Our people are the heart of our program. You will find our people in our department interested and eager to help you become the best pathologist you can be.
At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, teachers and researchers in our profession. We provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals while maintaining an open-door philosophy and collegial atmosphere.
Department chair and faculty
Fellowship leaders
Annette Schlueter, MD, PhD
Title/Position
Vice Chair for Education
Medical Director, Patient Services and Tissue and Cellular Therapies
Sheena Hovey
Title/Position
Fellowship and Externship Coordinator
Key faculty and staff
C. Michael Knudson, MD, PhD
Title/Position
Medical Director, Donor Center and Blood Bank
Blood Center Faculty
John L. Blau, MD
Title/Position
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology
Informatics Director
Blood Center Faculty
Annette Schlueter, MD, PhD
Title/Position
Vice Chair for Education
Medical Director, Patient Services and Tissue and Cellular Therapies
Meredith Parsons, MD
Title/Position
Clinical Assistant Professor
Blood Center Faculty
Laura Collins, RS, BSN, HP (ASCP)
Title/Position
Nursing Manager, Donor Collections and Patient Services, Blood Center
Lacy Benter, BS, MLS (ASCP)
Title/Position
Laboratory Manager, Blood Bank and Tissue and Cellular Therapy
Past fellows
Of the previous nine fellows in our program, five are practicing transfusion medicine in an academic setting and three are directors at regional blood centers. One is completing his clinical pathology residency (his fellowship was done out of typical sequence).
| Name | Education & Training | Years | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kai Rogers, MD, PhD | Medical School: University of Iowa, 2014–2021 Residency: CP, University of Iowa, 2021–2023, 2024–2025 | 2023–2024 | Fourth year of residency at UIHC |
| Meredith Parsons, MD | Medical School: University of Iowa, 2007–2011 Residency: CP, University of Iowa, 2018–2021 Fellowship: Medical Microbiology, University of Iowa, 2012–2022 | 2022–2023 | Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA |
| [Name Redacted] | Information removed for privacy reasons | 2021–2022 | Staff pathologist at a U.S. academic institution |
| Nicole Saviano, MD | Medical School: St. George’s University, 2003–2008 Residency: AP/CP, RWJ Barnabas Health, 2008–2012 Fellowship: Surgical Pathology, UC San Diego, 2012–2013 | 2020–2021 | Staff Pathologist, HCA Healthcare, Tampa, FL |
| Natalie Malvik, MD, MPH | Medical School: Southern Illinois University, 2009–2014 Residency: CP, University of Iowa, 2014–2018 MPH: University of Illinois at Chicago, 2006–2008 | 2018–2019 | Assistant Professor, St. Louis University School of Medicine |
| Maressa Pollen, MBBS | Medical School: Flinders University, 2002–2006 Residency: LSU, 2006–2011 Fellowships: Molecular Genetic, Vanderbilt, 2011–2012; Cytology, Univ. of Mississippi, 2015–2016 | 2016–2017 | Staff Pathologist, RWJ University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ |
| Gagan Mathur, MD | Medical School: Dr. S.N. Medical College, India Residency: University of Iowa, 2012–2015 | 2015–2016 | Associate Professor, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles |
| Keith (Alexander) Smith, DO | Medical School: A.T. Still University, 2010 Residency: Ball Memorial Hospital, 2010–2011; Summa Akron City Hospital, 2011–2014 | 2014–2015 | LifeServe Blood Center |
| Daniel Marko, BMBS | Medical School: Flinders University, 2001–2004 Residency: UC Davis, 2004–2009 Fellowships: Hematopathology/Immunopathology, UC Davis, 2009–2010; Medical Microbiology, UIHC, 2010–2012 | 2012–2013 | Hematopathologist, Diagnostic Services of Manitoba Transfusion Medicine Consultant, Canadian Blood Services Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba |
| Sara Shunkwiler, MD | Medical School: University of Iowa, 2006 Residency: University of Florida, 2006–2010 Fellowship: Cytopathology, UIHC, 2010–2011 | 2011–2012 | Medical Consultant, Florida |
| Daniel Walker, MD | Medical School: Uniformed Services University, 1999 Residency: San Antonio Uniformed Services Consortium, 2005–2009 | 2009–2010 | Assistant Professor, University of Missouri School of Medicine |
| William (Nick) Rose, MD | Medical School: Texas Tech University, 2003 Residency: Stony Brook University Medical Center (CP), 2005–2008 | 2008–2010 | Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison |