Holiday Reminders

The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC will be closed Monday, July 4, 2016 in observation of Independence Day and on

Monday, September 5, 2016 in observation of Labor Day.

Pathology News

J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 1 6

Life is not

a problem

to be

solved,

but a reality

to be

experienced.

Soren Kierkegaard

1813-1855

Dear Colleagues:

With everybody’s efforts and meaningful contributions, our department

had another very successful year. The clinical services we provide are deemed by

everybody as outstanding. This is all the more remarkable since our Pathology

grid covers now more than 20 hospitals which we have successfully completely or

(a few) partially integrated. The coordinated activities of our Information Services,

the detail implementation of all collaborative interactions between hospitals by our

technical and administrative personnel, and your willingness to make friends and

partners across hospital borders, have all worked to make our hospital network

very successful. To my knowledge, we are still, by far, the largest academic hospi-

tal network in the country. Though larger is not always better, in our instance the

size of our clinical enterprise has enabled us to build in depth as we have expanded in

surface. The result is a high quality structure of services that enables us to give accu-

rate and often personalized diagnoses and to incorporate all recent scientific develop-

ments directly into our practice.

Research activities have also grown. Many new grants have been added to the

department’s folio to support research activities. Our research efforts in tissue biology

and pathobiology cover a spectrum of targets and topics and have fostered many col-

laborative activities. A recent example is the establishment of a Liver Center, under the

auspices of the School of Medicine and with support from UPP and UPMC. It is a part-

nership with the department of Medicine and, under the direction of Dr. Paul Monga, it

will take advantage of our strength in research in liver regenerative biology and the

clinical activities of the Medicine and Surgery Departments.

Our teaching of medical students, residents and fellows has also met with

enthusiastic reciprocity from our learning partners and the School of Medicine. The

strong foundation of quality built into our program is the result of indefatigable activi-

ties by Dr. Trevor Macpherson, who, after more than 40 years of services to our de-

partment, just announced his impending retirement in the coming year. He will always

be available for consultation and advice, and Dr. Marie DeFrances will be taking over

as the director of our education programs.

On a sad note, all of us were surprised by the sudden demise of Dr. Ray

Felgar, member of Hematopathology Division and loved by all of who knew him. He

will be always missed.

With the end of the academic year, there are several new faculty coming to

the department to cover gaps in places and to add on to existing programs. We wel-

come all of them and are eager to make them partners and members of our Pathology

family.

Enjoy the summer!

George Michalopoulos

Pathology Professor and Chair

Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC

Grant Administration

Page 2

New Faculty

Page 3

Faculty Highlights

Page 4

Residency/Fellowship

Page 5-7

CMP

Page 8-9

PIRRT

Page 10-11

Presentations

Page 12

Publications

Page 13-14

CME, Annual Report,

ECU and Pub

Notification

Page 15

ECU Update

Page 16

Grant Administration P A G E 2

Grant: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh/Hillman Transplant Foundation

Innovation Development Award

Title: "Transplantation of liver progenitor cells to promote ATZ globule

clearance in A1AT deficiency”

Amount: $25,000 (1/1/16 - 12/31/16)

PI: Zahida Khan, MD PhD

Alpha-1 Foundation Pilot and Feasibility Grant

"Advanced single cell analysis of proliferation and ploidy in PiZ mouse

hepatocytes”

PI: Zahida Khan, MD PhD

$40,000 (7/1/16-6/30/17)

The most

important

thing is to

enjoy

your life -

to be happy -

it's all that

matters.

Audrey Hepburn

1929-1993

REMINDER – Grant Proposal Submissions to the Office of Research

From the University of Pittsburgh Office of Research: Recently, a number of

grant proposals arrived to the Office of Research shortly before the sponsor

deadline. These proposals generated electronic errors at submission, and due to

the complexity of the errors and the lack of time, these proposals did not reach

the sponsor by the deadline and thus were administratively withdrawn by the

sponsor. These are unfortunate situations for the PI, the department, and the

Office of Research which should not happen.

While all staff in the Research Administration area will make every effort to en-

sure your submission reaches the Office of Research by deadline, please adhere

to these guidelines from the Office of Research:

Complete and final proposals must include all of the documents required for sub-

mission, as well as uploaded of the electronic application, if applicable, and any

other attachments or approvals required by the sponsor or the University, are to

be received by the Office of Research at least three (3) full business days prior to

the sponsor’s due date. The sponsor’s due date is defined as the date and time

after which the sponsor will no longer accept proposals. If a proposal is not re-

ceived by the Office of Research before the stated internal deadline, no guaran-

tee can be made that the proposal will be submitted on time.

New Staff: Please join me in welcoming Ms. Frances Ward to the Research Ad-

ministrative area of Pathology as our new Pre-Award Grant Administrator.

Frances joins the department with over eight years of University grant administra-

tion while at Howard University. If you have not yet had the opportunity to meet

Frances please stop by to introduce yourself.

Mary Lou Benedetti, MHR/IR

P A G E 3

Rita Alaggio, M.D., Professor of Pathology, will join the Department of Pathology at Children’s Hospi-

tal December 1, 2016. as a pediatric pathologist. She is currently at the University of Padua in Italy.

Nathanael G. Bailey, M.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Hematopatholo-

gy on September 1. Dr. Bailey is currently at the University of Michigan.

