We have a wonderful group of residents and hope you’ll get to know them…
Click the photos or names to drop down to their bios.
Jill Browning, MD
Co-Chief Resident in Pathology
Louisiana State University School of Medicine In Shreveport
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Karissa Heck, MD
Co-Chief Resident in Pathology
Duke University School of Medicine
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Hometown: Wausau, WI
College: University of Wisconsin
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Cytopathology at the University of Florida College of Medicine (2019-2020); Surgical Pathology to be determined (2020-2021).
Career Goals: Cytopathology and comprehensive Surgical Pathology.
Hobbies and Interests: Basketball, weight lifting, WI Badgers sports, binge-watching TV, and hiking.
Why Duke: Duke was my first choice program for many reasons, most importantly because of the collegial demeanor and culture of the existing faculty and house staff. I also chose Duke for the yearly integrated AP/CP curriculum, wide breadth of common and unique cases, graduated autonomy that includes full immunohistochemical workups prior to sign-out, personal microscope, laptop, desk space, abundant research opportunities with generous funding support, and reputation of excellence.
Why Durham: Durham has great weather, and is affordable and drivable with no traffic. There is exposure to an energized college sports atmosphere, and close proximity to the beach and mountains.
Hometown: East Northport, NY
College: University of New Haven
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, NC (2019-2020).
Career Goals: My career goals include becoming a forensic pathologist and continuing to stay involved in academic pathology by teaching, attending local and national conferences, and publishing articles in forensic journals.
Hobbies and Interests: Kickboxing, camping, Zumba, and raising two of the world’s cutest Great Pyrenees puppies.
Why Duke: The Duke Pathology Residency Program was my number 1 choice due to the wide variety and large volume of specimens, combination of AP and CP all four years, and the morale among residents and faculty. Throughout the interview day, everyone was extremely friendly, and it was evident that the attendings were dedicated to teaching and everyone was invested in the residency program. Being interested in forensic pathology, the unique opportunities and additional forensics exposure were an added bonus. It was the perfect fit for me!
Why Durham: Durham is an evolving area with lots of great eateries, breweries, and dog-friendly places. The surrounding Triangle area also has lots of activities and places to visit. My husband and I were looking for a city that also had a small town feel and Durham was just the place. The cost of living is great, as well as being a couple hours from the beach and a few hours from the mountains. While we both work in Durham, living outside of Durham has allowed us to take advantage of all the Triangle has to offer. There truly is something for everyone!
Hometown: Mountain Top, PA
College: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Surgical Pathology at Duke University Hospital (2019-2020).
Career Goals: To work in a government setting, specifically for a VA hospital. I would love to stay in North Carolina, but am open to any VA in any state.
Hobbies and Interests: I spend most of my free time with my fiancé, Tommy, and our group of neighborhood friends. We are fortunate to live in a small, tight-knit community where we all know one another and spend ample time together playing board games, roasting s’mores over bonfires, cooking out, swimming, and taking occasional weekend trips to the beach or amusement parks with all the kids. I also look forward to any chance I get to go home to PA and visit the majority of my family there, or to visit my only brother in Texas. Seeing my family always refreshes me and gives me a renewed sense of purpose. I also enjoy cleaning and organizing our townhome and engaging in activities with our dog such as walks, dog parks, and obedience classes. When I’m feeling like staying in, I enjoy watching various television shows or browsing social media.
Why Duke: I attended Duke for medical school, and I fell in love with the place almost immediately after seeing the caliber of individuals who were my classmates and teachers. Duke was home to some of the most accomplished and extraordinary people I had ever met, and I felt privileged to stand in their presence and learn alongside them and from them. When I rotated through the Pathology Department on my fourth-year elective rotations, I had that same sense of belonging and gratitude. The attendings and residents were warm and inviting, and I knew this would be a comfortable place where I could learn, grow, and thrive without being afraid of any superiors. Finally, Duke’s reputation precedes it, which gave me numerous opportunities to train at top-tier, competitive institutions for fellowship.
Why Durham: Once again, I was hooked on Durham when I started medical school. I lived in Philadelphia for college, and I hated living in a large city. Even though Durham is considered a large city for North Carolina, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it reminded me more of the suburb/small town in which I grew up. I love that the cost of living is low for the value of the amenities, and I love that the city is easily navigated with little traffic or congestion. Although I tend to stay home more than go out, I appreciate that I am close to so many different types of excursions if I so choose, such as beaches, mountains, or downtown Raleigh or Chapel Hill nightlife.
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (pre-med)
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Career Goals: To practice academic pathology with a special interest in medical education.
Hobbies and Interests: Exercise, cooking, and exploring new places and restaurants with my husband.
Why Duke: Duke offers a rigorous hands-on learning environment with a heavy and diverse caseload along with an enriching faculty who are passionate about teaching.
Why Durham: Durham is an affordable city with all of the amenities we need, plus, the weather and nearby natural beauty (coastal ocean, lakes, and mountains) are huge bonuses to enjoy during our time off work.
Hometown: Houston, TX
College: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Hematopathology (2019-2020) and Surgical Pathology (2020-2021) at Duke University Hospital.
Career Goals: My goal is to work in a group practice setting where my individual expertise would be in Hematopathology and Breast and Gynecologic Pathology. In addition, I hope to eventually be the director of the flow cytometry lab.
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy traveling and finding new and creative things to do around the Triangle with my two children. We love visiting the Museum of Life and Science, the Duke Gardens, the Durham Bulls, and several of the numerous parks in the area.
Why Duke: I chose to come to Duke because I knew I would receive a top-notch education where I would not only get to see basic “bread and butter” cases, but also the rare and unusual ones that you usually only see in textbooks. I also appreciated the supportive, family-like environment and how the entire department, up to the chairman himself, put the residents’ best interests first. The residents also genuinely seemed to enjoy coming to work and being around each other. The vast number of research and leadership opportunities was also a strength I saw in the program where I could collaborate with other departments and see how pathology fits into the greater healthcare system. Ultimately, it seemed like the best fit for me and a place that I have come to consider a second home.
Why Durham: I think Durham and the Triangle give you the best of both worlds. They have all the amenities and culture of a larger city but still have that small town feel and hospitality. They have everything from Broadway productions at the Durham Performing Arts Center to live concerts and shows at the Red Hat Amphitheater and PNC Arena, to diverse world cuisine to satisfy any palate, and, most importantly for me, they are a great place to raise a family. It is also a plus that we are situated within easy reach of both the mountains to the west and the beach to the east, making fun weekend trips an easy option.
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
College: University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Medical School: St. Matthews University, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Fellowship Plans: Neuropathology at Duke University Hospital (2019-2021).
Career Goals: Malignant brain and eye pathology and autopsy. I am also actively involved in patient safety and would like to continue this avenue to improve safety practices for our patients and each other.
Hobbies and Interests: My favorite pastime is spending time with my son and husband. I am also a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and teach when I can. Other hobbies and interests include traveling, being outside, and volunteering in the community.
Why Duke: I chose Duke for its historic and iconic name in pathology as well as the emphasis and value it places on family and work-life balance.
Why Durham: Durham has natural beauty: mountains, oceans, and forests. The weather is mild enough to enjoy most outdoor activities year round.
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
College: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Graduate School: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA
Fellowship Plans/Special Interests: Dermatopathology and Genitourinary/Renal Pathology.
Career Goals: I plan to specialize in Dermatopathology and work in an academic medical center or a large community practice.
Hobbies: House renovation projects, graphic design, square foot gardening, and traveling.
Why Duke: Duke offers dedicated faculty, a positive and friendly working environment, case volume and variety, and supportive and enthusiastic co-residents!
Why Durham: Durham is remarkable for affordable housing and easy commutes; great food, culture, and outdoor activities; ample job opportunities for spouses; good weather; and proximity to the beach and mountains.
Hometown: Palmetto, FL
College: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Bradenton, Bradenton, FL Fellowship Plans: I am most interested in bone and soft tissue pathology (BST), and I plan to complete a BST-specific fellowship followed by either Dermatopathology or Surgical Pathology to both complement and enhance my overall diagnostic skills.
Career Goals: I hope to build a career at an academic institution where I can continue to grow as an expert sarcoma diagnostician, pursue research towards curing these diseases, and help train the next generation of pathologists.
Hobbies and Interests: My hobbies include weight lifting, hiking, paintball, and relaxing with my dog.
