May 21, 2025
A Message from the Chair to the Department’s Alumni
It is my pleasure and honor to serve as the Chair of the Department of Pathology. As the new Chair of the Department of Pathology, and with a strong commitment to excellence in education, patient care, and scientific discovery, I am dedicated to fostering a dynamic environment for training future pathologists and researchers, advancing innovative diagnostic practices, and driving impactful research that improves human health. The future is bright, and I look forward to the growth and achievements that lie ahead for our department.
As we wrap up another academic year, we are reminded that training future pathologists and scientists is essential to maintaining excellence in our field. We view this as one of our most important responsibilities. As we strive to fulfill this mission, we also take time to reflect on the many successes of our department and its trainees.
One of the most exciting recent developments is the addition of the Clinical Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship, directed by Dr. Colleen Jackson-Cook with Dr. Scott Turner as Associate Director. Our current fellows have excelled, submitting abstracts accepted at national meetings and conducting impactful research—including a collaborative study with the cytogenetics lab at the University of Virginia.
Our 2024 and 2025 resident classes have also achieved notable accomplishments. They presented at the 2024 meeting of the Virginia Society for Pathology and received grants from the CAP Foundation to attend the annual meeting.
Our graduates are well prepared to pursue a wide range of career paths. Some have entered private practice, while others have chosen academic careers and are now working at prestigious institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Yale University. Others have been accepted into top-tier fellowship programs at UVA, University of Miami, Emory, Loyola, and the University of Toronto. Many have chosen to remain at VCU for fellowship training, and we are especially pleased that Dr. Michele Anderson—a 2025 graduate and current fellow—will join our faculty in July.
Who are our residents and fellows? They are the hardworking colleagues who help ensure our patients receive the highest quality and safest care. As they sharpen their skills in pathology, they play critical roles in our laboratories and services. Our faculty and clinical staff greatly value the many contributions these trainees make every day. They support us, challenge us, and inspire us to continuously grow as educators and clinicians.
We also take immense pride in the accomplishments of our alumni from the Experimental Pathology M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Many have gone on to academic careers, contributing to research efforts both at VCU and at other prestigious institutions such as UNC-Chapel Hill. Others have taken on leadership roles in the life sciences industry and with extramural funding agencies. Although our Experimental Pathology graduate programs are no longer active, our commitment to innovative research remains steadfast. Our Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis division exemplifies this dedication, with researchers working to uncover the molecular mechanisms of cancer and other human diseases.
Our department has experienced steady growth in extramural funding, culminating in a significant increase in NIH support in 2023. This achievement propelled our department to a double-digit rise in rankings among public institutions—we now proudly stand at No. 27 nationally.
Generations of graduate students, residents, and fellows now form our alumni community. We are deeply grateful for the many ways they continue to partner with us—from across the country or just around the corner. Their support helps us deliver transformative training experiences and plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of pathologists and researchers.
Our current students look up to our alumni as examples of what is possible. Their continued success affirms the strength of our training programs, and we are always thrilled to celebrate their achievements. Please stay in touch and consider this an open invitation to share your latest news with us.
Sincerely,
Guang-Yu Yang, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Pathology
