American Osteopathic College of Pathologists
April 17-19, 2026
Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Downers Grove, IL
Building: Cardinal Hall
Room: Card D
11:45am-12:00pm | Registration and Sign in
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12:00pm-12:15 | Conference Welcome and Opening |
| John Kasimos, DO |
12:15pm – 1:15pm | Paleopathology: Lessons From the Past
| 1 CME | John Kasimos, DO |
1:15pm – 2:15pm | Melanoma: Putting Metastatic Stealth Back on the Therapeutic Radar. | 1 CME | Luigi Strizzi, M.D., Ph.D. |
2:15pm- 2:30pm | Break
| Break | Break |
2:30pm – 3:30pm | Autopsy101
| 1 CME | Randall McGivney, DO |
3:30pm – 4:30pm | Pathology of Skin Disease
| 1 CME | Steven Gustafson, DO |
4:30pm – 5:30pm | Overview of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma | 1 CME | Aaron Huber, DO |
8:00am – 9:00am | Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas
| 1 CME | Diana Agostini-Vulaj, DO |
9:00am – 10:00am | Overview of Forensic Pearls – The basic steps in an autopsy. Part 1 & 2 | 1 CME | Randall McGivney, DO |
10:00am – 10:15am | Break
| Break | Break |
10:15am – 11:15am | Brain Autopsy
| 1 CME | Randall McGivney, DO |
11:15am – 12:15pm | Lunch / Student Presentations
| 1 CME |
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12:15pm – 1:15pm | Interesting Cases in GI Pathology 2026
| 1 CME | Laura Michael, DO |
1:15pm – 2:15pm | Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the GI tract | 1 CME | Roula Katerji, MD |
2:15pm – 2:30pm | Break
| Break | Break |
2:30pm – 3:30pm | Autopsy Education/Quality Improvement | 1 CME | Phil McMullen, MD, PHD |
3:30pm – 4:30pm | AI in Medical Education: Student and Faculty Perspective | 1 CME | Chaya Prasad, MD |
4:30pm-5:30pm | Applications of Bioethics in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | 1 CME | John Kasimos, DO |
Dr. Steven A. Gustafson is board certified in Clinical Pathology and Hematopathology.
In 1996, Dr. Gustafson earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then went on to complete his residency in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology at University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine, followed by a numerous fellowships in Hematopathology, Surgical Pathology, Chemical Pathology, and Pediatric Pathology. He has lectures and conducted research on national and international levels, as well as authored and co-authored multiple peer-review publications. He is a reviewer for the Journal of Histotechnology. He currently serves on the faculty of Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. In his spare time, he volunteers for USA boxing as a ringside physician.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
Dr. Randall K McGivney DO, MBA is a 1980 graduate of Oklahoma State University with BS degree in Physiology. He received his DO degree in 1983 from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (the last of the 3-year medical programs). Dr. McGivney did a transitional internship in 1983 at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso Texas followed by a residency in an Anatomic and Clinical Pathology from 1984 – 1988.
Dr. McGivney served in the US Army as teaching chief at WBAMC and worked at Medical Arts Lab in Oklahoma City before joining Mac Neal Hospital in the fall of 1991. He helped build Genesis Clinical Laboratory which Tenet Health sold to Lab Corp in 2015.
In 2011 he created Illinois Pathology Associates in which currently employs 8 pathologists and serves 3 suburban hospitals in Chicago. Dr. McGivney is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology from the American Board of Pathology and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Dr. McGivney serves as Chair of the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Sciences for West Suburban Medical Center. Dr. McGivney has served as an adjunct professor at Midwestern University in the Department of Pathology and he does private autopsies for Chicago Area Autopsy Services.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
John N. Kasimos, D.O., is board-certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and family medicine. He completed his residency training in all three areas at Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He earned his B.S. in Biology at Loyola University of Chicago and subsequently received his M.S. in Biology with specialization in Microbiology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also holds a M.S. in Health Care Ethics from Creighton University. He received his D.O. degree from Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Kasimos has 34 years of experience as an Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist. He served as laboratory medical director at Franciscan Health-Olympia Fields for twelve years. He has served on numerous hospital committees, including the Medical Executive Committee and has also served on the Pathology Council for PCL Alverno Laboratories. Dr. Kasimos retired from clinical practice in 2023 but continues to serve as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology, Midwestern University where he is extensively involved in the education and training of osteopathic medical students. He has received numerous recognitions as a medical educator, including the George W. Northup Educator of the Year Award from the National SOMA Foundation.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
companies.
