by Anthony Czelusniak

Melissa Straub Hogan, MD, assistant professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, has been named to the 2023 American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 40 Under Forty list.

The ASCP 40 Under Forty program, launched in 2014, recognizes ASCP members whose achievements and leadership qualities impact the fields of laboratory medicine and pathology before the age of 40.

“This award highlights Dr. Hogan’s dedication to education nationally through her work in the ASCP,” said Alice Coogan, MD, the Dorothy Beryl and Theodore R. Austin Professor of Pathology and chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. “We are so fortunate to have her leadership in educational issues nationally through the ASCP. She is certainly one of the brightest emerging leaders and innovators in the field of Pathology and well deserving of this honor.”

Hogan joined VUMC in 2016 as a resident in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology where she began her involvement with ASCP as the department’s resident representative to the organization. Throughout her training, Hogan took advantage of the opportunities for growth and leadership that ASCP afforded her, becoming a strong advocate and recruiter for the department’s residency program. After finishing residency as chief resident, she stayed with VUMC as a cytopathology and surgical pathology fellow.

Now, as faculty, Hogan serves as the associate director of the pathology residency training program, co-director for the Introduction to surgical pathology rotation, and co-director for the advanced clinical elective in pathology for VU medical students.

“Being selected for something like this lights a fire under you, and you set even higher expectations for yourself,” she explained, “I was always passionate about recruitment into pathology, and this award will continue to push me to do more outreach, more mentoring and to continue to be an even stronger advocate for pathology.”

Hogan joins Joe Wiencek, PhD, assistant professor of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, as an ASCP 40 Under Forty honoree. Wiencek was named to the list in 2019.