好色先生

Drs. Derek Allison and Therese Bocklage have been very busy.  Both presented at the Ninth Annual Precision Medicine Symposium on February 28, 2025.  Dr. Allison presented 鈥淭issue vs. Liquid Biopsy: Choosing the Best Biomarker Test for Your Patient鈥� and Dr. Bocklage presented 鈥淪mall Cell Lung Cancer: Dynamic Heterogeneity and Implications for Precision Therapy鈥�.  Dr. Allison was also the co-chair of this event and moderated two sessions. 

Dr. Derek Allison is co-author of a recently published work in Nature Metabolism titled 鈥淕lycogen drives tumour initiation and progression in lung adenocarcinoma鈥�.  A copy of the paper is attached and was featured in a recent 好色先生now article which can be found here . 

Dr. Therese Bocklage and the ORIEN team were recently given recognition in 好色先生Now for their support of a recently published study in the Journal of American College of Surgeons titled 鈥淪urvival Disparity and the Unique Genomic and Microbiome Profiles of Colon Cancer in Appalachian Kentucky鈥�.  See the 好色先生now piece here:    Congratulations to both of you!

Dr. Ibrahim Choucair has also been very busy!  He is second author and co-author on two papers recently accepted for publication.  The first is in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology titled 鈥淗aptoglobin in pregnancy: Trimester-specific reference intervals鈥� and can be found here:  .  The second is in the journal Clinics in Laboratory Medicine and is titled 鈥淎dvances in Chromatography-Free and Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry Techniques Toward Clinical Toxicology Testing鈥� and can be found here:  .  Excellent work Dr. Choucair!

Dr. Kim Absher is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute titled 鈥淚nvestigating the Role of HDL-Associated Serum Amyloid A in Sepsis-induced Acute Lung Injury and Mortality鈥�.  This is a collaboration with investigators from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Physiology, Surgery, Toxicology and Cancer Biology and the Cardiovascular Research Center.  Congratulations Dr. Absher!

Dr. Derek Allison wrote an article for January鈥檚 CAP Today titled 鈥淧earls and pitfalls in renal mass biopsy鈥�.  The link to the article is  and contains a nice table for some tips regarding the more common entities encountered on renal mass biopsy.  Excellent work Dr. Allison!

Leanna Brignola (first author) and Drs. Derek Allison, Bob McDonald, Therese Bocklage and Janna Neltner (senior author) had an abstract accepted for poster presentation at the Association for Academic Pathology Annual Conference this July in Denver, CO.  The abstract is titled 鈥淧aving the Path for New Pathology Interns: An Innovative Orientation".  Great work everyone!

Dr. Justin Rueckert was recently interviewed by the Association of American Medical Colleges for an article about unusual away rotations titled 鈥淎utopsies, avalanches, and ambulance rides: Unusual away rotations for medical students鈥�.  The link to the article is .  Excellent work Dr. Rueckert!

Dr. Shulin Zhang is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the National Cancer Institute titled 鈥淐CSG Pilot: Partnering to Impact Testing in the Commonwealth for Hereditary Cancers - PITCH鈥�.  This is a collaboration with investigators from the Markey 鈥� McDowell Cancer Network.  Congratulations Dr. Zhang!

Dr. Vaneet Arora has been invited to serve on the Board of Scientific Counselors, Infectious Diseases, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a term of 4 years.  The Board provides advice concerning strategies, goals, and priorities for the programs and research within the national centers and will monitor the overall strategic direction and focus of CDC鈥檚 infectious disease programs and centers.  Excellent recognition Dr. Arora!

Dr. Jing Di, in collaboration with Drs. Therese Bocklage and Mohamed Hussein, has won 3rd place for the 2025 CAPA GoPath Best Abstract Award, a platform presenting at USCAP 2025 in Boston.  The project is titled 鈥淐omparison of AI-based Algorithm Versus Manual Scoring Histopathologic Algorithm for Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma鈥� and is a collaboration with 好色先生 H&N and pathologists from the University of New Mexico.  Congratulations to all!

