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About the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Aziza Nassar, M.D., MPH, MBA, FACHE

Chair, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 

The MUSC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine advances patient care, discovery, and education through excellence in diagnostic medicine, laboratory science, and innovation. As an essential partner across MUSC Health, the department provides comprehensive anatomic and clinical pathology services while supporting some of the institution’s most complex programs in cancer, transplantation, precision medicine, surgery, pediatrics, neuroscience, and cellular therapy. 

Our faculty brings broad subspecialty expertise across surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, molecular pathology and genomics, transfusion medicine, microbiology, clinical chemistry, flow cytometry, forensics and autopsy, transplantation and HLA testing, and other specialized areas. Working closely with multidisciplinary clinical teams, our pathologists and laboratory professionals provide accurate, timely, and clinically meaningful diagnostic information that guides patient care throughout MUSC and across the region. The department’s strategic vision is to deliver subspecialty excellence and equitable access to advanced diagnostic expertise throughout South Carolina. 

Innovation and Precision Diagnostics 

MUSC Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is building the next generation of diagnostic medicine through digital pathology, artificial intelligence, genomics, informatics, and precision diagnostics. The department is advancing whole-slide imaging, digital consultation, integrated molecular diagnostics, genomic testing, and data-driven workflows designed to improve diagnostic quality, efficiency, collaboration, and access to subspecialty expertise. 

The department is also developing approaches that connect pathology images with genomic, clinical, and research data—creating new opportunities for biomarker discovery, precision oncology, computational pathology, and AI-enabled diagnostics. 

Research and Discovery 

Research within the department spans translational and clinical investigation with growing emphasis on cancer diagnostics and precision oncology, neurodegeneration and brain health, transplantation and immunology, cellular therapy, digital pathology and artificial intelligence, and population health. 

A key component of this mission is the development of coordinated biorepository, informatics, and shared-core resources that enable investigators to connect high-quality biospecimens with clinical, molecular, imaging, and outcomes data. These platforms support multidisciplinary collaboration across MUSC and create opportunities for partnerships with academic investigators, government agencies, foundations, industry, and community partners. 

Education and Workforce Development 

Education is central to the department’s mission. Faculty educate pathology residents and fellows, medical students, graduate learners, and allied health professionals while creating opportunities for mentorship, research, and professional development. The department is strengthening training in both traditional diagnostic pathology and emerging areas such as molecular diagnostics, genomics, digital pathology, informatics, and artificial intelligence. 

The department is also committed to developing the future laboratory workforce through partnerships with universities, technical colleges, HBCUs, and allied health training programs. By expanding exposure to careers in pathology and laboratory medicine, MUSC aims to strengthen the workforce pipeline for South Carolina and the region. 

Serving South Carolina and Beyond 

As MUSC Health continues to grow, the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is developing an increasingly integrated regional model that connects community and regional laboratories with subspecialty expertise, advanced testing, digital consultation, and academic resources. 

Our goal is to build a system-integrated, high-performing academic pathology and laboratory medicine enterprise that combines exceptional diagnostics, innovation, research, education, and statewide access—improving care for patients today while shaping the future of diagnostic medicine.

Alyaa Irhayyim, M.B.Ch.B.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Pathology

Amanda C. LaRue, Ph.D.
Professor
Vice Chair for Research
Director, HCC Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Shared Resource
Associate Chief of Staff, Research Service, Ralph H. Johnson VAMC

Becky V. Madory, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Anatomic & Clinical Pathology
Charleston Veterans Medical Center

Chadi Hajar, M.D. MBA
Assistant Professor
Anatomic Pathology

Christine M. Litwin, M.D.
Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director Clinical Immunology and Referral Testing

Daniel (Chad) Butler, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Forensic Pathology

David N. Lewin, M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Vice-Chair for Medical Affairs
Pathology Residency Program Associate Director

Debra J. Hazen-Martin, Ph.D.
Professor
Research

Eric Daniel Hamlett, Ph.D
Assistant Professor

Hamlett Laboratory

ResearchGate

LinkedIn

Hainan Lang, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Research

Hongkuan Fan, Ph.D.
Professor
Research

James E. Madory, D.O.
Assistant Professor
Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director of Laboratory Informatics

Jessica A. Forcucci, MD
Associate Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Clinical Pathology

Jody Longo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

John C. Maize, Sr., M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology

John S. Metcalf, M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Director Dermatopathology
Director Dermatopathology Fellowship

Nicholas I. Batalis, M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Director, Pathology Residency Program
Associate Director, Education Division
https://profiles.healthsciencessc.org/Nicholas.Batalis/

ResearchGate

LinkedIn

Doximity

Nikolina Babic, Ph.D., DABCC, FACB
Professor
Laboratory Medicine
Director of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology
Director of Clinical Chemistry Fellowship Training Program
https://profiles.healthsciencessc.org/Nikolina.Babic/

ResearchGate

LinkedIn

Onder Albayram, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Research

Steven L. Carroll, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Clinical Pathology
Research
Director, South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Director of the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory (Brain Bank)
Gordon R Hennigar Jr., M.D. Endowed Chair in Pathology

Thomas Beaver, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Forensic Pathology

Tiffany Baker M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology

Walter Beversdorf, M.D.
Associate Professor
Anatomic Pathology

William B. Glen, Ph.D
Assistant Professor

William Hill Ph.D.
Professor
Research

Yasir Abdul, Ph.D.
Research Instructor
Research

Angelina Phillips, M.D.
Associate Professor
Forensic Pathology

Barbara Nelson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Professor

Christopher L. Metts, M.D.
Associate Professor
Laboratory Medicine
Pathology Informatics

Cynthia A. Schandl, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Pathology
Co-Director, Medical and Forensic Autopsy Section
Medical Director, Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology
Chief, Global Initiative for Pathology Patient Safety Excellence
Director, Jane K. Upshur Pathology Fellowship Award

Cynthia T. Welsh, M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Director of Neuropathology

David Park, M.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Clinical Flow Cytometry Laboratory
Division Director of Hematopathology
Section Director of Immunopathology

Daynna Wolff, Ph.D.
Professor
Laboratory Medicine
Director of Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology

Demetri Spyropoulos, Ph.D.
Professor
Research

Ellen C. Riemer, M.D., JD
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Director of Pulmonary Pathology

Elizabeth Rinker, M.D.
Associate Professor
Clinical Professor

Gavin Yong Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research

Jack Yang, M.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Director of Cytology
Director of Cytology Fellowship Training Program

Je-seong Won, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research

Jerry E. Squires, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine

Laura Spruill, M.D. Ph.D.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology

Lisa L. Steed, Ph.D.
Professor
Laboratory Medicine
Director of Diagnostic Microbiology

Logan Patterson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Pathology

Maria Cecilia Reyes, M.D.
Anatomic Pathology
Director of Cytopathology Fellowship Program

Mary S. Richardson, M.D., D.D.S.
Professor
Anatomic Pathology
Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs
Director, Surgical Pathology
Endowed Chair, H. Rawling Pratt-Thomas Endowed Chair in Pathology
https://profiles.healthsciencessc.org/Mary.Richardson/

Omar Moussa, MSc,Ph.D, D'ABHI
Professor
Director of HLA Laboratories

Patrick Mullane M.D.
Assistant Professor
Anatomic Pathology

S. Erin Presnell, M.D.
Professor
Forensic Pathology
Director, Medical and Forensic Autopsy
Director, Education Division

Su-Hua Sha, M.D.
Professor
Research

Vishwajeeth Pasham, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Anatomic Pathology

Virginia Richards, M.D.
Associate Professor
Forensic Pathology