On Dec. 5, 2024, Pathology Department members and friends gathered in Conference Room 3114 of Duke South to celebrate the naming of the Pamela and Robin Vollmer Room. The Duke University Board of Trustees authorized room 0221M on the second floor of the Davison Building in Duke South as home of Duke University School of Medicine’s Pathologists’ Assistant Program.
They are esteemed Duke alumni who dedicated their lengthy careers to the Pathologists’ Assistant Program in the Department of Pathology. The room was renovated and named to acknowledge their many years of service, which have inspired generous gifts from numerous faculty, staff, alumni, students, and friends in their honor.
The Vollmers played a vital role in the growth of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program and were committed to its mission to train academically qualified individuals to become exceptional health professionals.
Robin Vollmer began his 49-year career with the department in 1972. He was a prolific academic pathologist who published over 210 scholarly articles and was awarded two Fetter teaching awards by the Pathology Department’s students. Pamela Vollmer served as the assistant director of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program from 1976 to 1985, and as the associate director and education coordinator from 2005-2021.
“Pam and Robin Vollmer have been the heart of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program for many years and were instrumental in mentoring me towards an amazing career,” said Pathologists’ Assistant Program Director Michelle Johnson, MHS, PA, (ASCAP) CM. “It is an incredible honor to carry their legacy into the future while reminding students of our heritage with the naming of the room and the creation of the Robin Vollmer Tribute Fund.”
In 2021, the Pamela Vollmer Teaching Award was established to be awarded annually to an individual whose knowledge, teaching, and professionalism have had the most positive impact on students’ training. Pamela Vollmer received the inaugural award, followed by Michelle Johnson. The most recent recipients of the award in 2023 and 2024 were Senior Medical Photographer and Pathologists’ Assistant Program Course Coordinator Steven Conlon, and Pathologists’ Assistant and Preceptor for Duke Autopsy and Surgical Pathology Nicole Tomsho, MHS, PA (ASCP)CM, respectively.
Many of the Vollmer’s family members attended the celebration, including their grandchildren Mina and Erik Galunas and Christina Mazzeo. Professor Emeritus John Shelburne, MD, PhD, and Assistant Professor Emeritus Jane Gaede, MD, both of whom worked closely with the Vollmers, attended the event as well.
“Robin and Pam’s names will always be associated with the program and the department,” said Johnston-West Endowed Chair of Pathology Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD. “I appreciate the contributions of many of you, especially those of Sara Miller, PhD, and David Howell, MD, PhD, who worked together to make this happen.”
Howell offered some remarks, extolling the virtues of the Vollmers. “They were peas in a pod,” said Howell. “During their time with the department, they showed professional excellence and were at the top of their crafts. They were dedicated to teaching and mentorship and were people of extraordinary warmth, kindness, and hospitality.”
Pamela Vollmer closed the ceremony, saying “Thank you, and I’d like to give a big shout-out to Michelle Johnson. This is very emotional for me. I’m thrilled that she is here and doing a fantastic job. I hope the program continues to flourish.”