Drs. Wael Ibrahim (first author), Dennis Williams and Aaron Shmookler (senior author) with Daoping Zhang had a manuscript accepted for publication in the journal Laboratory Medicine.  The article is titled 鈥淚s it anti-D or anti-LW? A Brief Synopsis of the Biology of the LW Blood Group and the Importance and Differential Laboratory Methods to Discriminate these Specificities."  Great work everyone!

Dr. Hafsa Nebbache graduated from the GME Emerging Leaders program on January 16, 2025.  The GME Emerging Leaders Program is designed to provide a leadership development opportunity to Chief Residents and Fellows in their important new leadership role. A variety of personal and professional leadership topics are facilitated by 好色先生 HealthCare鈥檚 Enterprise Learning team, in coordination with other leaders across the enterprise.  Excellent work Dr. Nebbache!

Dr. Peter Nelson was featured in a story in this week鈥檚 好色先生Now discussing the new diagnostic criteria for LATE dementia.  The link to the story is  and highlights Dr. Nelson鈥檚 work with Dr. Greg Jicha in the identification and treatment of LATE.  Great work Dr. Nelson!

Dr. Wang-Xia Wang recently presented her research titled 鈥淢icroRNA-223:  Inflammatory response, sexual dimorphism, and therapeutic potential鈥� for the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Monthly Seminar Series.  Excellent work Dr. Wang!

We have multiple abstracts accepted for the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology鈥檚 (USCAP) 114th Annual Meeting, March 22-27, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.  Excellent work, everyone!

• Drs. Katie Bussing and Justin Rueckert titled 鈥淒eath Certification Errors and Utilization of the Autopsy Report鈥�
• Drs. Jing Di and Therese Bocklage titled 鈥淎I Predicting LN Met in Tongue SCC鈥�
• Drs. Mohamed Hussein, Julie Dueber, Derek Allison and Therese Bocklage titled 鈥淎denoid Cystic Carcinomas with Amplification of KDR, KIT and PDGFRA: Histologic Features and Comprehensive Molecular Genetic Findings鈥�

Derek Allison, MD, has accepted an invitation to Co-Chair a workshop for the International Congress of Cytology (ICC) meeting in Florence, Italy in May, 2025.  He will also present a session on rare finding in renal mass biopsies.  The ICC only occurs every three years and the criteria established at this congress is used daily around the world.  Great work Dr. Allison!

Jing Di, MD, (first author), Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, (senior author), Talal Arshad, MBBS, and Leo Yenwongfai, MD, collaborated on a recent publication in the journal Biomedicines titled 鈥淧rognostic Significance and Treatment Response Associations of Genetic Mutations in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study鈥�.  A PDF of the article is attached.  This article was a collaboration with clinicians from the Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Markey Cancer Center, the Division of Hematology, and the Kentucky Cancer Registry here at 好色先生.  Together, they explored genetic markers in patients with CMML at the University of Kentucky, and their findings highlight the need for personalized treatments for this unique group of patients.  Excellent work everyone!

Justin Miller, PhD, (senior author), Cody Bumgardner, PhD, and Shulin Zhang, MD, PhD, with Kate Sears, PhD, (first author), Caylin Hickey, Ryan Vincent, Jennifer Stocks-Candelaria, and Jason Tate collaborated on a recently published article in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics titled 鈥淓stablishing a Variant Allele Frequency Cutoff for Manual Curation of Medical Exome Sequencing Data鈥�. 

Peter Nelson, MD, PhD, is the sole author and senior author on three recent publications in the journals Brain, Brain Pathology, and the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.  See below for specifics.  Great work Dr. Nelson!

