Two pathology residents received ASCP’s Resident Leadership Representative Award in October at the 2009 ASCP Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Eric Yee, MD, Chief Resident in Clinical Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, and Nicole D. Riddle, MD, PGY-3 at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, were this year’s recipients. The annual award recognizes up to two residents who demonstrate leadership and promote ASCP membership and resident activities.

"The award is given to resident members of ASCP whom we recognize as being engaged in fulfilling the mission of our Society: to provide excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals,” said ASCP Resident Council Co-chair Thomas J. Bollinger, MD, MPH, FASCP. “Dr. Yee and Dr. Riddle are professionals, teachers, and leaders in their residency programs.” The awards were presented by Dr. Bollinger and ASCP Resident Council Co-chair Alison R. Huppmann, MD.

Dr. Riddle has been active with the American Medical Association Medical Student Section serving as a delegate at two annual meetings and three interim meetings. She also served as Vice-Chair of Region 4 and Chair of the Rules Committee. In her residency, she continued her involvement as delegate to the AMA• House of Delegates, and Chair of Region 8. “So far I have been active in sending out informative e-mails to my peers within my program about upcoming conferences, committee positions geared towards residents, as well as ensuring that the ASCP handbooks were received by our program and properly distributed,” said Dr. Riddle. “I especially strive to disseminate information pertaining to the educational facilities offered by the ASCP.”

Dr. Yee has also been successful at introducing the ASCP to his peers. “In the short time since I took on this position, I have already recruited new members, distributed flyers and encouraged residents to attend the [ASCP Annual] meeting,” said Dr. Yee. He also ensured that each resident received a copy of the resident handbook and gave a PowerPoint presentation about the ASCP.

Both residents attended the ASCP Annual Meeting and took away valuable lessons.

Dr. Riddle said it was awe-inspiring to see lectures given by experts in the field. She especially enjoyed the Arthur Purdy Stout lecture, “Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone: Paradigm Shifting in the Search for Its Pathogenesis,” by Gene P. Siegal, MD, PhD, FASCP, Executive Vice Chair of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. Dr. Riddle said fibrous dysplasia is “a condition with which I am afflicted, as well as pertinent to my planned future training in bone and soft tissue pathology.”

The professional development sessions that addressed business etiquette, resume writing, interviewing, and dining skills were particularly well-received.

“This came in very useful when I found myself a week later at a dinner table with a U.S. Senate medical advisor and a former President of the AMA [American Medical Association],” Dr. Riddle said. “I feel much more ready for my upcoming interview trail.”

For Dr. Yee, the highlight of this year’s Residents Day at the ASCP Annual Meeting was the laboratory management program, which included presentations on billing, coding, and management—issues not often emphasized in current resident training programs.

“I think it's great that the ASCP makes such an effort to help residents and get them involved—from the courses, workshops, to awards,” he said. “And I hope that more residents take advantage of the opportunities that the ASCP provides.”

Residents interested in becoming an ASCP representative of their program or who would like to learn about other ASCP opportunities and resources for residents, contact Betty Sanders, ASCP Program Manager, Membership Councils, at betty.sanders@ascp.org or (312) 541-4978.