Members of the UAB Department of Pathology gathered for an outgoing reception for residents and fellows on June 5. Faculty, staff and trainees came together to celebrate at The Fennec with dinner and an awards ceremony.
A welcome by Brandi McCleskey, M.D., Vice Chair for Education, Residency Program Director, was followed by opening remarks by Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair in Pathology, and a special presentation by 2025 C. Bruce Alexander Lecturer, Kathrina Alexander, M.D., Global Director, CDX/Study Design.
The Leonard H. Robinson Award for Resident Education in Anatomic Pathology was presented by Kyle Joseph, D.O., to Valeria Dal Zotto, M.D., Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology. The Shu T. Huang Award for Excellence in Laboratory Medicine Education was awarded to Megan Amerson-Brown, Ph.D., CIC, MLS, presented by Caroline Stanek, M.D.
Dr. Brandi McCleskey presented Excellence in Education Awards to various faculty:
ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY
Subject Matter Expertise – Melad Dababneh, M.B.B.S., Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology
Enthusiasm for Education – Hua Guo, M.D., M.S., Associate Professor, Women’s Health
Effective Communication – Paul Benson, M.D., Professor, Anatomic Pathology
Encourages Active Learning – Abdullah Osme, M.D., Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology, and Frida Rosenblum, M.D., Associate Professor, Anatomic Pathology.
LABORATORY MEDICINE
Subject Matter Expertise – Katayoun Fomani, M.D., Associate Professor, Laboratory Medicine
Enthusiasm for Education – José Lima, M.D., Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine
Effective Communication - Chad Siniard, M.D., Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine
Encourages Active Learning – Craig Mackinnon, M.D., Ph.D., Robert B. Adams Endowed Professor, Executive Vice Chair.
Thomas Winokur, M.D., Anatomic Pathology, presented the Roger Denio Baker Prize in Anatomic Pathology to Lisa Bianco, D.O. This award, established in Dr. Baker’s name, is presented to the resident demonstrating excellence in anatomic pathology. Roger Denio Baker became the medical school’s first full-time faculty member on December 1, 1944, and the first departmental chair appointed by Dean Roy D. Kracke.
The Roy D. Kracke Award for Best Presentation in Anatomic Pathology Seminar Series was presented by Kenneth Fallon, M.D., retired Associate Professor, Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, and awarded to Chiamaka Umah, M.D. Dr. Brandi McCleskey presented the Outstanding Trainee Teaching Award on behalf of Ona Faye-Petersen, M.D., Professor Emerita, in honor of the late Dr. Alexander Feldman to Dr. Kyle Joseph.
The PEARL Award, endowed by former resident and UAB Heersink School of Medicine MSTP student Dr. Stephen Brossette, recognizes a resident who demonstrates excellence in patient care, education and research in laboratory medicine. This award was presented by Dr. Chad Siniard to Dr. Caroline Stanek. The Jay M. McDonald Award for Best Presentation in Laboratory Medicine Seminar, honoring former Department Chair Dr. Jay McDonald, was presented by Siniard to Gian Piero Carames, M.D.
McCleskey acknowledged this year’s outgoing chief resident for Education and Outreach, Amy Theriault, D.O., and announced incoming chief in the same role, Alyssa Lee, M.D., M.S. Dr. Thomas Winokur acknowledged this year’s outgoing chief resident for Anatomic Pathology, Dr. Kyle Joseph, and announced incoming chief, Dr. Gian Piero Carames. Dr. Chad Siniard awarded Dr. Caroline Stanek as outgoing chief of Clinical Pathology, and announced incoming chief Anne Hylander, D.O.
McCleskey presented this year’s RISE-ING Star Awards to Nicholas Eisele, D.O., PGY1, Chiamaka Umah, M.D., PGY2, Kyle Joseph, D.O., PGY3, and Brooke Bartow, M.D., PGY4.
The following outgoing residents were presented with certificates of completion:
Sabesan Balasinkam, M.D.
Brooke Bartow, M.D.
Lisa Bianco, D.O.
Michael Robinson, D.O.
Caroline Stanek, M.D.
Mohamed Masoud, M.D.
Jacob Havens, D.O.
Fellow certificates were presented by the following faculty in each respective program:
Dr. Abdullah Osme presented Clinical Research Fellow certificates to Ekta Jain, M.D., and Imran Ajmal, M.D.
Gregory Davis, M.D., M.S.P.H., Professor, Forensics, Division Director, Forensics, presented the Forensic Pathology fellowship certificate to Dr. Sarah Anderson.
Dr. Frida Rosenblum presented Cytopathology fellowship certificates to David Brown, M.D., and Igor Damasceno-Vidal, M.D.
Andrea Kahn, M.D., Professor, Women’s Health, presented the Surgical Pathology fellowship certificate to Dalia Eltoum, M.D. and the Women’s Health Pathology certificate to Rehab Mohamed, M.D., M.S.
The reception concluded with remarks by McCleskey, followed by group photos and fellowship among colleagues. Special thanks to Tracie Office, Program Manager, Training Programs, Dominique Willis, Program Manager, Fellowships, Kalantra Ellis, Program Coordinator, Education, and Stephanie Hobbs, Executive Assistant, Chair's Office, for organizing this special event.