Aaron N. Berg, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Anatomic Pathology

July 1, 2016. Dr. Berg will finish a fellowship in Cytopathology at UPMC in June. His area of expertise

is in Head and Neck Pathology.

Humberto Trejo Bittar, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Anatomic

Pathology July 1, 2016. He is currently finishing a Thoracic Pathology Fellowship at UPMC.

Jeffrey Bonadio, M.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, will join the Department of Pathology at

Magee Women’s Hospital July 1, 2016. He will be the Director of Perinatal Pathology. He is currently

the Medical Director of Perinatal Pathology at Sharp Health Care in San Diego, CA.

Hun-Way Hwang, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Experi-

mental Pathology September 1, 2016. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Rockefeller University.

He will develop an independent research program in the area of molecular biology of RNA processing.

Ari Karunamurthy, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Anatomic Pathol-

ogy as well as Dermatopathology July 1, 2016. He is finishing a fellowship in Dermatolopathology in

June 2016 at UPMC.

Yen-Chun Liu, M.D., Ph.D., M.S., Assistant Professor of Pathology, will join the Division of Hemato-

pathology September 1, 2016. She is currently at Cornell Medical College as an Assistant Professor.

She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology in Molecular Genetic Pathology, Hematology

and Anatomic Pathology.

Massimo Mangiola, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, joined the Division of Transplant Patholo-

gy February 1, 2016. He was formerly the Director of Special Services for HLA, Immune-hematology

and Relationship Testing Laboratories in Providence Rhode Island.

Sara Monaghan, M.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, will rejoin

the Department of Pathology in the Hematopathology Division Au-

gust 1. Currently at the University of Texas, she will return to the

Department after five years in Texas.

Xiaosong Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, has

joined the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute February 1, 2016.

New Faculty

P A G E 4

Marie C. DeFrances, M.D., Ph.D.

Member , "CAP/ACMG Biochemical & Molecular Genetics Resource Committee". Term is 2016 –2021.

Clayton A. Wiley, M.D., Ph.D. received the annual “Didactic Teaching Award” from the

Neurology Residents., May, 2016.

Satdarshan (Paul) Monga, M.D.

recently accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief of Gene Expression: The Journal of Basic

Liver Research. https://www.cognizantcommunication.com/journal-titles/gene-expression. The first issue under his

leadership is anticipated late summer 2016.

was elected as secretary treasurer, American Society of Investigative Pathology for 2016-2018

Jennifer Picarsic, M.D. was named as one of American Society of Clinical Pathology ‘s 40 under 40 http://

www.ascp.org/40under40 which recognizes the future leaders of pathology and laboratory medicine

Departing/Retiring Faculty

Tony Parks, M.D., has resigned from Magee Womens Hospital effective June 1, 2016 and has joined the

Department of Pathology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

Christine Roth, M.D., has resigned from the Hematopathology Division effective May 1, 2016 and has

joined the Department of Pathology at Baylor University in Houston, Texas.

Blima Mitre, M.D., will retire from Passavant Hospital June 30, 2016.

Promotions Dipanjan Basu, Ph.D., promoted to Research Instructor at CHP.

Esther Elishaev, M.D., promoted to Associate Professor of Pathology

Douglas Hartman, M.D., promoted to Associate Professor of Pathology

Liron Pantanowitz, M.D., promoted to Professor of Pathology

Michelle A. Wood-Trageser, Ph.D., promoted to Research Instructor in

Division of Transplant Pathology.

In Memorium

Ray Felgar, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pathology in the Division of Hematopathology, passed away

unexpectantly April 18, 2016. Dr. Felgar was an asset to the Department not only professionally but

personally to all that knew him. His presence is sorely missed.

Faculty Highlights

Casey Gooden, M.D., Clinical Instructor and her husband, Joshua Martin welcomed a 6lb 7oz, 19 inches

daughter, Adeline Rose Martin, on April 1, 2016.

Residency Program:

New PGY-1 Class – July 2016:

Five new residents have been recruited.

Eric Carlsen, MD, PhD – University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston

Tanner Freemen, MD, PhD – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Claudia Salgado, MD, PhD – Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF) Faculdade de Medicina

John Skaugen, MD – University of Texas Medical School at Houston

Jacob Smith, MD – Texas Tech University Health Sciences in Dallas

Fellowship Program:

Fellows – July 2016 Nine fellows have been recruited from outside programs together with three internal candidates. A total of twelve trainees will begin their fel-

lowships on July 1, 2016.

Eduardo Castro-Echeverry, MD, MPH (MGP) – Baylor Scott & White Healthcare and Texas A&M Health Sciences Center – AP/CP residency

Haiying Chen, MD, MS (Ped Path) – Tufts Medical Center – AP/CP residency

Kossivi Dantey, MD (BST) – University of Vermont College of Medicine & Fletcher Allen Health Care – AP/CP residency

Mohamed El Hag, MD, MS (Transplant) – Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Case Medical Center – AP/CP residency

Soufiane El Hallani, MD, PhD (MGP) – The Ottawa Hospital – AP residency

Sarika Jain, MD (Heme) – UPMC – AP/CP residency

Stacey Mardekian, MD (SP) – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital – AP/CP residency

Christine Minerowicz, MD (Thor) – Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – AP/CP residency

Angela Sanguino Ramirez, MD, MPH (GU) – Allegheny General Hospital – AP/CP residency

Diana Thomas, MD, PhD (NP) – UPMC – AP residency

Juan Wang, MD (Heme) – Vanderbilt University Medical Center – AP/CP residency

Zhan (Johnny) Ye, MD, PhD (BB) – University of Kentucky – AP/CP residency

Clinical Instructors – July 2016

Six clinical instructors have also been recruited.

