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    The Patient Champions

    Steering Committee

The Patient Champions Steering Committee is comprised of pathologists, laboratory professionals, and public members who collaborate with the ASCP Patient Champions team to shape the vision and strategy of the Patient Champions program. Committee members guide the strategic direction, help determine potential partner organizations, identify events and conferences to help promote our Champions, and review medical information for the program.

Joseph Maleszewski

Joseph Maleszewski, MD, FASCP

Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D., studies acquired and congenital forms of heart disease. His primary research focuses include neoplastic heart disease as well as the genetics and proteomics of both cardiomyopathies and aortic disease. Dr. Maleszewski's research aims to improve the diagnostic and prognostic approaches to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

He is an internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular pathology and is the current president of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology. His research and writing are prolific, with 256 peer-reviewed publications and 74 book chapters. He is also lead author of the book Disorders of the Heart and Blood Vessels, which colleagues call a “1,100-page masterpiece” for the cardiovascular community.

He shares his expertise and research prowess with colleagues and the next generation of medical professionals as a respected educator, mentor and lecturer. He is a professor of medicine and professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He is senior associate dean for academic affairs at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.

Lee H. Hilborne

Lee H. Hilborne, MD, MASCP, MPH, DLM(ASCP)CM

Lee H. Hilborne is a Senior Medical Director in Medical Affairs for Quest Diagnostics. He completed his MD degree from the University of California, San Diego and his residency in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Hilborne serves on a number of editorial boards and was a long-term member of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and president from 2007-2008. He was also a member of the AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel and now serves as ASCP advisor to CPT and co-chair of the Proprietary Laboratory Analysis (PLA) Technical Advisory Group (PLA-TAG). He previously served as the Quest Diagnostics’ medical director for the West Hills laboratory and national medical director for quality. He is also a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine, at UCLA and was the Director of the UCLA Center for Patient Safety and Quality. He is also a consultant to the health program at RAND in Santa Monica. Dr. Hilborne has published many articles related to quality of care, medical appropriateness, and patient safety. He is passionate about patient safety and quality – making sure that patients get the right diagnostic tests at the right time and right cost – and strongly embraces the ASCP Patient Champions program so that non-laboratory individuals can learn more about the contributions of laboratory medicine to saving patient lives.
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Tina S. Ipe, MD, MPH

I chose Transfusion Medicine because I cherish building partnerships with my patients. As a provider of apheresis, I have the flexibility to speak with my patients about their diagnoses, treatments and alternatives without the intrusiveness of insurance companies dictating my time. It is this relationship between the patient and me that pushes me to become a better physician. Through these interactions, I have valued the ability of my patients to advocate for themselves by asking questions or seeking second opinions. By being their own advocates and understanding their diseases, I feel that these patients are able to ensure better care for themselves.

I am currently the Division Director of Transfusion Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Prior to joining UAMS, I was the Medical Director for Donor Services and the Associate Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital. I completed my residency and fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Constantine Kanakis, MD, MSc, MLS(ASCP)

Constantine Kanakis is currently a resident physician at Loyola University Medical Center in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. A Chicago native, he has a proud background in laboratory medicine as a board-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist for nearly 10 years before he began his pathology postgraduate medical training. He has held various roles as a generalist, transplant/transfusion senior, QA/QC, education coordinator, and hematology technologist. He has also contributed to public health at home and abroad leading arbovirus prevention and detection in the Caribbean and addressing laboratory logistics regarding COVID and testing principles in the early months of 2020. He has been an advocate for the advancement of medical diagnostics, education, global/public health, and patient engagement throughout my career and delivered a TEDx talk called "Unrecognizable Medicine." He is enthusiastic to be serving on the Patient Champions Steering Committee, as he believes patient advocacy is one of the most important principles of practicing medicine. He shares, “Though we may have various roles, the central purpose of all our work is for patients. The overall experience of moving through the diagnostic and treatment processes can, and should, always be improving; from effective test utilization to direct patient-to-pathologist connectivity, our laboratory medicine profession is poised to address safety, efficiency, and accuracy. It should not stop there. We may be expert medical laboratory scientists, physicians, or patients, but we cannot move the practice of medicine forward without compassion, communication, and collaboration.”
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Cullen M. Lilley, MD, MS, MA, MB(ASCP)

Cullen M. Lilley, MD, MS, MA, MB(ASCP) is a pathology resident at the University of California, Los Angeles. Before medical school, he worked as a microbiology technician and later a microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contracted through IHRC, inc. At the CDC, Cullen worked in the Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch where he worked with advanced molecular diagnostics and reference testing for Listeria, Vibrio, Yersinia, and Enterobacterales. Currently, Cullen is interested in the interface of the laboratory, education, and society, and hopes to pursue pathology and ethics in his future career. He shares, “As a former laboratorian, developing ethicists, and student of medicine, I am very passionate about the interface between the world of pathology and laboratory medicine and the public. This interface is not often explored, but I find that patients and their families are often more impacted by a pathology report or lab test than most other fields in medicine.”
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Kamran M. Mirza, MD, PhD, FCAP, FASCP

Kamran Mirza is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Education, and Applied Health Sciences at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health in Maywood, Illinois.

Dr. Mirza graduated from Aitchison College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed medical school at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his Ph.D. thesis work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and his AP / CP Pathology residency at the University of Chicago.

An award winning educator and mentor, Dr. Mirza has been the recipient of several dozen local, regional and national teaching awards. Most recently, he received the 2022 Association of Pathology Chairs Michele Raible Award for Distinguished Education.

Dr. Mirza's educational research focuses on novel pedagogical tools in medical education, the advancement of interprofessional education, and use of social media for pathology education.