Dr. Prasad hails from Bangalore, India where she completed her medical school. She then went on to complete her pathology residency at OHSU, Portland Oregon and a 2-year fellowship in Ob/Gyn pathology at Harvard Medical School. At Harvard she was the recipient of several American Cancer Society and NIH research awards. In 1995, she went onto receive the prestigious National Physician Scientist award from NIH, an award that is given to few select physicians a year. She then continued to work at Kaiser Permanente for over 2 decades where she wore many administrative hats. Dr. Prasad joined Western University in 2016, where she is an associate professor and chair of the Clinical Sciences Dept.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
Dr. Laura Michael is currently Medical Director of Vizia Diagnostics, formerly Boston Scientific Pathology since November 2022. She has been an AOCP board member since 2004, and past president 2008-2010, and 2014-2015, 2020-2021. She presents at many AOCP conferences, speaking on GI Pathology. She is a GI Pathologists who trained at the University of Florida and the first fellow of Dr. Gregory Lauwers, who is now at Moffitt Cancer Centre, after many years at Massachusetts General and Harvard University.
After residency, Dr. Michael spent over five years at Citrus Memorial Hospital as a staff pathologists before accepting the Medical Directorship of Gastrocor, Florida position at Bostwick Laboratories. Ten years later, she moved to Alpharetta Georgia to a GI Pathology laboratory, Endochoice, which became Boston Scientific a few years later. She is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists, Gastrointestinal Pathology Society member and Board certified American Osteopathic Board of Pathology and American Board of Pathology
Aaron Huber, DO is a surgical pathologist who specializes in gastrointestinal, liver, pancreaticobiliary, bone, and soft tissue pathology.
He is Board Certified in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology – American Board of Pathology
He received his DO degree in 2004 from Univ. of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine
He completed his Residency in Pathology at Naval Medical Center San Diego07/20/2005 – 07/19/2009
His Post-doctoral Training & Residency training was completed 07/01/2013 – 06/30/2014 with a
Fellowship in Gastrointestinal & Hepatobiliary Pathology at University of Rochester Medical Center.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports a financial relationship with Astellas Pharmaceuticals as a speaker. The Relationship has ended.
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Diana Agostini-Vulaj, DO
Associate Professor – Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SMD)
Dr. Agostini-Vulaj completed her medical school training at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University. She is currently an associate professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Rochester Medical Center where she completed her anatomic and clinical pathology residency along with her fellowship in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in the field, contributed to many book chapters, as well as given lectures nationally. She is an active member of the College of American Pathologists, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Rodger C. Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society, and the Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society. She currently serves on national committees, including the College of American Pathologists Graduate Medical Education Committee and the Pancreatobiliary Pathology Society Education Committee, previously serving as the Membership/Website Committee Chair. In addition, she currently serves on the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Abstract Review Board.
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
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Roula Katerji, MD
Assistant Professor – Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SMD)
Director, Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Pathology Fellowship
University of Rochester Medical Center
Residency & Fellowship
Fellowship, Pathology – Gastrointestinal, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2020 – 2021
Residency, Pathology, Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2017 – 2020
Internship, Pathology, Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2016 – 2017
Education
MD | University of Aleppo (Syria). 2014
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
Phil McMullen, MD, PHD
EDUCATION
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP/MD, PhD)
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
isolates of Listeria monocytogenes. Successfully Defended Thesis on 06/11/2014
Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology, Summa cum Laude
Miami University, Oxford, OH
POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING
Fellow, Thoracic and Surgical Pathology
University of Chicago Medical Center
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency
University of Chicago Medical Center
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION
Licensed Physician and Surgeon (State of Illinois; State of New York)
Board Certification in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (American Board of Pathology)
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology
Loyola University Medical Center
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
Luigi Strizzi, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor of Pathology at Midwestern University in Downers
Grove, IL where he teaches systemic human pathology to students enrolled in the
Osteopathic Medicine, Dental Medicine and Optometry Programs. Dr. Strizzi received his
from D’Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy. Dr. Strizzi is a member of numerous
scientific organizations including the American Society for Investigative Pathology,
American Society of Clinical Pathology, American Association for Cancer Research and
European Society of Pathology. With over 30 years combined experience in academia and
research, Dr. Strizzi has accumulated over 100 scientific publications in areas that include
pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma. His current research
focuses on the effects of the metastatic microenvironment on melanoma growth.
University: Doctor of Medicine1,2, April 1994, “Gabriele D’Annunzio” University, Faculty of Medicine, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Residency: Clinical Pathology1,2, November 1999, “Gabriele D’Annunzio” University, Faculty of
Medicine, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
Graduate Studies: Ph.D. in Oncology/Cancer Biology1, March 2004, “Gabriele D’Annunzio” University, Faculty of Medicine, Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
1Academic credentials designated as U.S. equivalents by the ‘United States World Education Service’.2Licensed and Board Certified in Italy (EU)..
