UTHSC Pathologists' Assistant Program

Welcome UTHSC Pathologists' Assistant Class of 2026!!

Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey for our new cohort as they start their first day of classes in our program! This group has come from all over the country, and we are thrilled to have them join the UTHSC community here in Memphis. We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll achieve. Here's to a year filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences! 🧠👏

“Received fresh is a first-year Pathologists' Assistant student, presenting with enthusiasm for the field and an eagerness to learn. Sectioning reveals the specimen displaying a well-developed knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and histology. Specimen has been provided with a foundational education in surgical and autopsy pathology, grossing techniques, and professional development skills.
Submitted entirely for further processing in the clinical year, where hands-on experience and advanced training will refine their skills and further prepare them as a future certified Pathologists’ Assistant.”
- Samantha Barnes, Class of 2025

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Last week, we celebrated the Pathologists' Assistant Program Class of 2025 at their Clinical Advancement Ceremony. This event marked their transition from the didactic year to the clinical year—a milestone that honors their hard work and dedication, and marks the beginning of their clinical journey as advanced healthcare practitioners. In January, these now-second years will begin their clinical rotations, gaining hands-on experience across five different sites throughout the year. Here's to the exciting road ahead for the Class of 2025! 🎉

CONGRATULATIONS to the Pathologists' Assistant Class of 2024!! 🥳🎉
Today, we celebrate your incredible accomplishments and the hard work that brought you here. We are so proud of you and excited to see you step into your roles as outstanding healthcare professionals. May your scalpels stay sharp and your future be bright! ✨🧠💀

From left to right: Andrew Huang, Sara Ginn, Renee Adamec, Jasmine Becton, Abbey Allen, Hayden Thomas, and Morgan Thomas

Join us in sending a big congratulations to our graduating second-years on wrapping up their final project of the program! 🎉 Each student presented a poster showcasing a unique case they grossed during their clinical rotations.
Well done everyone - we can't wait to celebrate your achievements at graduation on Monday! 🎓
⭐️Renee Adamec: The Whipple: Suspected Distal Bile Duct Cholangiocarcinoma
⭐️Abbey Allen: Inconsistencies in Margin Status Reporting and Understanding the Importance of Gross Approach and Margin Sampling for Maxillectomy Specimen
⭐️Jasmine Becton: Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney Disguised as a Nephroblastoma
⭐️Sara Ginn: Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx: An Approach to Complex Head and Neck Specimens
⭐️Andrew Huang: Colonic Tubular Adenomas: Risks and Insights
⭐️Hayden Thomas: A Case of Conflicting Mitotic Rate and Ki-67 Stain in a GIST
⭐️Morgan Thomas: Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma (EPC) of the Breast

Our Program Director Michael Weitzeil and Education Coordinator Kathleen Reed are at the promoting the program to undergrad students at UT Martin! Who doesn't love adorable organ stickers?! 🫀🫁🧠💀

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Halloween from the UTHSC Pathologists' Assistant program! 🎃💀

Students and faculty got together this week to celebrate the season as well as flex those knife skills with pumpkin carving - take a look at their awesome work!

🚨 Exciting Update! 🚨
The UTHSC Pathologists’ Assistant program has officially been awarded Serious Applicant Status by NAACLS! 🎉🎉 This milestone means that our second-year students graduating this December will now be eligible to sit for the ASCP Board of Certification exam. We're one step closer to achieving full accreditation in 2025!

For more information on our program, admissions, and the accreditation process, check out our website here: https://www.uthsc.edu/health-professions/diagnostic-health-sciences/pathologists-assistant/

Last week our first-year students practiced grossing and dissecting hearts in their Advanced Surgical & Autopsy Pathology lab, led by instructor Kathleen Reed. She guided the students on describing, measuring, and sectioning hearts typically received in surgical pathology and at autopsy. We love seeing our students put their *hearts* into hands-on learning! 😉🫀🔪

Our first-year students have been hard at work this summer, and they’ve wrapped up the term on a high note! 🎉 This term featured our Microanatomy course, where students mastered the normal histology of human anatomical structures. Here’s a glimpse of the Class of 2025 identifying tissues under the microscope during their lab exam. 👀🔬
Amazing job, everyone! We’re excited to see you back in a few weeks for the Fall term. Enjoy the break—you’ve earned it!💪

We're thrilled to share a new article highlighting the progress of the UTHSC Pathologists’ Assistant program in its second year! 🎉
Under the excellent leadership of Program Director Michael Weitzeil, our faculty are working diligently to provide top-notch education and training. We are incredibly proud of our current first and second year students’ successes thus far, and excited to see the positive impact our students will make in the field.