Binara Assylbekova, MD (GYN/Breast) – University of Texas at Houston – AP/CP residency

Matthew Hanna, MD (Info) – The Mount Sinai Hospital – AP/CP residency

Xin Li, MD, MS (GYN/Breast) – East Carolina University/Vidant Medical Center – AP/CP residency

Russell Silowash, DO (GI) – UPMC – AP/CP residency

Brian Theisen, MD (GI) – UPMC – AP/CP residency

Kavita Varma, MD, DNB (GYN/Breast) – Henry Ford Hospital/Wayne State University Program – AP/CP residency

Residency Program ACGME Items:

Core faculty ACGME survey response 95%

Resident ACGME survey response 100%

P A G E 5

From the desk of Dr. Trevor Macpherson…..

RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP

Michelle Stram, M.D.

Award

Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award, Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS) 2016

(Chris Suciu and Jansen Seheult are partners on this accomplishment/project)

Oral

Podium Presentation: ACLPS. Alabama, June 2-4, 2016.

Stram, M., Suciu, C., Seheult, J., McCullough, M., Wells, A., Pasculle, A., Rinaldo, C., Ismail, N. Interpretation of HSV Positive

Respiratory Specimens Using Quantitative PCR.

Abstracts

Stram, M., Nine, J. Cardiac Conduction System Pathology in the Hospital Setting: A Selection of Cases.

USCAP. Seattle, WA. March 12-18, 2016.

Stram, M., Dabbs, D., Bhargava, R., Pradhan, D., Onisko, A., Jones, M. The Use of Immunohistochemistry in Distinction between

Clear Cell and Squamous Differentiation in Adenocarcinoma of the Endometrium.

USCAP. Seattle, WA. March 12-18, 2016.

Stram, M., Pradhan, D., Zhao, C. Prevalence of HPV 16/18 Genotypes and Histological Follow-Up Results in Women with Nega-

tive Pap Cytology/Positive Cervista HPV HR Assay.

USCAP. Seattle, WA. March 12-18, 2016.

Suciu, C., Stram, M., Seheult, J., McCullough, M., Pasculle, A., Rinaldo, C., Ismail, N. Interpretation of HSV Positive Respiratory

Specimens Using Quantitative PCR.

USCAP. Seattle, WA. March 12-18, 2016.

Pradhan, D., Stram, M., Zhao, C. Clinical significance of Human Papillomavirus–positive result on Hybrid Capture 2 assay vs Cer-

vista HR: Histological follow-up results of 3000 women with Human Papillomavirus–positive Atypical Squamous Cells of Undeter-

mined Significance in a large academic women’s center.

USCAP. Seattle, WA. March 12-18, 2016.

Lama Farchoukh, M.D.

Recipient of Best Resident Poster Award at ASCP’15 Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA-: Prognostic Significance of sub-

Classification of Extracapsular Extension in Prostate Cancer: Study of 673 Patients at a Large Academic Institution. - Lama Far-

choukh,, LaFramboise WA, Milon A, Nelson JB, Woldemichael E, Bastacky S, Parwani AV, Dhir R, October, 2015

APCP Chief resident at the UPMC pathology department as of March 2016

Lama Farchoukh, Dr.Pai, Dr.Kuan, Platform Speaker, USCAP 105th Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA: KRAS Mutations Are Fre-

quently Identified in Colorectal Carcinoma with BRAF Wild-Type Sporadic MLH1 deficiency from MLH1 Promoter Hypermethyl-

ation, March, 2016.

Lama Farchoukh, Dr. Parwani, Dr. Bastacky, Dr, Dhir . Prognostic Significance of sub-Classification of Extracapsular Extension in

Prostate Cancer: Study of 673 Patients at a Large Academic Institution. ASCP’16 Annual Meeting Long Beach, CA-Winner of Best

resident poster award. October, 2015.

Lama Farchoukh, Dr.Pantanowitz, Dr. Monaco . Primary salivary gland type tumor of the lung initially presenting as a hamarto-

ma.CAP’15The pathologists’ meeting Gaylord Opryland, Nashville- October 2015

Farchoukh, L, Pantanowitz, L, Monaco, S, Primary Salivary Gland Type Tumor of the Lung Initially Presenting as a Hamartoma.

Publication status: Published as web supplement. (2015) Abstracts and Case Studies From the College of American Pathologists

2015 Annual Meeting (CAP '15). Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: October 2015, Vol. 139, No. 10, pp. e2-e186.doi:

http://dx.doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2015-0241-AB

P A G E 6

P A G E 7

Lama Farchoukh, M.D.

