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.

Melissa Blessing, DO has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Forensic Sciences for the 2026–2031 term.

Tre’Andice Williams, a graduate student in Marco Hefti, PhD’s research laboratory, was accepted to the Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellowship for the 2026-27 term.

Aranza Pinedo, MD, M.Ed, M.MEd received the Pathologist in Training Best Abstract Award from the Renal Pathology Society at the 2026 USCAP annual meeting for her abstract “Training Gaps, Perceptions, and Career Interest in Nephropathology among U.S. Anatomic Pathology Residents: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study and Call to Action.”

Congratulations to Narges Firouzshahi, MS, a doctoral student in Marco Hefti, PhD’s research laboratory, who has received the Graduate College Summer Fellowship for Summer 2026.

Mohammad Heidarian, MSc receives the Ballard & Seashore Fellowship Award for Fall 2026 Semester. Heidarian is a student in our Experimental Pathology PhD program and a member of Vladimir Badovinac, PhD's research laboratory.

Shailesh K. Shahi, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, has received the Early Career Faculty Travel Grant Award from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) to attend the annual IMMUNOLOGY2026 meeting, which will be held April 15–19, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

A collaborative case report from Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD and Brad Ford, MD, PhD along with physicians from the Department of Internal Medicine Quanhathai Kaewpoowat, MD; Jack Stapleton, MD; and Laura Stulken, PA-C, MPH was one of the top-read articles in the American Society for Microbiology in 2025.