Engagements
CAP Committee Appointments
Current
o Governor: Board of Governors
o Vice Chair: Council on Government and Professional Affairs
o Chair: Audit Committee
o Member: Council on Accreditation, International Accreditation Committee, Global Pathology Committee, Policy Roundtable Subcommittee, Annual Meeting Strategy Execution Steering Committee, MyCAP Member Product Work Group, Engaged Leadership Network
o Advisor: Residents Forum Executive Committee
o Faculty: Engaged Leadership Academy
Past
o Chair: Federal and State Affairs Committee (FSAC), FSAC Federal Legislation Subcommittee, HOD Action Group on Rules IV
o Vice Chair: FSAC
o Member: Council on Government and Professional Affairs, Federal and State Affairs, FSAC Federal Legislation Subcommittee, House of Delegates, HOD Action Group on Rules III, Policy Roundtable Subcommittee, State Pathology Society Advisory Group, Technical Expert Panel (MIPS), Accreditation Education Committee, CAPF Development Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Economic Affairs Committee, Finance Committee, Artificial Intelligence Committee
o Liason: Foundation Board of Directors
o Alternate: AMA Delegate
Other Professional Positions Held.
Current
o Member: Dallas County Medical Society (past Board of Directors member) Council on Legislation, Texas Society of Pathologists (TSP) Council on Legislation, TSP Nominating Committee, TSP Caldwell Council, Texas Medical Association Council on Legislation
o Delegate: Texas Medical Association (TMA)
Past
o Cofounder: North Texas Society of Pathology (NTSP)
o President: TSP, NTSP, Texas Society of Cytology (TSC)
o President Elect: TSP
o Vice President: TSC
o Secretary: TSP
o Treasurer: American University of Beirut North Texas Alumni Association
o Director at Large: TSP
o Chair: TSP Council on Legislation
o Member: DCMS Council on Legislation, Task Force on Balance Billing, TMA Town-Gown Task Force
o Alternate Delegate: AMA House of Delegates
Invited Lectures and Webinars.
Lectures
Osler Institute: Lecturer for Cytopathology Review Course, 1992-1996
American Society of Cytopathology: Short Course: “Cytopathology of Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases: A case-based workshop”, Orlando, Florida, November, 2003
American Society of Clinical Pathology: Short Course: “Diagnosis of Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases: A case-based course”, San Antonio, Texas, October, 2004.
Texas Society of Pathologists: “Ethical Considerations in Anatomic Pathology Billings”, Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, February, 2008
North Texas Society of Pathology: “A Clinicopathologic Approach to Pancreatic Masses”, Dallas, Texas, October, 2008
Texas Society of Pathologists: “Legislative Issues: Advocacy 101”, Young Pathologists Section Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, August 2013
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: Lecturer, Management Course for Pathology Residents, 2013- Present
CAP Webinars and Podcasts
How to Be an Effective State Issue Advisor, December 15, 2015
A Seat at the Table: The Impact Only You Can Make on the Future of Pathology, February 21, 2017
Essential Tools for Pathologists Engaging in Grassroots Advocacy, April 5, 2017
Podcast Urging Congress to Stop the Medicare Cuts, April 2021
Assessing Insourcing and Outsourcing: Advantages for your billing practice, June 9, 2021
Supply Chain Lessons Learned and Q&A, One Lab (CDC), October 28, 2021
Podcast Advocacy Recap, March 4, 2022
CAP Update on LDTs and the VALID Act, July 19, 2022
Podcast Advocacy Recap, February 8, 2023
Awards.
College of American Pathologists Public Service Award 2018
Texas Society of Pathologists Caldwell Award 2017
Texas Society of Pathologists Presidential Award 2010
Texas Society of Pathologists Presidential Award 2008
Resident Award for Platform Presentation (2nd Place), 70th Annual Meeting of the Texas Society of Pathologists, San Antonio, Texas, January 25, 1991
Resident Award for Excellence in Pathology Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 1989-1990.
