PATHOLOGISTS’ ASSISTANT

Graduated in 1997
Chief Executive Officer
Centers for Gastroenterology, Fort Collins, Colorado

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State University?

A: I sought out a program with specialized forensic training and WSU provided that through the relationship with the Wayne County Medical Examiners' Office. Additionally, once I interviewed with the program and met Mary Lou Williams (the Director), and Dr. Peter Frade I knew that Wayne State was the best place for me.

Q: What inspired you to pursue Pathologists' Assistant?

A: I was awarded a clinical internship at NIH in cellular metabolism and the pathology director in the Heart Lung and Blood Institute encouraged me to explore a career as a Pathologists' Assistant in pathology.

Q: Who were your most memorable Professors?

A: Mary Lou Williams and Peter Frade - they cared so much about the students and really impacted our lives during the years we studied under them.

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: Anatomy.

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

A: I have very positive memories, mainly the people...professors, fellow students.

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

A: PAs are much more widely accepted and utilized today compared to 20 years ago.

Q: Share a career highlight or summary:

A: My PA training at WSU provided me with the foundation upon which I have built a very rewarding career. As a PA, I worked in a number of very well-known hospitals like Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. I eventually went back to grad school and earned a couple of Master’s Degrees in International Health and Hospital Administration and did a fellowship with Yale in International Health. Ultimately, I built a career in hospital and healthcare leadership which was greatly aided by the foundation that WSU’s PA program provided.

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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.