From Sept 7-11, 2025, various members of the Duke Pathologists’ Assistant (Path A) Program attended the 50th annual American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA) Fall Conference in Denver, Colorado. They attended lectures, presented posters, and networked with other Path As from across the United States and Canada. Duke’s program was strongly represented with three student poster presentations.
Assistant Professor Michelle Johnson, MHS, PA(ASCP), director of the Duke Path A Program, attended the directors’ meeting with the Association of Pathologists’ Assistant Training Programs (APATP). At the meeting, she connected with other program directors from the 19 different Path A training programs. She also attended the joint AAPA Board of Trustees meeting with the APATP, where they discussed upcoming professional initiatives.
During the daily poster sessions, three of Duke’s second-year Path A students presented their fabulous surgical pathology cases:
- Alex Helms presented "Assessing the Atypical: The Critical Role of the PA in Examining Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma." Helms was mentored by Allison Topper, PA(ASCP) and by Huihua Li, MD, PhD.
- Madyson Riegel presented "Multidisciplinary Management of Mandibular Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma Associated with Li Fraumeni Syndrome: Treatment Challenges and Outcomes” and was mentored by Jonathan Chen, PA(ASCP) and Gina Sotolongo, MD.
- Cadey Cousins presented “The Pathologists’ Assistant’s Role in Bone Specimen Decalcification: A Case Study Involving Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma” and was mentored by Jonathan Chen, PA(ASCP) and William Jeck, MD, PhD.
On Tuesday evening, the AAPA hosted a volunteer recognition event at the Denver Athletic Club, Billiards Room. Many thanks to our wonderful Duke alumni for volunteering their time and energy to assist the AAPA. Johnson volunteers as the Board of Trustees APATP Adjunct. Topper volunteers as the Duke Student Liaison. Chen is currently the Vice Chair of the Student Delegate Committee and Section Author on the Grossing Guidelines Committee; he also volunteers on the Membership Committee and Education (Peer Review) Committee.
On Wednesday evening, Johnson and Chen hosted their 3rd inaugural Fall Conference Duke Alumni Dinner at West Saloon and Kitchen, a popular family-owned restaurant in Downtown Denver. The 19 attendees included current Duke Path A students, Duke alumni, and friends who admire Duke. It was a great evening of networking and sharing stories of how the Program has changed and developed over the years.