The Department of Pathology celebrates recent faculty promotions for the following faculty, effective July 1, 2026. These promotions reflect dedicated service to not only the department, but to their colleagues, students and subspecialties of study.

Experimental Pathology PhD program students Connor Wilhelm, MS and Nimra Aman, MS have passed their comprehensive exams during the spring 2026 semester.

We held our annual Resident and Fellow Farewell Dinner on June 12, 2026 at the McCord Club and celebrated with a delicious dinner, dessert, with remarks from our co-chief residents on each of the graduating residents and fellows. We also took the time to recognize the impactful work of our team members with several awards.

Frank Mitros, MD, has made contributions to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine spanning generations of students, colleagues, and patients. His supportive, encouraging approach to teaching garnered him widespread recognition, including the University of Iowa’s Collegiate Teaching Award in 2004 and multiple Teacher of the Year honors from both medical students and pathology residents. The weekly conference he founded to bring together pathology and gastroenterology colleagues, now in its 50th year, has left an indelible mark on patient care.

Members of the John Harty, PhD and Vladimir Badovinac, PhD research labs recently investigated how peripheral vaccination can generate brain residing T cells with the capacity to defend against brain tumors.

Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD receives Gerald T. Evans Award at the Academy for Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists annual conference.

A new study from Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD’s research laboratory at University of Iowa Health Care Department of Pathology provides evidence that the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria living in the digestive tract, may contribute to distinct colorectal cancer subtypes. Published in Gut Microbes, the study identifies bacterial signatures associated with tumor location and age at diagnosis and shows that specific bacteria can activate cancer-related pathways in laboratory models.

The Special Achievement in Pathology M4 Award is given by the University of Iowa Department of Pathology in conjunction with the Iowa Association of Pathologists (IAP). This recognition is awarded to graduating M4s who showed exceptional interest in or aptitude for pathology or pathology-related research.

Anna Merrill, PhD, DABCC received the Excellence in Interprofessional Education Award after being nominated by her peers and trainees and selected by the Graduate Medical Education Teaching Awards Committee.

Nominated by his peers for his leadership, innovations, mentorship, and service to the state of Iowa, Marco Hefti, MD has been recognized as one of the Five Iowa Physicians to Watch in 2026 by the Iowa Medical Society during their annual President’s Dinner on April 17, 2026 in Iowa City.

Aracely Miron-Ocampo successfully defended her M.S. thesis on April 13th, 2026, completing the Pathology M.S. program. Aracely’s thesis is titled, "Profiling the Nasal Microbiome in People with Multiple Sclerosis."

On January 16th, 2026, the microbiology lab lost a beloved member of our team, Amber Martin. In honor of her passion for education, the Department of Pathology and the Center for Advancement have established the Amber Martin Laboratory Science Fund.