Distinct B/myeloid and T-lymphoblast populations at separate anatomic sites in mixed-phenotype acute leukemia with BCR::ABL1 fusion

My academic interests include flow cytometry, myeloid neoplasms, lymphoma diagnosis, cutaneous lymphomas, and Epstein Barr virus. In addition to my clinical duties, I have a strong interest in medical education, which includes teaching medical students, residents, and fellows.

I am a clinically-oriented diagnostic physician with clinical expertise in the diagnosis of hematologic cancers including tumors of the bone marrow, lymphoid tissue, spleen and pre-malignant hematologic conditions. Another area of interest is blood cancer classification with molecular and genetic profiling. In the pathology translational program, we focus on molecular mechanisms of tumor progression, cell-of-origin, biomarkers, and novel therapeutic strategies in lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia. In addition to patient care and translational research, medical education and communication are also part of focus. I provide persistent support for the physician-scientist program and Blood Cancer Pathology program in the department and cancer center. Many residents, fellows, graduates and postdocs have worked and been trained in our program. We perform comprehensive clinical and research functions that include bone marrow, lymphoma pathology, clinical flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics and outside services.

I am currently the director of hematopathology division and Vice Chair of Research in the Department that provides diagnostic services and relevant specialized testing for patients with various types of acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma and benign hematologic disorders. I am specialized in the diagnosis of hematological disorders, including acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, B and T-cell lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, cutaneous and orbital lymphomas and benign bone marrow and lymph node disorders. 

Our clinical and research collaborative groups have been supported by various funding resources since 2006 and have presented original peer-reviewed articles and review articles, some of which are in high-impact journals (Nature Clin Onc Rev, JCO, JAMA, Lancet, Blood, JHO, Leukemia and Clinical Cancer Research). The contributions to the hematology field include the development of novel diagnostic algorithms, molecular and genetic biomarkers for classification of blood cancer, lymphoid neoplasms and lymphoid diseases.

As a diagnostic hematopathologist and molecular genetic pathologist, my clinical interests are focused on the histologic examination of tissue and bone marrow biopsies to diagnose hematologic malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, etc.) as well as testing DNA from tumors or from blood to detect inherited or acquired mutations that can guide therapeutic management and predict clinical outcome.  My research interests involve 1) understanding the biology of T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms; 2) defining the immunomodulatory response to neoplastic disease; 3) developing methods to monitor immune response and thereby refine tumor immunotherapy; and 4) exploring novel applications of tumor genetics in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of cancer.

I'm a hematopathologist with interest in cutaneous and small B-cell lymphomas, molecular methods for diagnosis and prognostication of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms, minimal residual disease modalities, infectious hematopathology, medical and GME trainee education, and emerging technology and automation in laboratory hematology.  I serve as a CLIA director for several clinical laboratories on DUH's campus, including our specialty laboratories performing clinical electrophoresis and bone marrow biopsy processing.  I also serve as the Program Director for Duke's Hematopathology Fellowship.