Receiving an ASCP Resident Subspecialty Grant has made all the difference for Syeda Qasim, MD, to achieve her dream of pursuing a dermatopathology elective at the University of Virginia (UVA), in Charlottesville.
“I was over the moon when I learned I had received the grant,” says Dr. Qasim, who began her elective at UVA in early December. “The grant enables me to stay in Virginia while arranging for childcare for my five-year-old daughter for the length of my elective which would not have been possible had I not received the grant.”
Last spring, Dr. Qasim was not certain the elective at UVA would even be possible because of the expense of relocating for the month-long program. She would have to rent an apartment while maintaining an apartment in Livingston, NJ, where she is in a pathology residency program with RWJ Barnabas Hospital.
“It was a hike from where I was in New Jersey,” she says. “I’d have to rent a place and drive to Charlottesville, which was expensive. I live with my young daughter, and my husband is in Canada. We balance caring for our daughter while I am in residency. Either I had to get child care or drop her off with her dad in Canada.”
Then, the coordinator of her residency program at RWJ Barnabas Hospital told her about the ASCP Residency Subspecialty Grant from her residency program director, Dr. Rajiv Pulinthanathu, just as the grant application deadline loomed. She applied, and the rest is history.
“I sincerely want to thank all the Committee members who chose me for this award and brought me a step closer to my dream of pursuing dermatopathology in the future,” she wrote ASCP.
Dr. Qasim has wanted to pursue dermatopathology even before she began residency training. “I had an opportunity to take part in a virtual elective there during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she explains. “I took part in their conferences and lectures, got to know residents and teachers, and spoke with fellows. I felt very acquainted with the faculty and UVA has a very historic legacy in pathology.”
Though she is still in training, Dr. Qasim already considers ASCP her professional home. She has been very involved as an ASCP Pathology Ambassador and loves going out to share her passion for pathology with college and medical students.
“My affiliation with ASCP started before my residency,” she says. “I was part of the ASCP mentorship program and was honored to be mentored by Dr. Melissa Hogan, who previously was Chair of the ASCP Resident Council. I was very impressed that ASCP has a mentorship program.”
So while she is still deep in her studies as a pathologist, she is already committed to reaching out and supporting the next generation of prospective pathologists. “ASCP has given me so many opportunities to speak about my love for the profession and I want to give back, by encouraging medical students and even high school students to explore the field of pathology as a possible career,” she says.
ASCP is committed to supporting the career development of our members. Learn more about the variety of scholarships and grants the Society offers by clicking
here.