“UPMC’s Pathology Resident – Medical Student Liaison Program: Bridging the Divide” Group for

Research in Pathology Education(GRIPE) Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA-

Dane Olevian, Russell Silowas Humberto Trejo-Bittar, Lama Farchoukh, Trevor A. Macpherson, and

Marie C. DeFrances, January, 2016

Farchoukh L, Kuan SF, Dudley B, Brand R, Nikiforova M. Pai RK. MLH1-Deficient Colorectal Carcinoma

with Wild-Type BRAF and MLH1 Promoter Hypermethylation Harbor KRAS Mutations and Arise from

Conventional Adenomas: Implications for the Serrated Neoplasia Pathway. 2016. Publication status: ac-

cepted in AJSP .

Pradhan D, Appleman LJ, Parikh R, Bastacky S, Dhir R, Nikiforov YE, Nikiforova M, Roy S. Next Genera-

tion Sequencing (NGS)-based Molecular Characterization of High Grade Urothelial Carcinoma. 105th

USCAP Annual Meeting, March 14, 2016, Seattle, WA.

Pradhan D, Stram M, Zhao C. Comparing the Histological Follow-Up Results between Positive HC2 HR

HPV Test and Cervista HPV HR Assay for Women with ASC-US Cytology in a large Academic Women

Hospital Practice. 105th USCAP Annual Meeting, March 16, 2016, Seattle, WA.

Pradhan D, Green A, Fuhrer KA, Bastacky S, Dhir R, Parwani AV, Roy S. Utility of Immunohistochemistry

for Distinguishing Luminal and Basal Subtypes of Urothelial Carcinoma on Formalin Fixed Paraffin Em-

bedded Tissues. 105th USCAP Annual Meeting, March 15, 2016, Seattle, WA.

Bastacky S, Pradhan D, Roy S, Dhir R. Human Papillomavirus in Urothelial Carcinoma In-Situ: Does It

Have a Role in Urothelial Carcinogenesis? 105th USCAP Annual Meeting, March 15, 2016, Seattle, WA.

Bastacky S, Pradhan D, Roy S, Quiroga-Garza G, Cieply K, Mahaffey AL, Dhir R, Parwani AV. Experi-

ence with UroVysion FISH in Suspicious Cases for Urothelial Malignancy from a Large Academic Medical

Center. 105th USCAP Annual Meeting, March 16, 2016, Seattle, WA.

Pradhan D, Pantanowitz L, Hartman DJ. How does Digital Magnification on Different Whole Slide Scan-

ners Affect the Assessment of Gastric Biopsies for Helicobacter Pylori? Pathology Informatics Summit

2016, May 25, 2016, Pittsburgh, PA. Accepted

Pradhan D, Thompson BA, Rabin BS. Analysis of Cases Positive for Antinuclear Antibodies by Indirect

Immuno fluorescence but Negative on Bioplex 2200. ASCP 2015. 29th Oct 2015.

Pradhan D, Monaco SE, Palekar A, Xing J, Pantanowitz L. Cytological Evaluation of Malignant Joint Fluid

Specimens: Rare But Important Finding. ASC 2015. 14th Nov 2015.

Denish Pradhan, M.D. was selected as the USCAP Ambassador for 2016-2018.

P A G E 8

CMP and Related News of Note:

The numbers are in! This year there will be 26 NEW students matriculating to the IBGP program in the fall so

soon we will be ACTIVELY seeking mentors who wish to host a graduate student in their lab next year. To assure

that the students know you are interested, contact me and also, be sure you have your projects registered on the web

site: https://somgrad.wufoo.com/forms/update-faculty-information/

Since last fall, 3 students have formally graduated and two have formally joined, making our current number of

CMP students 26; however, this summer another three students will be leaving us. On the other hand, we anticipate

adding another 3 new students from the MSTP (1) and IBGP (2) parent programs by September, so CMP remains

one of the strongest graduate programs at the University.

The Pathology Research Seminar and Retreat was held this year on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 from 12-7:00 PM.

Our keynote speaker was Dr. Charles Parkos from the University of Michigan who spoke on “Interplay between the

mucosal barrier and leukocytes: new paradigms and challenges”. ECU credits are offered for the oral presentation

portion of the meeting so remember to turn your information in for credit to Judith Nestico nesticojc@upmc.edu).

The poster session (refreshments included!) was held at the University Club and the winners were:

Graduate students:

First place: Lindsey Saldin (mentor Steve Badylak)

Second place: Kevin Levine (mentor Steffi Oesterreich)

Third place: Tie between Colin Beckwitt (mentor, Alan Wells), Tiffany Bernardo (mentor, Yaki Barak), and

Heejae Kang (mentor, Peter Lucas)

Post-graduate trainee (basic):

First place: Manish Verma (mentor, Charleen Chu)

Second place: Amanda Clark (mentor, Alan Wells)

Third place: Tie between Evan Delgado (mentor, Andy Duncan) and Bo Ma (mentor, Alan Wells)

Post-graduate trainee (clinical):

First place: Lama Farchoukh

Second place: Jiancong Liang (mentor, Sarangarajan Ranganathan)

Third place: Tie between Jackie Birkness (mentor, Jon Davison) and Aaron Berg (mentor, Liron Pantanowitz)

Post-graduate trainee (clinical):

First place: Lama Farchoukh (Rajiv Dhir)

Second place: Jiancong Liang (mentor, Sarangarajan Ranganathan)

Third place: Tie between Jackie Birkness (mentor, Jon Davison) and Aaron Berg (mentor, Liron Pantanowitz)

The CMP arm of the School of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SOM-SURP) will run from

May 23 until July 29 this year. We have a total of 5 students participating from across the country, including 1

from an ASIP-sponsored program (SROPP). The SOM-SURP is a highly competitive program. This year there

were 570 applicants to SURP overall, with 245 indicating an interest in CMP.

