assistant program, I would have to say that my most memorable professor was Dr. Lou Mendes-Kramer. A recent program graduate herself at the time, she was in her first year as teaching faculty when I started. Tasked with revamping a rigorous but aging curriculum, Prof. Kramer always found creative ways to introduce new content without losing the core quality of the program. She also clearly cared about each student and invested so much heart into our education and our success. I envy anyone lucky enough to have Prof. Kramer as their program director!

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: While not exactly a class in the traditional sense, the most challenging course I had was my clinical rotation through the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. WSU's Pathologists' Assistant program has built an increasingly widespread reputation for excellence in forensic pathology training, but nothing can truly prepare a student for the personal experience of performing an autopsy. The high standards of technical skill and knowledge of anatomy or pathology required alongside the inevitable emotional component of facing death in such a raw and unfiltered setting was a challenge to navigate and left a lasting impression on my mind and heart. However, I will always be grateful for how much I learned about humanity and about myself through these two months, no matter how complex and challenging it was to navigate.

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State: 

A: My time at Wayne State University from 2014-16 were easily among the most formative two years of my life. I grew in so many ways both personally and professionally, with these two aspects of my life often feeding into and reflecting off each other while they matured in tandem to make me a more complete, thoughtful and skilled professional. The mentorship and personal investment I received from a handful of outstanding faculty combined with the hands-on clinical training in real world settings prepared me well for a rigorous career while leaving me with a desire to give back to future students in the same way that I received so much from our alumni.

Q: Share a career highlight or summary:

A: The greatest career highlight for me is without question my work cofounding and helping lead the inaugural Student Committee with the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA), our field's international professional society. Alongside some incredible colleagues who are now dear friends, I had the privilege to build a student-led and student-focused committee within the AAPA organizational structure allowing us to connect with, support and advocate for hundreds of students representing every training program in North America. One of the greatest honors of my life was being co-recipient of the AAPA Board of Trustees award at the 2018 annual continuing education conference in New Orleans. This committee has only continued to expand its outreach since then, with new programs, educational initiatives and bright plans for the future.

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Established in 1989, the WSU Applebaum Master of Science in Pathologists' Assistant program is one of only 13 in the United States and Canada accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) to train students in the highly specialized field of anatomic pathology. Information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application deadline is Jan. 15, and all prerequisite coursework must be complete by Dec. 30.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.