• 鈥淣ew criteria to predict LATE-NC in the clinical setting: Probable/Possible LATE and LANS鈥�.  Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology -  (Sole author)
• 鈥淣icorandil treatment improves survival and spatial learning in aged granulin knockout mice鈥�.  Brain Pathology -  (Senior author)
• 鈥淎myloid-尾 predominant Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change鈥�.  Brain -  (Senior author)

William O鈥機onnor, MD, Asma Arshia, MBBS, Katie Bussing, MD, and Jaan Maaza, MD, participated in the recent 好色先生 HealthCare Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network Annual Conference on November 6, 2024.  Dr. O鈥機onnor was a featured speaker and presented 鈥淲hat's Under the Microscope: A Pathologist's Guide to Heart Disease鈥�, while Drs. Arshia, Bussing, and Maaza presented pathologic hearts during the event.  See the attached picture from the event.  Excellent work everyone!

Shulin Zhang, MD, PhD, is a co-author of a recent publication in the journal PROTEINS: Structure, Function, Bioinformatics titled "L858R/L718Q and L858R/L792H Mutations of EGFR Inducing Resistance Against Osimertinib by Forming Additional Hydrogen Bonds".  This article was a collaboration with clinicians and faculty from the Markey Cancer Center and the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, the Division of Biomedical Informatics, and the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry here at 好色先生.  See this link for specifics   Congratulations, Dr. Zhang and colleagues!

Derek Allison, MD, has been asked to guest edit a special issue of Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology titled 鈥淢olecular Advances in Surgical Pathology:  Tumor-Specific Insights and Updates鈥�.  Great work, Dr. Allison!

Cody Bumgardner, PhD, has been appointed by the College of Medicine as the assistant dean for artificial intelligence and data science.  Congratulations, Dr. Bumgardner!

Jing Di, MD, (first author), Therese Bocklage, MD, (senior author), Ali Alhaidary, MD, and Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, collaborated on a recent publication in the journal Biomedicines titled 鈥溾��.  This article was in association with clinicians from the division of cancer biostatistics, Markey Cancer Center, and 好色先生 ENT. Excellent work, everyone!

Jeong Do, MD, has accepted a fellowship in Dermatopathology at New York University for the 2026-27 academic year.  Congratulations, Dr. Do!

Hafsa Nebbache, MD, has been very busy.  Through the CAP, she and two colleagues recently released a podcast titled 鈥溾��. In addition, Dr. Nebbache has been selected as one of 14 trainees for the GME Emerging Leaders Program. Excellent work, Dr. Nebbache!

Peter Nelson, MD, PhD, is featured in a recent 好色先生Now story titled 鈥溾��.  Great work, Dr. Nelson!

Justin Rueckert, DO, has shared that the Pathology Medical Student Interest Group has been awarded a $500 competitive grant by the Intersociety Council for Pathology Information (ICPI).  The group has been invited to the annual virtual forum on Nov. 13, 2024, to give a presentation highlighting their uses for the grant funding.  The group is determining how they will utilize the funds. Congratulations Dr. Rueckert and students!

Derek Allison, MD, is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the national Heart Lung and Blood Institute titled 鈥淭argeting Lung Fibrosis Using Epigenetic Therapy鈥�.  This grant is a collaboration with the departments of toxicology and cancer biology, internal medicine, microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics, physiology, and the Markey-McDowell Cancer Network.  Christine Brainson, PhD, associate professor of toxicology and caner biology, is the PI.  Excellent work Dr. Allison!

Cody Bumgardner, PhD, is the PI on a newly funded grant from Lextran Foundation Incorporated titled 鈥満蒙壬� Evaluation of Lextran鈥檚 Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) Program鈥�. Congratulations, Dr. Bumgardner!

Mohamed Hussein, MD, is first author of a recently published article in the journal Metabolites.  The article titled 鈥淐omparison of Adiposomal Lipids between Obese and Non-Obese Individuals鈥� is a collaboration with physicians from the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine and can be found at this .  Excellent work Dr. Hussein!

