Duke Pathology members came together for the annual Residents' and Fellows' Graduation and Awards Ceremony at the J.B. Duke Hotel on Fri., June 12, 2026. Residency Program Director Thomas J. Cummings, MD, offered a warm welcome, saying, “Residents and fellows are the lifeblood of the health system without whom the system would collapse.”
Johnston-West Endowed Department Chair of Pathology Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD, opened by saying, “I always look forward to this important day when we celebrate the achievements of our trainees. Our department is great because of your tremendous work, ensuring that we provide patient care of the highest quality. No matter where you are, you’ll always be part of the Duke Pathology family and among the very best clinicians in the country.”
He then presented Cummings with the Chair’s Excellence Award, honoring his dedication to the Residency Program and exceptional service to the department.
Next, Cummings introduced keynote speaker Gary Procop, MD, MS, MEd, a former trainee in the Duke Department of Pathology (resident in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, 1992-1996; chief resident, 1995-1996). Procop is chief executive officer of the American Board of Pathology and medical director of Clinical Microbiology and an Infectious Disease Pathology consultant at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. Earlier that day, he had presented a Duke Pathology Grand Rounds talk titled “The Histopathology and Mycology of Fungal Infections.”
Procop congratulated the exceptional group of graduates and encouraged them to be welcoming to the next generation of physicians throughout their careers. He reminded them to never lose sight of the remarkable opportunities afforded by their time at Duke, then shared several of his guiding principles for long-term success:
- Be a genuinely good person. Citing Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, he noted, “A good disposition is invincible, if it be genuine.”
- Be helpful. Being willing to help others matters and will serve you well over the course of your career.
- Be a lifelong learner. This is only the beginning. Continually ask yourself, “How can I be better?”
- Learn from every opportunity.
- Know what you don’t know. His most important advice to new graduates: recognize your limits and be willing to ask for help.
- Be grateful—even for challenges. Quoting Seneca the Younger, the Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and writer, he added, “No tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many winds assail it.”
He closed with a reflection on the importance of mentorship and support: “I’m here today because of my teachers. Be a great and patient teacher for the next generation, and be thankful for your support system. Tell them how much it meant to you that they were there for you. Then flip that coin and be that support system for others. Be a blessing to someone.”
After Procop’s presentation, Cummings led the awards ceremony. He invited mentors of the graduating residents to share backgrounds and kudos of their students, which was followed by a farewell presentation to fellows by their specialty’s fellowship directors. The graduating class then came to the stage to recognize and honor various faculty members.
He also praised the behind-the-scenes efforts of those who organized the ceremony and support our programs, recognizing Residency Program Staff Specialist Ginger Griffin; Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program Coordinator Jawanna Bell, CEAP; Fellowship Program Coordinator Brittany Harris; and Director of Graduate Studies Assistant Ebony Ambrose, MBA.
Cummings concluded, “I want to thank everyone in Duke Pathology, collectively. I’m proud to be a pathologist and a Blue Devil. I’ve been here since day one of my own residency, and I have never wanted to be anywhere else.”
He presented the following awards:
- The Edward H. Bossen Team Player Award is presented to the residents or fellows who have distinguished themselves in their commitment, values, work ethic, and contribution to team morale. Recipients are chosen by votes from faculty and their peers. This year’s winner is Abbey Hitt, MD, MEng.
- The William D. Bradford Resident Teaching Award recognizes Pathology residents or fellows who, in the opinion of the Pathology residents, have distinguished themselves in teaching effort and ability. This year’s winner is John Yablonski, MD.
- The Bernard F. Fetter Faculty Teaching Award, in honor of this skillful pathologist and master teacher, the Pathology residents recognize faculty members whose skills, knowledge, and attitudes have been most influential in their education. This year’s winners are: Sarah Bean, MD (Anatomic Pathology) and Jessica Poisson, MD (Clinical Pathology)
- The Christine Hulette Award for Teaching Excellence in the Duke School of Medicine recognizes Pathology residents who, in the opinion of the Pathology teaching faculty, have distinguished themselves in teaching effort and ability in the Body and Disease course. This year’s winner is Bethany Freeland LeClair, MD.
- The Fred and Janet Sanfilippo Resident Research Award recognizes Pathology residents or fellows who have distinguished themselves in research effort and ability, either from a basic science or clinical research-related project or publication. Recipients are chosen by votes from residents, fellows, and faculty. This year’s winner is Tran Nguyen, MD.
- The College of American Pathologists (CAP) distinguished Medical Student Award is given to medical students in any year of training for outstanding achievement, great aptitude, or great interest in pathology. It honors the students’ initiative in learning about pathology and participating in pathology-related activities. This year’s winner is Ashley L. Cummings, MD.
Congratulations to the entire graduating class, which includes the following doctors:
Residents, listed with upcoming fellowships:
- Natalie Ellis, MD, Cytopathology, Duke University
- Bethany Freeland LeClair, MD, Surgical Pathology, Duke University
- Grace Kwon, MD, PhD, Gastrointestinal Pathology, Duke University
- Natalya Ramirez, MD, Forensic Pathology, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of North Carolina
- Emily Teague Smith, MD, Neuropathology, Duke University
Fellows completing their training:
- Madison Swaney, MD, Surgical Pathology Gastrointestinal Fellow
- Alexandra “Tally” Balaban, MD, Surgical Pathology Fellow
- Sara Shirai Petersen, MD, Surgical Pathology Fellow
- Ahmed Aboul-Nasr, MD, Cytopathology Fellow
- Jordan Burr, DO, Cytopathology Fellow
- Ashley Rose Loew, MD, MSc, Dermatopathology Fellow
- Adam Jimenez, MD, Hematopathology Fellow
- Shruthi Mohan, PhD, Laboratory Genetic and Genomics Fellow
- Ife Fuwape, MD, Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellow