You can set your preferences for social media and targeted advertising cookies here. We always place functional cookies and analytical cookies. Functional cookies are necessary for the site to work properly. With analytical cookies we collect anonymous data about the use of our site. With that information, the site can be further improved so that it is easier for you to find what you are looking for.
Thomas began training and started his career as a medical technician in 1987. He has been involved in forensic photography since switching to the field of forensic medicine in 1993. He is co-author and author of numerous scientific publications. Thomas is also a member of the imaging working groups in the Swiss and German Societies of Forensic Medicine, and President of the Association of Swiss Human Preparators since 2023.
Danielle Lee Davis
University of Alberta
Canada
Danielle began grossing in 1998. She served as the chair of the pathologists’ assistant section of the Canadian association of pathologists for 3 terms, was the inaugural CEO of the Canadian certification council of pathologists’ assistants (serving 5 years), and is currently the COO of the Canadian certification council of pathologists’ assistants and the past chair of the pathologists’ assistant section of the Canadian association of pathologists. Danielle is now the CEO of Pathology Solutions, a consulting company that specializes in helping gross rooms exceed their goals by offering locum pathologists’ assistants, document writing (SOPs and training materials), and providing direct training at the sites. Danielle is also an associate clinical professor at the University of Alberta (medical laboratory and pathology) and she volunteers her time for 2 weeks, every second year, to teach grossing to residents in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at an international pathology program there. Danielle is passionate about her work and loves sharing her passion with others.
Sara Mirisciotti
Wayne State University
USA
Professor Sara Mirisciotti, MS, PA(ASCP), has devoted the past 15 years to advancing the Pathologists’ Assistant profession through clinical practice, mentorship, and education. She currently serves as a part-time Professor at Wayne State University, and works full time as Board Certified Pathologists’ Assistant, preceptor, and Educational Coordinator for Pathology Consultants of South Broward in South Florida. She is a graduate of the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Wayne State University and earned a graduate degree in Anatomical Sciences Education from the University of Florida. Her career has taken her to hospitals across the United States, from small, rural nonprofit institutions to major academic medical centers. She has presented on uterine cancer at American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA) educational conferences and authored the third and fourth editions of the AAPA’s endometrial cancer grossing guidelines. Sara’s passion for education is rooted in helping students understand not only what to do, but why it matters. Outside the classroom and work environments, she enjoys snorkeling, swimming in the ocean, and reading a good book on the beach.
John Fudenberg
IACME Executive Director
USA
John Fudenberg is the Executive Director for the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) and also conducts private consulting services in the medicolegal profession, disaster preparedness and legislative services. John retired in 2020 after over thirty years of public service in law enforcement and the medicolegal profession. John served as the Coroner for the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (CCOCME) in Las Vegas, Nevada. John is a past commissioner of the National Commission on Forensic Science and currently serves as the chair of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board (ASB) Medicolegal Death Investigation Consensus Body. John is also a past president of the IACME. In October 2017, John led the coroner's response team after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing to the forefront the need for continuous planning, coordination, and training in the medicolegal death investigation field as well as the need to aggressively address wellness/mental health in Coroner/Medical Examiner Offices.
Lou Mendes-Kramer
Wayne State University
USA
VeraLucia “Lou” Mendes-Kramer, Ph.D., PA(ASCP)CM, is an Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Pathologists’ Assistant Program at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. An accomplished educator, program leader, and practicing Forensic Pathologists’ Assistant, she has extensive experience in graduate education, curriculum development, clinical training, accreditation, and forensic pathology. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Dr. Mendes-Kramer practices as a locum tenens forensic Pathologists’ Assistant, supporting medical examiner and coroner offices throughout the United States. She also chairs the Forensic Task Force of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA), where she leads national initiatives intended to advance the recognition, utilization, and professional opportunities of Pathologists’ Assistants in forensic settings. Dr. Mendes-Kramer is a dedicated advocate for removing barriers to forensic practice, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding education and training opportunities for current and future Pathologists’ Assistants. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to educational excellence, professional advocacy, and the continued advancement of an inclusive, innovative, and forward-thinking forensic pathology community.
Jon Wagner
American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants Grossing Guidelines
USA
Jon is a Pathologists’ Assistant with 30 years of professional experience and currently serves as a Senior Pathologists’ Assistant at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Roseville, California, focusing on cancer resections. His distinguished record of leadership includes service as President and Board Chair of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA). He has also represented the profession as the AAPA’s member representative to the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Jon has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and delivered educational presentations, including speaking by invitation of the National Institutes of Health. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants Grossing Guidelines.
Annika Graaf-Rau
Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH)
Germany
Historical pathological specimens document disease events from past decades and centuries. At the Helmholtz Institute for One Health, we analyze human specimens from anatomical, pathological, and museum collections with the aim of identifying historical pathogens, reconstructing their genomes, and tracing their long-term evolution. So far our research has focused primarily on respiratory infectious diseases, particularly influenza and measles. Historical specimens have already enabled the reconstruction of viral genomes, providing new insights into the evolutionary history of these pathogens. Historical influenza virus genomes offer valuable information about the emergence and evolution of the 1918 pandemic virus and help us to better understand the evolutionary lineages of contemporary influenza viruses. Similarly, the reconstruction of historical measles virus genomes contributes to our understanding of the virus’s early evolution and suggests that its origin dates much further back than previously assumed. These studies demonstrate that specimens preserved for decades or even centuries often still contain genetically analysable material and that pathological collections represent unique molecular archives of past infectious diseases. This presentation provides an overview of ongoing research projects and discusses both the opportunities and limitations of molecular genetic investigations of historical pathological specimens.
Karin Koenig
Karl-Sudhoff-Institut für Geschichte der Medizin und der Naturwissenschaften
Germany
The Karl Sudhoff Institute for the History of Medicine and Science houses a small collection of human dermo plastic specimens originating from an anatomical collection with a colonial background. To date, we are aware of comparable specimens only through informal channels. As part of a pilot project, the processing of this collection is being presented within the framework of an international collaboration.
Janniko Georgiadis
University Medical Center Groningen
the Netherlands
Dr. Janniko Georgiadis is Head of the Section of Anatomy and Medical Physiology of the UMCG. This department manages the Groningen Body Donation Program and its anatomical dissection facilities, providing a unique environment for hands-on anatomical education and training, as well as innovation and scientific research, using human anatomical specimens and donated human bodies. Located in the Medical Faculty, the facilities cover approximately 1,000 square meters and comprise four dissection rooms, a practical room dedicated to ultrasound teaching and VR anatomy, and a small seminar room. The facilities offer three methods of body preservation: formaldehyde fixation, Thiel embalming, and freezing, allowing for a variety of anatomical demonstrations and practical training activities.
