PATHOLOGISTS’ ASSISTANT

Graduated in 2022
Forensic Medicine Associates, DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State? 

A: When I started exploring options to become a pathologists’ assistant, I heard a lot about the Wayne State program from alumni I would observe. The program has a great reputation, and I was very interested in Wayne State’s involvement in the Detroit community.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: Lou Kramer is a dedicated, knowledgeable and helpful mentor. As program director, she is very involved and invested in her students’ paths, education and lives. She cares very much about the program and the profession, and does everything she can to further the field. I feel very honored to have been able to learn so much from her.

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

A: Unfortunately, I attended WSU during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts by the university, college and program to provide a sense of community made it more manageable. Although my two years at Wayne State were some of my most academically challenging, I enjoyed every minute, I learned so much, and I was prepared to successfully navigate my new profession.

Q: Tell us about your career so far.

A: I am a board-certified pathologists’ assistant in the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office in Atlanta. I’m also a member of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants and the National Association of Medical Examiners, and am a certified diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

I advocate for greater awareness of diverse and marginalized voices, specifically within the pathology profession. As a founder and chair of the AAPA DEI Subcommittee, I seek to address issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion within the pathologists’ assistant community. At the National Association of Medical Examiner’s Conference in October 2023, I was awarded the Susan P. Baker Public Health Impact Award for my presentation, “Gender Identity in Death Investigation.” The topic included the importance of accurately reporting, investigating, and examining gender diverse decedents in forensic pathology and medicolegal death investigations. I also have a strong interest in organizing and facilitating educational presentations for medical professionals and students on DEI topics, such as diversity in the field of deathcare, microaggressions in the medical workforce, and health care advocacy for the Muslim community. As part of my advocacy efforts, I support the use of pathologists' assistants in forensics to help alleviate the workforce shortage.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: As a recent graduate, I'm one of the few pathologists’ assistants practicing in the field of forensics. So much has already changed, and I know the field will continue to grow in the coming years! I'm very happy and excited to be on the forefront of this movement.

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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.