Read the full article below and see how our program continues to thrive and shape the future of our profession in the Mid-South and beyond.
https://news.uthsc.edu/new-pathologists-assistant-program-prepares-more-students-to-make-an-impact/

Our first-year students took a tour through time at Elmwood Cemetery this week, uncovering the stories of heroes and victims of the Yellow Fever epidemics. The most devastating outbreak swept through Memphis in 1878, leaving an indelible mark on the city's history. Through this experience, our students gained a deeper understanding of the impact of major infectious diseases and paid homage to the victims and martyrs who sacrificed their lives to care for those who had fallen ill.
Thank you to Bob and the rest of for the insightful tour!

Reminder that applications for the next cohort (Class of 2026) are due FRIDAY! Make sure all your materials are submitted by the deadline, including any outstanding transcripts or letters of recommendation.

Looking to apply for the following year, class of 2027? Our next application cycle will open in January of 2025.

Please see the link below for more details on the application and admissions process, and to reach out with any specific questions!
https://uthsc.edu/health-professions/diagnostic-health-sciences/pathologists-assistant/admissions.php

The UTHSC Pathologists' Assistant program is thrilled to announce the hiring of our newest faculty member and Education Coordinator, Kathleen Reed, MHS, PA(ASCP)CM. Welcome Kathleen! 🎉🎉

Kathleen is a proud and loyal native of Memphis, TN! She has been an ASCP certified Pathologists’ Assistant since 2016 with clinical and academic experiences at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. At both of these hospitals she spent ample time teaching PathA students how to gross at the bench.
Kathleen graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, IL with a Master of Science in Pathologists’ Assistant. During her second year of school, she was selected to complete a supplemental rotation in Educational Methodologies where she learned to prepare a comprehensive lecture for first-year students and lead them in laboratory activities. She received a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN and worked as an MLS at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.
When not at work as Education Coordinator, Kathleen likes to travel to new countries with her husband. She is a devoted dog mom to red labs Luna and Bruin! While working, she has always had a passion for caring for the patients and is excited to instill in students that same commitment.

Intending to apply to our current admissions cycle? There is ONE MONTH left to get your application in! Complete your application by May 31st in order to be considered for the class of 2026, which will begin classes in January 2025. Applicants should make sure all transcripts, evaluations, and letters of recommendation are received by the deadline. The following admissions cycle for the class of 2027 will open in January.

For more information on our admissions requirements, or to contact us with your questions, visit our website here: https://www.uthsc.edu/health-professions/diagnostic-health-sciences/pathologists-assistant/admissions.php

Our first years are taking a well-deserved break this week after conquering their final exams last week! 🎉📚💪 Among their challenges was a Lab Practical for the Introduction to Surgical & Autopsy Pathology course, where they showcased their skills in grossing & dictating multiple specimens and completed a timed frozen section. 🔬

Happy Pathologists' Assistant Day!! 🥳
Our first years celebrated their first official PA Day taking their Anatomy lab final this morning. Join us in giving them a hand as they complete their first semester of the program this week! 👏👏

is celebrated April 14th (observed the 15th this year due to falling on the weekend!), the day our professional organization the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA) was founded in 1972. It is a day to promote our profession and celebrate our integral role in patient care.

There is still time to apply for the UTHSC Pathologists’ Assistant program Class of 2026! Applications must be completed by May 31st.
For complete details on our admissions requirements, or to contact us with your questions, visit our website here: https://www.uthsc.edu/health-professions/diagnostic-health-sciences/pathologists-assistant/admissions.php

If you live in a state that participates in the Southern Regional Education Board, AND there is not a Pathologists’ Assistant Program offered in your state, you may be eligible for in-state tuition at UTHSC!
Please note there is an application and verification process, which you are not able to begin until you have been admitted to the program. For more information on the Academic Common Market, visit the SREB here: https://www.sreb.org/AcademicCommonMarket

For more information on the UTHSC Pathologists’ Assistant application requirements and the admissions process, or to contact us with your specific questions, visit our website here: https://uthsc.edu/health-professions/diagnostic-health-sciences/pathologists-assistant/admissions.php