From the desk of Dr. Wendy M. Mars ….

CMP GRADUATE PROGRAM

SURP isn’t the only summer training program in the Pathology Department! This summer we will have

several other students working with Pathology faculty. There will be three first year medical students

working on summer research projects and funded through the Klionsky Pathology fellowship. Additional-

ly, Klionsky fellowships have been offered to another 2 college undergraduates who plan to attend medical

school and have an interest in Pathology. This continues to be one of the strongest recruiting programs we

have for the discipline of Pathology.

If you are interested in having issues brought before the CMP committee, please share them with our CMP

administrator, Shannon Hozinec (hozinecsl@upmc.edu), or me (wmars@pitt.edu). Also, please continue

to make me aware of any outstanding faculty members who are not currently members of CMP but who

would be eligible and have a possible interest in joining our program.

Thanks so much!

Wendy M. Mars, Ph.D.

Director, Pathology SURP and CMP graduate program

2016 GIPS Abstract Award and Travel Award Winners

Abstract Award Winner:

Abstract Award Winner:

Michelle Heayn (UPMC): ATRX/DAXX Loss Is Highly Specific for Metastatic Pancreatic Neuroendocrine

Tumors

Abstract Award Runner-ups:

Su-Yang Liu (UCSF): Tumor Deposits and Venous Invasion in Colorectal Carcinoma: Clarification of

Morphological Criteria and Role of these Parameters in Staging

Matthew Rosenbaum (MGH): Next Generation Sequencing Adds Value to the Pre-Operative Diagno-

sis of Pancreatic Cysts

Travel Award Winner:

Courtney Thomas (Northeast Ohio Medical Center/Summa Health System)

P A G E 9

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for

something, sometime in your life. “

Winston Churchill

1874-1965

Pathologist Investigator Residency-Research Training (PIRRT) Program:

Pioneering advances in molecular pathology – Basic and Applied

The PIRRT program allows Pathology residents or multiyear fellows at the University of Pittsburgh to construct individualized research train-

ing experiences with the goal of “fast-tracking” to independent physician-scientist faculty positions. Trainees have generally been admitted

to the program as first year residents, electing to take their research year after PGY1 or PGY2, or before continuing to diagnostic fellowship

training here. This year, we are pleased to announce new faculty positions for Dr. Chiang and Dr. Gurda upon graduation from our fellow-

ship program, and to welcome Tanner Freeman as an incoming PGY1 trainee.

We would also like to thank Trevor Macpherson for his support, insights and flexibility in the continuous process to improve PIRRT recruit-

ing and training. We look forward to working with Marie DeFrances in the upcoming years!

Charleen T. Chu and Tim Oury

PIRRT Co-Directors

Please join us in welcoming our new PIRRT trainee in July!

Tanner Freeman, MD, PhD

Tanner Freeman, MD, PhD, grew up in Houma, LA prior to attending the University of Notre Dame and

obtaining his B.S. in Biochemistry. While at Notre Dame, he worked in the laboratory of Richard Taylor,

PhD on the total organic synthesis of a putative anti-cancer agent. Tanner then joined the Vanderbilt

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in which he earned his PhD in Cell and Developmental Biolo-

gy in R. Daniel Beauchamp’s laboratory. For his thesis work, Tanner focused on mouse models of colo-

rectal cancer and the role of TGF-β signaling in tumor progression. It was through his PhD training that

Tanner found his love for Pathology as he worked with a gastrointestinal pathologist, Kay Washington

MD, PhD, on his project and appreciated the impact that pathologists are able to have both in patient

care and advancing research. Tanner’s current research interests lie in understanding the signaling

pathways implicated in normal differentiation and avenues to restore these pathways in transformed

tissues. Tanner plans on pursuing fellowships in Molecular Genetic Pathology and Gastrointestinal Pa-

thology. During his training in Nashville, he married Megan Culler Freeman, a fellow MSTP trainee and

budding virologist, who is currently pursuing Pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital of Pitts-

burgh of UPMC. In their spare time, they enjoy culinary adventures whether it be trying a new recipe at

home or dining at a recently discovered restaurant, walking their dog (Yazoo), and exploring the Bourbon Trail. Tanner also enjoys

running and Notre Dame Football.

Jpdates on current PIRRT trainees:

Thomas Pearce, MD, PhD

Tom is completing his second year of AP training, with plans to join the NP program following his PIRRT research year.

Beginning in July 2016, he will join the laboratory of Rob Turner in the Systems Neuroscience Institute for post-doctoral training and

career development. He will use simultaneous electrophysiological recordings from multiple interconnected brain regions in a

primate model of Parkinson’s disease to study neural underpinnings of complex behavior.

Jason Cheng-Hsuan Chiang, MD, PhD

Jason received a Pathology Postdoctoral Research Training Program Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine De-

partment of Pathology (2015-16), and a Travel Award to present his work at the 2015 Annual Meeting of American Association of

Neuropathologists in Denver, CO.

Jason will move to Memphis, TN after finishing his Neuropathology Fellowship in June, with a starting position as Assistant Member in

Neuropathology/Neurobiology & Brain Tumor Program in the Departments of Pathology and Developmental Neurobiology at St.