Advocacy
The Pathologist Leadership Summit (PLS) brings together in Washington DC colleagues from across the country to network, learn about our issues and advocate for our patients. It kicks off with the HOD meeting. We hear from pathologist leaders, policy makers, pollsters, journalists and leading medical experts. It is exciting and invigorating. I have been attending PLS (previously the Policy Meeting and Advocacy School) for 15 years. I have been a presenter for 5 of those years, first as Chair of the Federal and State Affairs Committee and then as Vice Chair of the Council on Government and Professional Affairs. The PLS is a must attend event for all our members. The final day is our Hill Day. We take our issues directly to Capital Hill and the offices of our elected officials. It is exciting and invigorating. I well remember the adrenaline rush of my first Hill Day several years ago and enjoy taking first time attendees to Capital Hill. Apprehension turns to excitement and ultimately a deep satisfaction at having exercised our constitutional right to meet with and petition our elected representatives.
Another important member benefit the CAP provides is the Engaged Leadership Academy (ELA). It is held annually in Chicago. Forty members are coached by peers and professionals to effectively deliver presentations to colleagues, administrators and the media. This was we can better advocate for our patients, our profession and ourselves. I graduated from ELA in 2014 and have had the honor of returning as faculty every year since 2015. Spending two days with such enthusiastic members and watching them progress is one of my favorite CAP engagement activities.
Lab Tours with legislators are an important way to demonstrate our commitment to patient care. We are physicians and provide foundational services that are important in 60-70% of medical decisions. We must engage our legislators anywhere and in anyway we can: in Washington DC, in the home district, at town halls and in our practices. Over the years I have conducted four lab tours, most recently on May 26, 2023 (left) with Representative Jasmine Crockett (TX 30) at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Once a legislator sees and understands our profession and issues, they can make informed decisions about them. We also need to advocate with regulatory agencies and state legislators. State pathology and medical societies are crucial to our success. We need strong SPS and engaged leaders in SMS.
House of Delegates
The House of Delegates is the largest and most vibrate of all CAP bodies. Member issues are front and center. We brainstorm together, build strong relationships and establish bridges with state pathology societies. The HOD is one avenue to hold leadership accountable and transparent. It is also an opportunity to mentor residents and network. I served in the HOD for 15 years. I am a firm supporter of the HOD and grateful for the experiences and friendships formed at meetings. The HOD helped me develop as a leader. It must continue to provide educational and leadership opportunities for all CAP members. It is the voice and soul of the membership.
CAP Accreditation
Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan (2018)
Japan 2022
Quality Has No Borders.
CAP PT and accreditation ensures our laboratories adhere to the highest standards of safety, quality and administrative compliance. I have inspected numerous laboratories in the US, Japan, Taiwan, India, Singapore and Malaysia. We universally share common goals and strive for better quality and efficiency. I have learned much from my interactions with pathologists and laboratory professionals. The CAP must retain it’s position as the leader in PT and accreditation in the face of competition and pandemics. Providing the best products is not good enough. We have to prove our value.
International inspections are an excellent opportunity to provide educational programs to gracious and grateful hosts. This increases the value of CAP and our stature among colleagues and friends. I have been involved in educational programs in India and Taiwan. The experience is gratifying and invigorating.
Education
Annual Meeting.
The CAP annual meeting is truly “THE PATHOLOGISTS MEETING”. The superb quality of the educational offerings and cutting edge presentations are the highlight. Lectures, town hall meetings and round-table sessions focusing on accreditation, economic, practice management and advocacy are unique to CAP meetings. Networking opportunities with industry, colleagues and residents are plentiful. The annual meeting must be further expanded and serve the educational needs of all members.
Webinars and Courses.
Additional educational venues are available throughout the year. Smaller scientific educational meetings and webinars that cover accreditation, practice management and advocacy topics are important. I will work to increase these opportunities especially during this time of COVID-19. Timely topics that include lessons learned over the past few months are essential. The discussions must include an assessment of gains and a plan to address problems- supply chain (platforms, reagents and PPE), substandard and fraudulent testing and misleading claims. Working with the CDC, FDA and industry is necessary. I will make this a top priority since this hindered and complicated our ability to provide adequate and timely testing in our communities.