Pathology 101

Dr. Annette S. Kim, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and a practicing hematopathologist and molecular pathologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital.  She has prior training in synthetic organic chemistry as well as structural biology and spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry prior to her return to academia. Since returning to clinical practice, she has practices diagnostic hematopathology and molecular pathology, and is the Associate Director of the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics in which role she has directed assay validation and quality assurance. Her research program has focused on the study of myeloid neoplasms, mutational patterns in hematopoietic neoplasms, and test utilization. Her research program has identified diagnostic and prognostic small non-coding RNAs in MDS via next generation sequencing and has defined the role of hypermethylation in the regulation of miRNAs in MDS. She has studied the effects of potential therapeutic compounds on cellular function in miRNA-based models of the MDS and in primary clinical samples using single cell phenotyping by mass cytometry with correlation to the mutational profiles of these samples. In addition, she has experience implementing, receiving funding for, and publishing on efforts in test utilization management, conducting studies on cost effective practice of hematopathology.  She has been an active member of the Association of Molecular Pathology, serving as Chair of several committees and a member of the Executive Committee, Strategic Opportunities Committee, and Board.  She also serves on the College of American Pathologists Molecular Oncology Committee. Through these Societies she has published key papers on myeloid mutational patterns and performance of FDA companion diagnostics and laboratory developed assays, including performance of next generation sequencing assays.

Dr. Michelle Shiller, DO, AP/CP, MGP, is board certified in Anatomic, Clinical, and Molecular Genetic Pathology following completion of residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and fellowship at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Upon completion of training, Dr. Shiller established practice with Pathologists Biomedical Laboratories in Dallas, Texas, who services the majority of the DFW metroplex Baylor Scott and White Hospitals. As a result of her experience, she has served on multiple committees considering testing implementation and utilization. Dr. Shiller serves on the Quality Committee for the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center, and as Assistant Medical Director for Cancer Genetics, primarily focusing on germline cancer predisposition, as well as Co-Assistant Medical Director for the Division of Molecular Medicine and Pathology. Finally, within the Baylor Scott and White system, Dr. Shiller has also served on the Baylor Medical Board. 

As a result of the emerging field of molecular pathology, Dr. Shiller has provided many educational forums to empower providers and break down barriers to implementation. This has led to Dr. Shiller securing the opportunity and embracing her passion for educating individuals at a larger scale, through the support and encouragement of many pharmaceutical companies in the form of speaking programs, video recordings, webinars and content development. Consequently, Dr. Shiller has also served on steering committees and advisory boards for multiple entities. Dr. Shiller is an active member of the Association for Molecular Pathology, and also served to develop a consistent dialogue between molecular pathology and oncology, assisting with developing the ASCO-sponsored Molecular Tumor Board. With a patient-centered focus, quality, accuracy, relevance, timeliness, teamwork and conscientious stewardship of the patient specimen are considerations that Dr. Shiller is inspired to bring to reality with the ongoing integration of molecular diagnostics in the field of oncology. She is excited to partner with the Association of Community Cancer Centers on the Board of Trustees to further impact patient care positively with this focus.