Jude Children's Research Hospital.

P A G E 1 0

P A G E 1 1

Grzegorz (Greg) Gurda, MD, PhD

Following completion of his Molecular Diagnostics Fellowship, Greg will join the Gundersen Health System and Gundersen Research

Foundation at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, where he will focus on surgical pathology, molecular diagnostics and breast

cancer research.

Alumni Updates:

Craig Horbinski, MD, PhD. Associate Professor of Pathology and Neurosurgery, Northwestern University.

I moved to Northwestern University last summer, where I am the director of the Northwestern Nervous System Tumor Bank. The NSTB

currently supports over 20 investigators in over 50 brain tumor research projects. I also maintain several of my own research pro-

jects, and have recently obtained support as a co-investigator through an R01 and an R21.

In June 2015, I won the Lucien J Rubinstein Award for best paper on neuro-oncology, titled “Mutant IDH1 Suppresses Thrombosis in

Gliomas,” at the American Association of Neuropathologists Annual Meeting.

Charleen T. Chu and Tim Oury

PIRRT Co-Directors

SCIENCE CENTER ANNOUNCES CARNEGIE SCIENCE AWARD WINNER

AWARDEES LAUDED FOR REGIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATION

PITTSBURGH, March 30, 2016 ― Carnegie Science Center today announced seven Carnegie Science Award winners

in recognition of their regional achievements in education. Awardees will be honored during a formal celebration at Car-

negie Music Hall in Oakland on Friday, May 6, 2016.

Three student winners, who will be selected at the Science Center’s 77th annual Covestro Pittsburgh Regional Science

& Engineering Fair, will be announced on Saturday.

Also at the Science Awards ceremony in May, Carnegie Science Center will recognize 10 leaders in science and tech-

nology who were announced last week. In addition, the Science Center will recognize the Allegheny Conference on

Community Development with the 2016 Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is the highest honor conferred at the

event and will recognize the Conference for its unparalleled impact in transforming the Pittsburgh region.

Carnegie Science Center established the Carnegie Science Awards program in 1997 to recognize and promote out-

standing science and technology achievements in western Pennsylvania. Celebrating its 20th year in 2016, Carnegie

Science Awards have honored the accomplishments of more than 500 individuals and organizations that have improved

lives through their commitment and contributions in science and technology. Eaton has supported Carnegie Science

Awards for more than a decade as presenting sponsor. Chevron is the Awards’ prime sponsor.

University/Post-Secondary Student

Elizabeth Oczypok, PhD

University of Pittsburgh

As a graduate student in the MD/PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Oczypok is on the cutting edge

of asthma research. Her research of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) with Tim Oury in the

CMP Graduate Program, has impacted our understanding of how asthma develops. Oczypok, using mouse models,

showed that it is impossible to develop asthma without RAGE, and that RAGE is needed for the accumulation of pro-

inflammatory innate lymphoid cells in the lung after allergen exposure. Her research may lead to the development of

new therapies for allergic asthma and the prevention of the disease.

Professor R. Marshall Austin will be delivering an invited plenary session keynote lecture at the 19th International Congress

of Cytology (ICC2016) held from May 28 to June 1, 2016 in Yokohama, Japan. From June 9-June 22, 2016, Dr. Austin will

also be a participating Fulbright Specialist Program Grant recipient as a visiting Professor of Pathology at Bialystok Tech-

nical University in eastern Poland, a program sponsored by the Polish-US Fulbright Commission.

George K. Michalopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., invited speaker for the NCI Symposium on Integrative Cancer Biology and Ge-

nomics: Fourth Symposium on Translational Genomics with a Special Focus on liver Cancer, March17-18, 2016. “Liver Re-

generation Pathways Involved in Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.”

Invited speaker for the ASIP Liver Pathobiology Symposium: Liver Progenitors in Health and Disease, April 5, 2016 ,

“Role of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Facilitating and Inhibiting Hepatic Progenitor Cell Expansion.”

Invited speaker for the FASEB Science Research Conference: Liver Biology: Fundamental Mechanisms and Translation-

al Applications, June 28, 2016.

Steven Swerdlow, M.D. Steven Swerdlow, M.D. The upcoming revision of the WHO lymphoma classification & Bluebook – where did we end up?

SOLID TUMOR ONCOLOGY/HEMATOLOGIC ONCOLOGY, GRAND ROUNDS, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer

Center, May 17, 2016.

Satdarshan (Paul) Monga, M.D.

“Wnt/b-catenin signaling in liver regeneration,” Baylor College of Medicine Digestive Diseases Center Symposia, Hou-

ston, TX, 02/2016

“Modeling human liver tumors in mice: Biological and therapeutic implications,” Digestive Diseases Research Center,

Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 02/2016

“To leak or not to leak: Consequences of junctional crosstalk in the liver,” PLUTO annual meeting, San Juan, Peurto Ri-

co, 03/2016

“Beta-catenin and Yes-associated protein in hepatoblastoma,” International Pediaytric Liver Tumor Symposium, Houston,

TX, 03/2016

“Modeling human liver tumors in mice: Biological and therapeutic implications,” Pitt signaling Club, University of Pitts-

burgh, 03/2016

“Modeling human HCC in mice,” Liver Workshop, ASIP annual conference Experimental Biology 2016, San Diego, CA

