On Aug. 1st, 2024, Duke Pathology welcomed recent alumna Natasha Iranzad, MD, to join the department faculty as an assistant professor.
Iranzad obtained her medical degree in 2018 from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health). She pursued the initial two years of her training at UTMB Health in Galveston, Texas, and completed her final two years of clinical rotations at UTMB Health in Austin, Texas. She went on to complete her residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Duke University Medical Center, where she also completed two fellowships: one in Hematopathology (2022-2023) and the second in Surgical Pathology, specializing in Women’s Pathology (2023-2024).
She is grateful to her many official and unofficial mentors in Duke Pathology, including, but not limited to, Professor Rex Bentley, MD, Assistant Professor Eric Carlsen, MD, PhD, Professor Thomas J. Cummings, MD, Professor Sarah Bean, MD, Assistant Professor Diana Kozman, MD Professor Rajesh Dash, MD, Professor Anand Lagoo, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor Jadee Neff, MD, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor Chad McCall, MD, PhD, Associate Professor Avani Pendse, PhD, MBBS, and former Professor Endi Wang, MD, PhD, who is now a Professor of Clinical Pathology at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you,” said Iranzad. “While the acquisition of knowledge in pathology undeniably necessitates the study of texts and scholarly articles, I firmly believe that a substantial portion of our learning takes place at the scope through direct engagement, observation, and discourse. Thus, I am deeply appreciative of your willingness to impart your expertise and insights. This transmission of knowledge, which, to me, feels near-sacred, may sometimes seem unnoticed, but rest assured, your teachings profoundly resonate and endure within us.”
She also recognized Johnston-West Endowed Pathology Department Chair Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Research Quality Leader and Hematopathology Division Director Ken Young, MD, PhD, and all of Duke’s Hematopathology faculty members.
“I’m profoundly grateful for the opportunity to join the esteemed Pathology Department at Duke,” she said. “It’s a privilege to work alongside such dedicated and kind-hearted colleagues who are committed to excellence in their work. I extend special thanks to Dr. Huang for not only allowing the opportunity for me to join this outstanding department but also for fostering such a welcoming and supportive environment. Your leadership and vision have been instrumental in creating a space where innovation and collaboration can thrive, and I am sincerely honored to be part of this exceptional team.”