In the past 24 months, the speaker reports no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
This will provide the learner with the fundamentals of epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, and morphology of pancreatic cancer.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Luchini C, et al. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and its variants. Surg Pathol Clin. 2016;9:547-560.
Collisson EA, et al. Molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer. Nature Reviews: Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2019;16;207-220.
Wood LD, et al. Pancreatic cancer: pathogenesis, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Gastroenterology. 2022;163:386-402.
Competencies: 2,3,6
This lecture will provide members greater understanding of how the field of paleopathology influences our beliefs of modern day diseases and provides greater understanding of those conditions.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Grauer AL. A century of paleopathology. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2018;165:904–914. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23366
Cardouzo, A.C.L.P. et al. Frequency of tuberculosis: Associated genomic variants in ancient Native Americans, Int J Paleopath,2026; 52:128-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2026.01.006.
Core Competencies: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
This lecture will provide members greater understanding of how the field of ethics can be applied to the field of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and how our ethics define us as professionals.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Cocks, M. Ethical Considerations in Pathology. AMA Journal of Ethics, 18:8 (2016), 761-763.
Granowski, AM, Budelier, M M, Campbell, SM. Ethics for Laboratory Medicine. Clinical Chemistry, 65:12 (2019), 1497-1507
Core Competencies: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
CAP Autopsy protocol
Dr. Kim A. Collins, Text on Forensic Pathology
Core Competencies: 2,3,4,5,6,7
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
CAP Autopsy protocol
Dr. Kim A. Collins, Text on Forensic Pathology
Core Competencies: 2,3,4,5,6,7
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
CAP Autopsy protocol
Dr. Kim A. Collins, Text on Forensic Pathology
Core Competencies: 2,3,4,5,6,7
A review and update of some interesting skin lesions as well as a review of pertinent literature.
Objectives:
Needs: Advances in Medical Knowledge
References: In Progress
Core Competencies: 2,3
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
AI2025, 6(12), 322;https://doi.org/10.3390/ai6120322
Artificial Intelligence Use in Medical Education: Best Practices and Future Directions – PMC
Core Competencies: 2,4,5,6
This lecture will Increase knowledge of GI pathology, Differential diagnosis, stains to order, what treatment options, etc.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Gastic Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report and Literature Review , Cureus. 2025 Oct8; 17 (10): e94111.doi: 10.7759/cureus.94111.
Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 2021 sep19)9)582-593.
Small cell rectal cancer: a therapeutic challenge, BMJ Case Rep, 2021 Oct 8;14 (10:e244108.doi
Core Competencies: 2,3,4,6,7
This lecture will help the learner to recognize and appropriately diagnose pancreatic cystic lesions.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Basturk O, Hong SM. Wood LD, Adsay NV, Albores-Saavedra J, Biankin AV, Brosens LA, Fukushima N, Goggins M, Kato Y. A revised classification system and recommendations from the Baltimore consensus meeting for neoplastic precursor lesions in the pancreas. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 2015 Dec 1, 39(12): 1730-41
Vyas M, Hechtman JF, Zhang Y, Benayed R. Yavas A, Askan G, Shia J Klimstra DS, Basturk O. DNAJB1-PRKACA fusions occur in oncocytic pancreatic and biliary neoplasims and are not specific for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Modern Pathology 2020 Apr 1; 33 (4) 648-56
Core Competencies:,2,3
This lecture will review the main aspects of epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology and therapeutic approaches to cutaneous melanoma.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/melanoma
Core Competencies: 2,3,4,5,6,7
This lecture highlights common issues with delivering quality in the setting of autopsy and proposes solutions.
Objectives:
Needs:
References:
Scherpelz et al. Acad. Pathol. 2025 Jan 13;12(1): 100156
Perkins et al. Critical Care. 2003;7(6): R129-132
Core Competencies: 3,4,5,6
Attendees will benefit from this lecture by improving their understanding of
the classification, diagnosis, and grading of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms, which are increasingly encountered in clinical practice.
Objectives:
Needs:
References: Bellizzi AM. Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis and classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms: what can brown do for you? Hum Pathol. 2020 Feb;96:8-33. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2019.12.002. Epub 2019 Dec 17. PMID: 31857137; PMCID: PMC7177196.
Tang LH, Basturk O, Sue JJ, Klimstra DS. A Practical Approach to the Classification of WHO Grade 3 (G3) Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor (WD-NET) and Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (PD-NEC) of the Pancreas. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016 Sep;40(9):1192-202. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000000662. PMID: 27259015; PMCID: PMC4988129
Core Competencies: 2,3,6
Objectives:
Needs:
References: In progress
Core Competencies: 2,3,6