04/2016

“Developmental Pathways in Liver Tumorigenesis: A Wnt Perspective,” ASPET Symposia on Wnt Signaling, Experi-

mental Biology 2016, San Diego, CA, 04/2016

“Modeling human liver tumors in mice: Biological and therapeutic implications,” Medical University of South Carolina,

Charleston, SC, 05/2016

“Cell junctions and barrier function: Implications in liver health and disease,” Stowell Lecture, University of California

Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, 05/2016

“Modeling Human Liver Tumors in Mice: Implications in Metabolism and Therapy,” Fourth Wuhan International Con-

ference on Cardiometabolic Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 05/2016

“Modeling Human HCC in Mice: Biological and Therapeutic Implications,” Translational Therapeutics Program, Ohio

State University, Columbus, OH, 05/2016

PRESENTATIONS

P A G E 1 2

Zahida Khan, Anne Orr, George K. Michalopoulos, Sarangarajan Ranganathan. Immunohistochemical

analysis of the stem cell marker LGR5 in pediatric liver disease. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2016 Mar 28. [Epub

ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27019151, in press.

Zahida Khan, Veena L. Venkat, Kyle A. Soltys, Donna B. Stolz, Sarangarajan Ranganathan. A challeng-

ing case of severe infantile cholestasis in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Pediatr. Dev. Pathol. 2016 Feb 8.

[Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26855337, in press.

Rao UN1, Cieply K, Sherer C, Surti U, Gollin SM Correlation of Classic and Molecular Cytogenetic Al-

terations in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas: Analysis of 46 Tumors With Emphasis on Adipocytic Tumors and

Synovial Sarcoma.. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2016 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Yovchev MI, Locker J, Oertel M. Biliary fibrosis drives liver repopulation and phenotype transition of

transplanted hepatocytes. J Hepatol 2016; 64: 1348-1357.

Alvarado TF, Puliga E, Preziosi M, Poddar M, Singh S, Columbano A, Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP. Thy-

roid Hormone Receptor-β Agonist Induces β-Catenin-Dependent Hepatocyte Proliferation in Mice: Im-

plications in Hepatic Regeneration. Gene Expr. 2016 May 24.

Edmunds LR, Otero PA, Sharma L, D'Souza S, Dolezal JM, David S, Lu J, Lamm L, Basantani M,

Zhang P, Sipula IJ, Li L, Zeng X, Ding Y, Ding F, Beck ME, Vockley J, Monga SP, Kershaw EE,

O'Doherty RM, Kratz LE, Yates NA, Goetzman EP, Scott D, Duncan AW, Prochownik EV. Abnormal

lipid processing but normal long-term repopulation potential of myc-/- hepatocytes. Oncotarget. 2016

Apr 20.

Tao J, Xu E, Zhao Y, Singh S, Li X, Couchy G, Chen X, Zucman-Rossi J, Chikina M, Monga SP. Model-

ing a human HCC subset in mice through co-expression of Met and mutant b-catenin. Hepatology 2016

(In Press) (Accompanying Editorial).

Cordi S, Godard C, Saandi T, Jacquemin P, Monga SP, Colnot S, Lemaigre FP. Role of β-catenin in de-

velopment of bile ducts. Differentiation. 2016 Feb 5. pii: S0301-4681(15)30040-2. doi: 10.1016/

j.diff.2016.02.001.

Jiansheng Huang, Andrew E. Schriefer, Paul F. Cliften, Dennis Dietzen, Sakil Kulkarni, Sucha Singh,

Monga SP, David A. RudnickPostponing the Hypoglycemic Response to Partial Hepatectomy Delays

Mouse Liver Regeneration. Am J Pathol. 2016 Mar;186(3):587-99. doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.10.027.

Al-Bataineh MM, Kinlough CL, Poland PA, Pastor-Soler NM, Sutton TA, Mang HE, Bastacky SI, Gen-

dler SJ, Madsen CS, Singh S, Monga SP, Hughey RP. Muc1 enhances the β-catenin protective pathway

during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2016 Mar 15;310(6):F569-79. doi:

10.1152/ajprenal.00520.2015.

P A G E 1 3

PUBLICATIONS

Clinical significance of atypical glandular cells in Pap tests: An analysis of more than 3000 cases at a large

academic women's center.Pradhan D, Li Z, Ocque R, Patadji S, Zhao C.Cancer Cytopathol. 2016 Apr 26. doi:

10.1002/cncy.21724. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 27115423

Evaluation of panoramic digital images using Panoptiq for frozen section diagnosis.Pradhan D, Monaco SE,

Parwani AV, Ahmed I, Duboy J, Pantanowitz L.J Pathol Inform. 2016 May 4;7:26. doi: 10.4103/2153-

3539.181770. PMID: 27217976

Mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor in an infertile male with Klinefelter syndrome:A case report and literature

review.Pradhan D, Kaman L, Dhillon J, Mohanty SK.J Cancer Res Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;11(4):1034. doi:

10.4103/0973-1482.150697.PMID: 26881632 Free Article

Duodenoduodenal intussusception: Report of three challenging cases with literature review.Pradhan D, Kaur

N, Nagi B.J Cancer Res Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;11(4):1031. doi: 10.4103/0973-1482.154068.PMID: 26881619

