Recent Events

• In January 2025, UM Pathology Associates opened a new laboratory service center at the new home of the Westminster Cardiology practice in Reisterstown.
• In October 2024, The Department of Pathology began providing professional services across the UM Shore Regional Health network. Dr. Eric Li joined the practice as Laboratory Medical Director for UM Shore Easton and Chestertown hospitals and UM Shore Cambridge Freestanding Medical Facility, and Dr. Magali Fontaine will serve as Laboratory Medical Director for the UM Shore Queenstown FMF.
• In October 2024, UM Pathology Associates opened two new laboratory service centers at the UM Capital Region outpatient facilities in Largo and Laurel.
• Dr. Sanford Stass, long-time chair of the Department of Pathology and DMRT, to step down; Dr. Paul Staats will serve as Interim Chair.
• Team led by Drs. Kathryn Rice and Michael Kallen wins Innovation Award for AI-based Virtual Staining Technology.
• Our Academic Manager Katie Horton wins lifetime award for excellence at APC national meeting.
• Team led by Drs. Jonathan Jacobs and Nicole Putnam wins Innovation Award for Development of a CRISPR-based Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Diagnosis of Malaria.
• Dr. Paul Staats leads the way for a national match system in pathology fellowships.
• Dr. Rima Koka implements laboratory stewardship in test selection for myeloid mutation panels.
• Chief residents share our department’s unique and innovative vision for medical student education in pathology on the national stage.
• Our own Dr. Koka wins best medical student course director with Dr. Nick Carbonetti for Blood and Host Defenses course.
• Dr. Allen Burke wins Distinguished Achievement Award from Society for Cardiovascular Pathology.

In Memoriam: Perry Comegys

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of a long-time member of our pathology family. Perry Comegys passed away on January 15 after a brief illness. 

Perry Comegys was a Medical Photographer and Histotechnician in the UMSOM Department of Pathology for more than 50 years. He began his career in the Department in 1974, just after graduating from Southern High in Baltimore, Maryland.  While working for SOM, Perry continued his education at Morgan State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1977.

Until recently, a medical photographer was essential to an academic pathology department, because to produce high-quality pictures for scientific publications and teaching required a great deal of expertise and effort. Perry produced and developed (enlarged, cropped, edited) over 563,000 negatives/pictures for more than 700 papers and more than 20 books written by faculty of the Department of Pathology.

Perry has been a vital part of the day-to-day operation of the Electron Microscopy and Histology Lab for the Department of Pathology. His expertise, dedication and attention to detail was unprecedented and recognized by every colleague.

He loved working in Pathology and was very proud of the EM Lab he helped found and build.

Not only was Perry an exemplary employee, he was also a dear friend to everyone he worked with and was like family to those who knew him well. 

Although reserved by nature, he had a fantastic sense of humor.  His passion for his work, personality, and smile will be missed by the Department and all of us who knew him.