Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Residents, Fellows Feted at Graduation Ceremony

More than 100 people gathered June 10 to celebrate the accomplishments of graduating residents and fellows from the departments of pathology and laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine. The ceremony in Hamden included faculty, graduating students and their families, as well as current residents and fellows.

Andrea Barbieri, MD, associate professor of pathology and director of the Pathology Residency Program, noted the commitment of the graduates and thanked their families for their enduring support.

Completing residencies shows “sacrifice and discipline – and that also involves navigating new obstacles and challenges,” Barbieri says. “It comes with highs and lows, and I am so proud of their persistence and dedication to get to this point, where we can take the time to celebrate them today.”

Sanja Dacic, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and vice chair, anatomic pathology, says it was wonderful to see the residents and fellows “outside of our grossing rooms and our labs. I would like to welcome you all – our graduates, our fellows, our current, residents and families. Thank you all for coming. It’s such a joy to see you all together.”

Dacic says the moment was special for her as some of the graduates were her first students as she arrived at Yale Pathology three years ago when their residencies began.

“My heart is full,” she says. “I’m very happy for you.”

Brian Smith, MD, chair of laboratory medicine, says he and Chen Liu, MD, PhD, chair of pathology, “are the luckiest chairs in the world, both because we have fabulous faculty and we have the best trainees.”

Pathology Residency Graduates:

• Mayara Bearse, MD– Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Paul Bernard, MD, PhD – Clinical Pathology
• Andrew Bernhisel, MD – Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Olivia Burke, DO - Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Bethany Faust, MD – Anatomic Pathology
• Ernest Hidalgo Cedeno, MD – Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Jingjing Jiao, MD, PhD - Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
• Na Niu, MD, PhD – Anatomic Pathology
• Peter Podany, MD – Anatomic and Clinical Pathology

Pathology Fellowship Graduates:

• Paula Babb, DO – Women’s Health Pathology Fellowship
• Krishna Iyer, MD, PhD – Cytopathology Fellowship
• Harsimar Kaur, MBBS – Cytopathology Fellowship
• Andrew Lingard, MD – Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
• Pramila Moideen, MBBS – General Surgical Pathology Fellowship
• Alberto Moscona, DO – Gynecologic Pathology Fellowship
• Kusum Sharma, MD – Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship
• Janie Theriot, MD – Breast Pathology Fellowship
• Anuj Verma, MBBS, MD – Endocrine, Head & Neck Pathology Fellowship
• Roxanne Wadia, MD – Renal and GU Pathology Fellowship
• Xi Wang, MD, PhD – Gastrointestinal Pathology Fellowship

Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Graduates:

• Melissa Delio, DO – Hematopathology Fellowship
• Cristina Figueroa Villalba, MD – Transfusion Medicine Fellowship
• Donna Hill, DO – Microbiology Fellowship
• David Raggay, MD - Transfusion Medicine Fellowship
• Bruce Rottmann, MD, MS - Transfusion Medicine Fellowship

Award Winners:

• AP Averill Leibow Teaching Award: Anita Huttner, MD, associate professor of pathology
• AP Staff Award: Cindy DeRiso, senior pathology manager, histology
• CP Faculty Teaching Award: Christopher Tormey, MD, professor of laboratory medicine
• CP Technologist Award: Kayla Paternoster, medical laboratory technologist
• CP JATLOW Resident Research Award: Cristina Figueroa Villalba, MD