Jose A. Plaza, MD
Director
Catherine Chung, MD
The Division of Dermatopathology is led by Dr. Jose A. Plaza, and includes Dr. Catherine Chung (program director). Our division plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of patients with cutaneous disorders through its interaction with members of the clinical and research communities. Typical annual volumes is around 18,000 skin specimens. We are integral members of multidisciplinary conferences, such as the dermatology grand rounds, melanoma tumor board and virtual inpatient rounds. Our dermatopathology services offers expert skin biopsy interpretation and consultation in the diagnosis of benign and malignant cutaneous diseases. We have an active consultation service due the high volume of patients with cutaneous melanoma being referred to our medical center. We utilize the most advanced technologies available including immunohistochemistry, direct immunofluorescence and molecular testing.
Our division actively participate in clinical research projects that have led to important publications and our faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field of dermatopathology. Members of the division have spoken at national and international meetings including United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), College of American Pathologist (CAP), American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP), International Society of Dermatopathology (ISDP), International Academy of Pathology (IAP), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), etc.
We offer a one-year ACGME accredited fellowship in Dermatopathology. We have a well-balanced mix of benign and neoplastic skin disorders with good exposure to a large number of outside referral and consultation cases submitted to our institution. Fellows participate in daily sign outs and teaching conferences, as well as dermatology grand rounds, melanoma tumor board, virtual inpatient rounds, and, depending on their primary specialty, additional training in dermatology or anatomic pathology.