Wael Ibrahim, MD, Dennis Williams, MD, and Aaron Shmookler, MD, collaborated on an abstract that has been accepted for presentation at the AABB Annual Meeting in Oct. 2024 in Houston, Tx.  The title is 鈥淎nti-D Alloimmunization Rate Following the Transfusion of RhD-Positive Apheresis Platelets to RhD-Negative Patients: A Retrospective Study鈥�. Great work, everyone!

Eun Lee, MD, is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance titled 鈥淒eveloping New Therapeutic Approaches for BRAFV600E Colorectal Cancer鈥�.  This grant is a collaboration with the department of toxicology and cancer biology and the Markey-McDowell Cancer Network.  Yekaterina Zaytseva, PhD, associate professor of toxicology and cancer biology, is the PI. Excellent work Dr. Lee!

Rob Maynard, PhD has been busy!  First, he has been invited to record a podcast episode for the journal Clinical Chemistry.  The topic will be 鈥淧ersonalized Reproductive Hormone Monitoring in Sweat鈥� and will be available at the .  Second, he has been selected to give an oral presentation at the 2024 International CPOCT Symposium in San Diego, Calif. from Sept. 25-27, 2024.  His topic will be 鈥淓valuation of Hemolysis Rates in Adult and Pediatric Whole Blood Specimens at the Point of Care鈥�. Congratulations, Dr. Maynard!

Hafsa Nebbache, MD, has accepted a fellowship in Breast Pathology from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA to begin July 2026.  This will follow her Cytopathology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Congratulations, Dr. Nebbache!

William O鈥機onnor, MD, (first author) and Asma Arshia, MD, (co-author) recently published a case report in European Heart Journal Case Reports titled 鈥淣uclear envelope lamin-related dilated cardiomyopathy: a case series including histopathology鈥�.  The report can be accessed  and is a collaboration with 好色先生 Cardiology. Congratulations Drs. O鈥機onnor and Arshia!

Dava Piecoro, MD, is a co-investigator on a recently funded CCSG Pilot Grant from the National Cancer Institute titled 鈥淭he Role of Calpain-5 in Endometrial Cancer鈥�.  This is a collaboration with the departments of radiation medicine, toxicology and cancer biology, and the  Markey-McDowell Cancer Network. Congratulations, Dr. Piecoro!

Justin Rueckert, MD, is very busy!  First, he has been asked to join a panel discussion for Schwartz Rounds (a multidisciplinary forum where clinical caregivers discuss social and emotional issues) on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 from Noon-1 p.m. in CTW014 Wethington Bldg).  The topic of discussion will be 鈥淐are, After the End鈥� and he will be joined by Jeremy Garbat-Welch, M.Div. and Vicky Kaak, RN.  Lunch will be served and all are welcome to attend. Second, he has been appointed by the Office of Medical Education to the roles of Pathology Thread Leader and Histology Thread Leader.  These roles involve coordination of foundational science topics throughout the undergraduate medical curriculum and will involve collaboration with course directors, course faculty, clerkship directors, and OME leadership. Good luck Dr. Rueckert!

Dr. Aaron Shmookler is co-author on a recent publication in the journal Transfusion Medicine Reviews.  The article is titled 鈥淩hD-Alloimmunization in Adult and Pediatric Trauma Patients鈥� and is a collaboration with researchers from around the country and internationally.  Excellent work. Dr. Shmookler!

Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, is first author on a book chapter (Chapter 5: Ring Chromosome 1) in Human Ring Chromosomes:  A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Families. Great work. Dr. Wei!  

Our Pathology Residency Orientation was recently featured in the 鈥淕ME PC Newsletter鈥� in August, 2024!  Leanna and Drs. McDonald and Neltner have worked hard to revamp the orientation to provide the most successful start to the pathology residency program. Excellent recognition everyone!    

One of the latest editions of 好色先生Now featured an excellent article and video about blood donations and the blood banking process.  The article titled 鈥濃�楲ife or death鈥�: The impact of blood donations across 好色先生 HealthCare鈥� can be seen at this  and features our own Dr. Aaron Shmookler.