Since you were named an ASCP Forty Under 40, how does your career look different now vs then? What new opportunities have come your way? What additional credentials, or new hard or soft skills have you gained? 

Since being named an ASCP 40 Under Forty in 2016, I’ve transitioned from figuring out my career to helping others figure out their careers. I went from becoming a faculty advisor for the Perelman School of Medicine’s Nowell Pathology Interest Group to creating a General Pathology elective to serving on a several educational committees both within my department and with national pathology organizations. I served for five years as an Associate Program Director of the pathology residency program, which taught me a great deal about the inner workings of educational leadership, from orientation and recruitment to scheduling and graduation. I’ve also learned about the importance of meeting the learner where they are.

The honor of being selected gave me added reassurance that I could successfully craft my own professional path. It helped me find my footing as a junior faculty member and to pursue the opportunities that most suited my skills and career goals. I loved networking with the other honorees and attending leadership development courses at the ASCP Annual Meeting.

Since being named a 40 Under Forty, I was promoted to Associate Professor at Penn Medicine and appointed as an Associate Vice Chair for Education. I’ve particularly enjoyed teaching ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration techniques for the College of American Pathologists immersive learning program and serving on the American Board of Pathology Cytopathology Test Development and Advisory Committee.

I was honored with the inaugural Member Appreciation Award by the American Society of Cytopathology in 2018 for “Going Above and Beyond” while serving as Chair of their Membership Committee. My committee and I were quite productive in our monthly meetings and worked on membership recruitment, engagement, and retention.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the years since being named 40/40?

I’ve learned that I can do things faster on my own, but that educating, delegating, and working in teams increases the impact of my efforts immeasurably.

I’m most proud of supporting the medical students, pathology residents, and fellows who have crossed my path. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them win awards, graduate from training, and to go on and do impressive things in pathology.