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MARCH 10, 2023

Pathology Free PressPathology Free PressPathology Free PressDear Dr. Khin Su Mon,I am a pathologist. You signed out my breast cases a few months ago when I went to Dr. Kathy Albain for a second opinion. As a fellow pathologist, we work behind the scenes and don’t get a lot of credit, but I wanted to make sure you got recognition. Thank you for the work and effort put into my cases. You are appreciated! Perhaps we will one day run into each other at a pathology conference . Thank you again for all you did.Dear Apheresis RNs,A grateful patient received his original bilateral lung transplant in 2019. He developed chronic lung transplant rejection (also known as bronchiolitis obliterans), which means the transplant was starting to fail. Apheresis performed 24 extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) procedures over a 6-month period, allowing him to maintain some residual lung function (as a "bridge to" re-transplant) while he was listed for a re-transplant. Patient had a "re-do" bilateral lung transplant on January 18, 2022.Phillip J. DeChristopher, MD, PhDProfessor of Pathology and Medicine and Medical Director, Transfusion Medicine

Pathology FreePressPathology Free PressPathology FreePressDr. Jack A. Maggiore, PhD, Medical Director, Regional Core Laboratory and Regional Director, Point of Care Testing will be conducting an upcoming webinar “Implementing Capillary Electrophoresis for Immunotyping” on March 30th.

Pathology FreePressPathology Free PressPathology FreePressYou are where you are meant to be…It is an overstatement I often ponder on. Since my return to Loyola it all comes back to me, the Jesuit mission and how it all ties to our goals here at Loyola Medicine. I went to Loyola as an undergrad and for grad school so it’s hard not to say my values and outlook on life is similar to one being Jesuit. And yes, I mean those repetitive quotes and lines by St. Ignatius such as“Go forth and set the world on fire.” and “To give and not count the cost.”I wrote, years back in 2017, as a professional goal, “I want to become a scientist and an advocate of education to empower students and other individuals.” I did not realize how true those words would become and play out in my life. In the last two years I have been working in a lab, teaching MLS students, and participating in lab week committees to advocate about our profession, as there is a great need for more laboratory professionals nationwide. At ASCP’s annual meeting last September 2022, the guest speaker, former first lady Michelle Obama gave all of us advice to advocate for ourselves. She encouraged us to attend career day events, and to catch the attention of young individuals at these formative years to be interested in science and medicine.Thankfully, I had the opportunity to give back on March 6, 2023 as part of Loyola’s initiative to introduce middle and high school students to careers in the medical field. It was my first time talking to kids about the lab and what we do as lab scientists. Not many of the middle school students really knew what the lab does, and I did my best to explain. I spoke about the importance of our job, and how I was able to get to where I am today. Some students were more engaged and excited than others, but I believe the other volunteers and I were able to get them to start thinking about careers in healthcare. It was refreshing to hear all their questions and little giggles when they thought something was funny. I believe we planted seeds of curiosity, and I hope it continues to flourish and one day, we might even have an individual from that cohort of students to become a lab professional.Sarahgin Dumaraog, MS, MLS (ASCP)CM -Point of Care Coordinator reflected on her recent volunteering with some colleagues as part of Loyola's Maywood Youth Explorer Program.

Pathology Free PressPathology Free PressPathology Free PressI learned something as well, as I realized with a younger group of individuals, their attention spans are sometimes limited. The kids would be more attentive when they visually see and experience for themselves first hand. I suggest in the future to bring in props and perform demos, which will demonstrate some of the lab work we do. It is more as a note to myself and advice for the next volunteer opportunity.I highly recommend attending activities and volunteer opportunities, especially if you are really passionate about getting more people into the profession. I want to encourage and challenge my colleagues and fellow laboratorians to participate in these activities and events. Even just for a few hours, who knows, you might be able to inspire someone to go into the field. Until today, the words I wrote six years ago still apply as my hope is to inspire kids through education particularly in laboratory medicine. I want to continue to bridge a professional career I love and a passion for being a person for others. My mission to share my knowledge is how I will get people to care about the work of laboratory science and its role in modern medicine. In fact, I am eternally grateful for Loyola’s enriching education that has molded the person that I am today.So yes, I am where I am meant to be.Link to volunteer: 2023 Maywood Youth Explorer Program - Intent to Volunteer (office.com)(Pictured from left to right, Dr. Lisa Liu, MD Sarahgin Dumaraog, Jerry Staley (HR), Lisa Coy RN, Joy Westburg RN, and Donna Parris (Care Management)

Pathology Free PressPathology Free PressPathology Free PressDr. Constantine “Aki” Kanakis, MD, PGY3 was named Chair-Elect of the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) National Social Media Committee and continues to serve on the Commission for Continuing Education and Professional Development and the Patient Champions Steering Committee!The Stritch School of Medicine Class of 2023, along with other fourth year medical students across the country, will learn their residency match on Friday, March 17 at 11:00AM.