Free Article

Myxoid degeneration of appendix wall: An entity in search of identity: Report of two cases.Hakima L, Mo-

hanty SK, Pradhan D, Samal A, Pattnaik N, Turi GK.J Cancer Res Ther. 2015 Oct-Dec;11(4):1030. doi:

10.4103/0973-1482.165875.PMID: 26881615 Free Article

Immunoglobulin G kappa biclonal gammopathy associated with multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma and cast

nephropathy.Pradhan D, Arora P, Gami A, Kaur N.J Cancer Res Ther. 2015 Jul-Sep;11(3):660. doi:

10.4103/0973-1482.139379.PMID: 26458669 Free Article

Uterine angioleiomyoma: A rare variant of uterine leiomyoma--A case report and literature review.Diwaker P,

Pradhan D, Garg G, Bisaria D, Gogoi K, Mohanty SK.J Cancer Res Ther. 2015 Jul-Sep;11(3):649. doi:

10.4103/0973-1482.138127.PMID: 26458617 Free Article

Validation and utilization of a TFE3 break-apart FISH assay for Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma

and alveolar soft part sarcoma.Pradhan D, Roy S, Quiroga-Garza G, Cieply K, Mahaffey AL, Bastacky S,

Dhir R, Parwani AV.Diagn Pathol. 2015 Sep 29;10:179. doi: 10.1186/s13000-015-0412-z.PMID: 26415891

Free PMC Article

BRCA-mutated Invasive Breast Carcinomas: Immunohistochemical Analysis of Insulin-like Growth Factor II

mRNA-binding Protein (IMP3), Cytokeratin 8/18, and Cytokeratin 14.Mohanty SK, Lai JP, Gordon OK, Pra-

dhan D, Bose S, Dadmanesh F.Breast J. 2015 Nov-Dec;21(6):596-603. doi: 10.1111/tbj.12494. Epub 2015

Sep 22.PMID: 26390986

Giant Cell Arteritis of the Female Genital Tract With Occult Temporal Arteritis and Marginal Zone Lympho-

ma Harboring Novel 20q Deletion: A Case Report and Literature Review.Pradhan D, Amin RM, Jones MW,

Surti U, Parwani AV.Int J Surg Pathol. 2016 Feb;24(1):78-84. doi: 10.1177/1066896915605165. Epub 2015

Sep 9.PMID: 26353853

PUBLICATIONS

P A G E 1 4

CME Credit Update

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Center for Continuing Education for the Health Sciences

CME transcripts can be obtained via the Internet at ccehs.upmc.edu. Click on link “Credit Transcripts” en-

ter the required information (last name, last five digits of social security number). The transcript reflects

the American Medical Association Category 1 credits or the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) which have

been entered into the Center’s database. Credits from other institutions can be entered using the option

“add/modify” credit information. For questions about the Continuing Medical Education Credits, please

contact 412.647.8232.

Annual Report Update

The School of Medicine requests that an annual report be submitted every fall. An e-mail will be sent to

the faculty within the next month requesting individual information. The data needed includes a research

summary paragraph, Study Sections, Advisory Committees, professional affiliations, major lectureships,

honors and recognition, editorships and publications for the last three years (2014, 2015, 2016).

Collecting information from all members in the Department is time consuming therefore we are asking you

to please respond by the due date. Division Chiefs are asked to submit a summary of their division’s

activities. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Hozinec at hozinecs@upmc.edu.

Thank you.

Educational Credit Unit Update

Just a reminder that the Educational Credit Units (ECUs) are being collected from every faculty member

who has been involved with teaching activities of the medical or graduate school programs from July 1,

2015 to June 30, 2016. We have initiated a web-page (see directions for access to page on Page 16 to

collect teaching as it happens. Please be sure to update your teaching data. The School of Medicine will

be asking for the information in July. If you have any questions please contact Chris Szalkuski at

szalkuskict@upmc.edu.

Publication Notification Process Update

This is a reminder the Dean has requested a Notification of Publication form for each manuscript accept-

ed for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The notification ensures compliance with human and animal

research policies, technology transfer/patent guidelines and the requirements for citation of grant support.

It also allows for newsworthy publications to be passed onto the University media. Please submit preprint

information via the website at: https://pnf.hs.pitt.edu . If you have any questions, please contact Chris

Szalkuski at szalkuskict@upmc.edu.

P A G E 1 5

FOR ACCESS TO WEB PAGE FOR ECU LOG ON

ECU data for the academic year July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 will be due soon. Please be

sure your info is entered via our Department’s web page link.

For faculty with a UPMC network ID, please use this link. Accessing this link off of the

UPMC network will bring up a login prompt:

https://epssecure.upmc.com/ECUAdmin/auth/index.cfm

For faculty without a UPMC ID, please use this link:

https://epssecure.upmc.com/ECUTrack/index.cfm

These links are also available on the Department of Pathology webpage under links at:

http://path.upmc.edu/links.htm

From the home page select which ECU activity is to be logged, and whether the activity is for

medical or graduate students. Then fill in all fields on the form with an option for a free-text

note at the end. Confirmation will be given and the activity will be entered into the database

for submission at the end of the academic term.

For questions or feedback, please contact Thomas Harper at ISD (harperth@upmc.edu).

Thank you.

P A G E 1 6

Please send newsworthy items as they happen to szalkuskict@upmc.edu.

Thank you.