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Michele Mitchell

Michele Mitchell is a wife, stepmother, and proud grandmother of 10. She enjoyed a 25-year career at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Michele held various Information System Division positions including Portfolio Manager in the Corporate Project Management Office where she ran multi-million-dollar healthcare related projects. She is a breast cancer survivor and has served as a caregiver for a host of family members. Since retirement, Michele has devoted her time to patient advocacy. In 2013, she started volunteering at the University of Michigan Health System where she served on the Cancer Center Patient and Family Advisory Council(PFAC). In 2014, she co-chaired the University Hospital PFAC and currently serves as co-chair of the UofM Department of Pathology PFAC. Her volunteer work also includes the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program where she provides one on one support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patient. Michele is an officer of the Kachin Strong Foundation. This non-profit organization was formed to honor her late stepdaughter. In 2013, Tricia tragically lost her life to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after a 3 ½ year battle with this disease. All proceeds from the foundation fund the UofM Cancer Center Wig Bank. Since 2016, Michele has been volunteering at the American Society for Clinical Pathology(ASCP). Her volunteer work includes supporting ASCP projects, speaking engagements, educational forums, and she co-authored an article on the benefits of patient-pathologist consultations. In 2019, she joined the ASCP Patient Champion Program in order to advance the patient voice. Michele received the 2020 ASCP Patient Champion of the year award. Michele is also the recipient of the 2020 Caregiving Advocate Visionary Award from caregiver.com. The award honors individuals and organizations that act as beacons of hope for family, professional, and volunteer caregivers. Michele feels privileged to continue this journey with her appointment to the ASCP Patient Champion Steering Committee. Michele says she “is honored to have the opportunity to work with the ASCP and is ready to serve in any way she can!”
Stephanie Whitehead

Stephanie Whitehead, MBA, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM

Stephanie Whitehead is a passionate leader in laboratory medicine and healthcare administration, currently serving as the Executive Director of Pathology Services at University Health in South Texas. With years of experience and a heart for excellence, Stephanie leads a dedicated team focused on delivering high-quality patient care and upholding the highest standards in pathology services.

Outside of her day-to-day leadership role, Stephanie co-hosts the internationally recognized podcast eLABorate Topics. Through this platform, she sparks meaningful conversations with healthcare and pathology professionals around the globe—sharing insights, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of the lab industry.

Stephanie is also a certified executive coach and mentor, known for empowering others to grow and lead with confidence. Her dedication to the profession has led her to serve in several influential roles, including past chair of the Council of Laboratory Professionals for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and a fellow with the Texas Hospital Association (THA). She contributes to multiple task forces and committees focused on health equity, career development, and patient advocacy.

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Stephanie has received numerous accolades, including ASCP's 40 Under 40, ASCLS Voices Under 40, the 2023 Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Award, the prestigious 2024 Vivian W. Pinn, MD Award for Leadership in Pathology, and recognition on the Cardinal Health Laboratory Excellence List and MLO’s 55 Under 55.

Stephanie’s passion for the lab profession goes far beyond titles and awards. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in organizations such as ASCLS, TACLS, and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), and plays a key role in planning educational events like KnowledgeLab.

A lifelong mentor and community advocate, Stephanie has supported students through initiatives like the Diversity Mentorship Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. She also gives back through service with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Girl Scouts of America, where she serves as Community Chair for Southwest Texas Community N.

Through it all, Stephanie remains grounded in her mission: to inspire growth, champion diversity, and create meaningful impact in the world of healthcare—one connection, conversation, and collaboration at a time.

Deedee O’Brien

Deedee O’Brien

Deedee O’Brien is the Executive Director of Ironstone Farm and Challenge Unlimited, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a variety of therapeutic interventions using horses to people with disabilities and mental health issues. Her experiences as the final caregiver for her mother and her partner have taught her the importance of education, gathering second opinions, seeking different opinions, and advocating for loved ones. That empowerment made all the difference in their quality of life as their health deteriorated, and gave her the confidence to make decisions for herself when faced with her own illnesses. She is passionate about working to make that difference for others. She spends her leisure time sitting by the fireplace and reading a good book.
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Amy Rothe, MLS(ASCP), LLRT

Amy Rothe is an ASCP-certified Medical Technologist and holds a Limited License in Radiology from the Arkansas Department of Health. She is currently serving as the Clinical Laboratory Supervisor and Health and Safety Officer for Natural State Laboratories.

She has experienced firsthand the communication gap that sometimes exists between healthcare providers and their patients. Seeing this fueled her desire to become a patient advocate and provide patients with information about their medical conditions, laboratory testing, imaging studies, and diagnoses as well as communicating the medical necessity of testing and pharmaceuticals to insurance companies on the patient’s behalf. She passionately believes that patients should be a more active part of their healthcare and have the knowledge necessary to make better, more informed decisions.

In addition to her almost 25 years of experience as a medical laboratory professional, Amy is the Co-owner and Creative Director of a successful semi-professional photography business and an avid and competitive equestrian.
Cliff Sullivan

Cliff Sullivan, MD, FASCP

Cliff Sullivan works at Emory University where he specializes in Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. His academic interests focus on optimizing laboratory testing and algorithms to improve patient care. Dr. Sullivan feels pathologists and laboratory professionals have a duty to educate fellow clinicians on laboratory utilization as well as patients on the fundamentals of the laboratory and its role in their care. One of his goals in patient advocacy is making patients aware of the existence of pathologists and medical technologists. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends while eating good food and drinking delicious cocktails.

RESOURCES

 

Patient Champions Steering Committee Member Application and Role Description

Apply Download Role Description
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