Nominee: Dr. Paul Meyer

Nominated by: Anonymous

“Dr. Meyer has contributed a significant amount of time and effort to the education of medical students through the Pathology Selective rotation. Despite being new to the department, he really stepped up when asked to help develop parts of the curriculum for the Path Selective, and went above and beyond by developing an entirely new interactive, online case for students to learn about hematopathology using case based learning, writing numerous exam questions, and also identifying appropriate practice cases for students to attempt to analyze in CytoPaint. Additionally, he spends time one-on-two with students each week when they rotate through CP, going overflow cytometry cases and concepts together. He has truly shown great dedication to both our Pathology Department and the education of UI trainees and deserves to be recognized for his efforts!”

How long have you been working in pathology?

I started my residency in 2004, so about 24 years.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I like having the time to think about problems. It’s not a rushed environment here.

What made you decide to pursue a career in pathology?

I was in a dual degree program in medical school. During my PhD research, my mentor suggested I do some tissue studies. This led me to interact with a lot of pathology faculty, which I enjoyed, so I decided to pursue Pathology from there. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I have lots of pets. I have six birds, one is a parrot African Grey parrot, which my wife says I talk to more than my students. He has picked up a wide vocabulary from my family. We also have three dogs that the parrot will try to order around, but they have learned to ignore him. Lastly, I have two boys and like to hang out with them while they are gaming.

What is your dream vacation?

My wife and I keep talking about going to Great Britain and Ireland. I like the architectural styles there, so I want to go see it in person.

What is your favorite movie?

I really like The Name of the Rose.

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I would probably be some kind of absent-minded professor somewhere. There were so many thing I found fascinating in undergrad that I just didn’t have time to explore.

Nominee: Anne O'Mara

Nominated by: Anonymous

"Anne is always available to answer any questions while always saying there are no dumb questions. She is a great senior tech and role-model! She is kind, knowledgeable, compassionate, and funny"

How long have you been working in the Department of Pathology?

I started as a student in 2005, and I never left.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I love that everything is a little bit different each day. You get to see different things and the job isn’t always just the same routine. 

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I was always interested in science and health care, but I didn’t want to be on the patient side. I did a job shadow in high school and decided that I wanted to become a laboratory scientist. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I love hanging out with my husband, kids, and dog. I spend a lot of time going to my kids’ activities and I also enjoy reading and watching football.

What is your dream vacation?

Anywhere with good food and time to relax.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is The Princess Bride. 

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I don’t think I would work somewhere else. This is what I want to do. 

Nominee: Susan Parsons

Nominated by: Anonymous

“Susan is very intelligent and kind. She works according to standard operating procedures and will make sure everything is in order even if it's not her department of work. She always helps in providing solutions when there's a problem.”

How long have you been working in Pathology?

I've been an MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) in various labs since 1994. Iowa Health Care, Downtown since 2024.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I like that I get to work in every department: Blood Bank, Chemistry Hematology, Microbiology, and Serology. I get to keep my brain happy multi-tasking.

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I had several family members with many lab tests for diagnosis and monitoring. My aunt mentioned how interesting it would be to do that job.  I took an introductory course and haven't looked back.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

In my free time, I have a garden, I raise chickens, and I make old clothes into rugs.

What is your dream vacation?

I'd love to sail around the world catamaran style.

What is your favorite movie?

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I would like to run a home goods store selling produce from my garden, eggs, farm-raised meat, and refurbished items I have updated.

Nominee: Sam Pierson

Nominated by: Mikayla Hunter

“I am honored to nominate my coworker, Dr. Sam Pierson, for the Under the Scope Award. Since joining our lab, she has made a profound and lasting impact on both our daily operations and the overall culture of our team. Her presence has strengthened the function of our lab in ways that go far beyond her role, and her contributions are felt by everyone she has worked with. She is an exceptional teacher—patient, and passionate about what she does and in the success of others. Whether training new staff or supporting experienced team members, she consistently takes the time to ensure that concepts are understood thoroughly and that work is done correctly and confidently. In addition to being an outstanding mentor, she is one of the hardest-working individuals I know. She regularly steps into responsibilities well above her pay grade, not only because she is asked to, but because she recognizes what needs to be done and takes initiative to make it happen. She adapts seamlessly to challenges, fills gaps without hesitation, and approaches every task with professionalism and care. What truly sets her apart is her unwavering dedication to the lab’s success. She adjusts, problem-solves, and leads by example—often behind the scenes—ensuring that workflows run smoothly and that the team is supported. Her work ethic, reliability, and quiet leadership have made a meaningful difference in how our lab functions day to day. For her commitment, initiative, and the genuine care she brings to her work and colleagues, she is exceptionally deserving of the Under the Scope Award. Our lab is stronger because of her, and her contributions do not go unnoticed.”

How long have you been working in Pathology?

I started in January of 2025.

What do you enjoy about working here?

Honestly, the people have been great on both the research and clinical sides. Our lab kind of bridges the gap, so we work with both sides frequently. It’s also quite different from my previous work. I used to work with mice, so I enjoy working on the human side of things now. 

What made you decide to become a lab professional?

I fell in love with histology while I was studying. I knew that I didn’t really want to be running my own lab but still wanted to stick with science.  Now I have branched out into neuropathology in Dr. Hefti’s Lab, and it has been fascinating. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

I have a bunch of rabbits and birds, so I spend a lot of time with them. I also read a lot and sometimes play tabletop role playing games.

What is your dream vacation?

Probably either Sweden or New Zealand. It would be cool to see Hobbiton in New Zealand, which where they shot The Hobbit.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite classic movie would be Beauty and the Beast.

If money was not a factor, what other profession would you choose?

I honestly don’t know that I would change anything. This is kind of what I want to be doing. Even if I won the lottery, I would still want to be in research.