Why Duke: The decision of which pathology residency program to choose was based on several factors including reputation, volume and variety of cases, the relationship between the faculty and residents, and location. Duke University Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in the country, and as such, the patient population is vast and varied, which provides ample pathology to learn from. The faculty at Duke are excellent and are all eager to teach the residents and help them achieve their goals, and the residents are like one big family. After living in Florida for my entire life, I wanted to get out and experience new places, but wanted to stay within a reasonable distance as my family is still in Florida, and Duke was perfectly situated.
Why Durham: Durham is a great place to live for several reasons. The cost of living is reasonable and there are numerous things to do from great dining and local breweries to great hiking trails. Durham is also situated within hours of either the beach or the mountains, which makes for an easy weekend getaway.
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
College: University of Colorado
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology.
Career Goals: I plan to specialize in gastrointestinal and liver pathology and work in an academic medical center.
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, going to the beach, exercising, traveling, cooking, watching sports, and research.
Why Duke: Duke provides a large, tertiary care center with a variety of pathology and expert physicians to learn from. I enjoy the subspecialty rotations, so I focus my studies to specific topics. There is protected time every morning for teaching conferences. I have had plenty of opportunities to complete research projects in my areas of interest.
Why Durham: Durham provides a diverse culture and a beautiful environment. There are many rivers and lakes to enjoy on your time off. It is close to Raleigh, and only a couple hours from the mountains and the beach. In general, the traffic is very manageable, and the cost of living is very affordable on a resident salary.
Hometown: Pune, India
College: BJ Medical College, Pune, India
Medical School: BJ Medical College, Pune, India
Graduate School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport
Fellowship Plans: Molecular Pathology.
Career Goals: To work as a lab director in a clinical diagnostics lab where I can develop novel tests and technologies that can rapidly be moved from bench to clinic.
Hobbies and Interests: Painting, reading, and movies.
Why Duke and Durham: Research Triangle Park area, nice weather, abundant career opportunities.
Hometown: State College, PA
College: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo
Fellowship Plans: I plan on doing a Surgical Pathology subspecialty.
Career Goals: I am really undecided on whether I wish to pursue an academic or private practice position. I do have a strong interest in teaching and like the idea of specializing in a single area, so I am leaning slightly towards academics.
Hobbies and Interests: Golf, tennis, soccer, and PC gaming.
Why Duke: I think the residents are a great group who really look out for each other. The faculty are fantastic pathologists who are dedicated to teaching, and the facilities are top notch.
Why Durham: Honestly, it is sunny here the majority of the time year round. In Buffalo we didn't see the sun for the entire winter; I think that speaks for itself. Otherwise, Durham and the Research Triangle area have a ton of cultural diversity, especially with good food options and just a lot of neat places to explore, like the Duke Gardens.
Hometown: South Orange, New Jersey
College: Montclair State University
Medical School: Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship Plans: I plan to pursue a fellowship in gastrointestinal pathology.
Career Goals: I intend to further my understanding and treatment of digestive diseases. I hope to contribute to the literature in gastrointestinal pathology through research. I will eventually pursue a position at an academic center so I can help develop the next generation of physicians.
Hobbies and Interests: I am quickly excited by our advances in medicine, alternative energy, and space travel. I also enjoy cooking, local and foreign food, and hiking.
Why Duke: The faculty at Duke has been incredible at helping me push my limits as a person and as a physician. I have been exposed to a wide variety of cases that I often read about as being rare, but get to experience multiple times on any given service.
Why Durham: I am pleasantly surprised by the restaurant scene in Durham. As someone who used to live in a much denser metropolitan area, I became used to seeing restaurants sell Pho, kebabs, and dumplings all on the same city block, and Durham has not once disappointed me.
Hometown: London, U.K.
College: University of Durham, U.K. (B.Sc.), Imperial College London (Ph.D.), International Space University, France (M.S.)
Medical School: University of North Carolina
Fellowship Plans: To be determined.
Career Goals: Faculty at an academic center (like Duke!).
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time with my wife and two young daughters. I love running and gardening. I worked at NASA for 10 years as a research scientist in the International Space Station program before going to medical school. I am also an aircraft pilot, so I love everything space and aviation-related. I've worked on scientific expeditions in remote locations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, and far-east Russia, and love experiencing the natural wonders of our planet.
Why Duke: Duke is a special place, and Duke Pathology has a great residency program. From the beautiful campus, to the great faculty and co-residents, this is a wonderful place to work and learn.
Why Durham: The Triangle is a great place to live and raise a family. The weather is great with four seasons, the trees and landscapes are beautiful, the state parks are fantastic, and there is a cosmopolitan, eclectic, and international feel, with a dense collection of great colleges like Duke, UNC, and NC State University. It is a very pleasant and comfortable place to be a resident.
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Iowa
Fellowship Plans: Hematopathology and Molecular Pathology.
Career Goals: To become an excellent diagnostician.
Hobbies and Interests: Gardening and cooking.
Why Duke: Duke’s academic reputation for excellence is well-deserved, and I appreciate learning from the world-class pathologists who are our attendings. Here, residents are valued members of the healthcare team, and the support from the residency program director is tremendous.
Why Durham: I feel that the Raleigh-Durham area is a perfect blend of big city amenities with small city navigability. It is also a great location for those who love the outdoors, with mountains, lakes, and beaches all within reach. It’s also a good city for foodies – both those who love to cook and those who love to eat!
Hometown: Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada
College: University of Nevada, Reno
Medical School: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Neuropathology and Forensic Pathology
Career Goals: I hope to become a masterful, compassionate forensic pathologist and teacher. My long-term career goals include integrating teaching into my practice or perhaps working near or in conjunction with a teaching institution. I hope to be able to climb the ranks and maybe even be a Chief Medical Examiner one day!
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy CrossFit, playing with my dog, and going to concerts. I am also an avid reader of mostly literary fiction and love to watch horror movies.
Why Duke: Duke was able to offer me a multitude of factors that I felt would be beneficial for my career, both during residency and beyond. We are part of an incredible hospital system that sees a huge variety of patients and pathologies. Additionally, the fellowship opportunities in the area abound. A large part of deciding to come here to pursue Forensics was the opportunity to go to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh for a forensics rotation.
Why Durham: My husband and I love all that Durham has to offer. It's the perfect balance between a big city and a small town. We live close to plenty of restaurants and breweries, and even walk downtown to enjoy the farmer's market or new food; Durham is definitely pedestrian-friendly. I found a CrossFit gym that I love, and we are able to have quick weekend getaways at all the amazing places around North Carolina.
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
College: Stanford University
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria
Fellowship Plans: To be determined.
Career Goals: As of yet undecided.
Hobbies and Interests: Rock climbing, cooking, hiking, and camping.
Why Duke: Amazing residents, amazing program, and amazing faculty.
Why Durham: Durham has a great food scene and is close to outdoor climbing, beaches, and camping. There is always something to do, and it’s affordable enough to buy a home.
Hometown: Cary, NC
College: Duke University
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology.
Career Goals: Community practice pathology, but I haven’t ruled out academics.
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy gardening, cooking, hiking, travelling and dragon boating. I also like to visit art galleries and am excited to take advantage of the music, shows, and dance performances that take place at Duke, UNC, and DPAC. I also will never turn down the opportunity to watch the latest Netflix series.
Why Duke: Two things stood out to me during my externship at Duke: the level of expertise of the faculty and the friendliness of everyone in the program. At Duke, you get to sign out each organ system with an expert in the field and the faculty are open to questions and eager to teach. The residents are extremely intelligent and accomplished but never boastful. They have interesting and unique personalities and backgrounds, and I am looking forward to spending the next four years with them!
Why Durham: Durham and the surrounding Chapel Hill/Raleigh area combine many things that I love to do. There are ample hiking and outdoors activities available, with my favorite places to visit being the Eno River and Umstead State Park. The Duke Gardens and JC Raulston Arboretum are great to visit any time of the year. The annual American Dance Festival is held in Durham. There is the historic Carolina Theater. There are numerous concerts, plays, and dance performances held at Duke, UNC, and DPAC. The Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh area has many excellent restaurants with cuisine ranging from Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese, to Indian, French and amazing BBQ. Finally, Durham is affordable with many excellent apartments within a 10-15 minute drive to the hospital.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
College: University of Utah
Medical School: University of Utah
Fellowship Plans: Undecided, but interested in Molecular and Pediatric Pathology!
Career Goals: After residency I want to pursue at least one fellowship. I am interested in a career that allows me to teach.
Hobbies and Interests: I love being outdoors, hiking, camping, and skiing. I also love cooking and baking.
Why Duke: I chose Duke University because it seemed like a great place with passionate and intelligent physicians to learn from.
Why Durham: Durham is a beautiful area that is so green! I am excited to explore it further as I begin residency.
Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
College: The Georgia Institute of Technology
Medical School: Tulane University
Fellowship Plans: My initial interests upon entering residency training are Surgical Pathology, Clinical Immunology, and Hematopathology. However, I also have a background in Bioinformatics and am considering Clinical Pathology Informatics fellowships, too.
Career Goals: I am open to a wide variety of practice settings. I could see myself in academic, private, governmental, and/or industry settings. Having a public health and biotechnology background, I would love to incorporate either of those into a clinical practice setting if presented with the right opportunity.
Hobbies and Interests: I have a wide array of hobbies and interests both related and unrelated to work. I have always been involved in a local church. I also love working out at the gym, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, computer programming, touring local attractions, exploring the French Quarter when I am in New Orleans, watching college sports (Go Jackets and Roll Wave!), and spending time with friends and family.
Why Duke: Duke’s reputation is on par with any institution in the country. The opportunities for clinical training and research under world-class faculty combined with Duke’s proximity to the innovative Research Triangle Park make Duke an exciting place to be. The campus is beautiful, and the training facilities are second-to-none. The faculty in the pathology department strongly advocate for their residents’ training needs within the context of DUMC and seek to provide an optimal training experience. However, what really set Duke apart on interview day were the faculty and residents who really seemed to enjoy being at Duke. The residents were the right balance of being pushed to the frontiers of their knowledge-base and ability but not over-burdened.
Why Durham: Being from nearby Georgia, I grew up going on a lot of family vacations to North Carolina and have always loved the state. Though I haven’t been able to explore all the city just yet, Durham is big enough where there is always something to do, yet small enough so that the traffic and cost of living are much more manageable than bigger metropolitan areas. The Eno River State Park and Duke Gardens are cool, easily-accessible, local outdoor venues. I love baseball and basketball, so I hope to catch some Durham Bulls and Duke basketball games. The Triangle area is a young, growing area with a lively college and young professional scene, but it also has a rich history, too. Durham is also a quick day-drive to both the Appalachian Mountains and the beaches of the Carolina coast. Furthermore, it is a short, cheap flight or an easy drive to visit my family back in Atlanta.
Hometown: Louisville, KY
College: University of Louisville
Medical School: University of Louisville
Fellowship Plans: Undecided.
Career Goals: Work at an academic institution that allows me to complete my clinical responsibilities in addition to teaching at the medical school.
Hobbies and Interests: Watching and playing sports, fishing, running, trying all the best restaurants in the Triangle area.
Why Duke: Duke offered me an incredible institution to train at in addition to wonderful people to surround myself with on a daily basis.
Why Durham: I fell in love with Durham the moment I arrived. From the people to the culture, Durham has something for everybody.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
College: Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas
Fellowship Plans: Neuropathology +/- Surgical Pathology or Forensics.
Career Goals: Neuropathology in an academic setting, a private practice setting, or as a medical examiner.
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, hiking, martial arts, playing piano, cooking, and stand-up comedy.
Why Duke: Solid pathology program with a beautiful campus and residents and faculty who were so genuinely kind and welcoming on interview day.
Why Durham: Durham has a small town feel and such lovely, green landscapes.
Hometown: Augusta, GA
College: University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!)
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Fellowship Plans: I am not sure yet! I am interested in several different areas of pathology, both in AP and CP, and I am looking forward to residency and getting to delve in further.
Career Goals: I am still deciding between academic and private practice.
Hobbies and Interests: I love to bake and cook. I also enjoy outdoor activities like walking and hiking.
Why Duke: I really just felt drawn to the program at Duke. It had strong AP and CP programs, and the residents seemed like they were learning a lot and were very, very happy here.
Why Durham: It will be the first time I will be living in Durham, so I am excited to explore the city! It wasn’t too far from family and had a great vibe as far as local places that I saw when visiting.
