Trainees Subcommittee

I am an ST3 in Leeds, currently out of programme undertaking a post-doctoral research fellowship. I’m really excited to chair the trainee subcommittee and help to boost all the fantastic resources and opportunities Pathsoc has for trainees and hopefully expand these further. We’ve got some exciting changes planned for the website and social media pages so watch this space. I have benefitted enormously from being part of Pathsoc and I want to help all trainee members get as much out of the society as possible as well as promote the society to undergraduates and the next generation of pathologists!

I find research both challenging but also incredibly rewarding and I want to help encourage and support trainees from both ends of the spectrum; from those that want to do PhDs and beyond, to those that just want to dip their toe in the water. I also want to help provide support and resources for those with a less traditional background coming to academic pathology including those who might have previously done PhDs or had research careers followed by a substantial break. I’m always keen to hear new ideas so feel free to email me with any thoughts you might have at trainees@pathsoc.org

When I’m not studying early genetic changes in normal bowel, I can be found at my allotment, out on my bike in the Yorkshire hills, or watching a good Netflix series with my other half, 2 cats and ball python.

I am a Scottish trainee from South Korea, currently undertaking a clinical research fellowship in Manchester. I have always enjoyed travelling and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. Interested in basic science and its application to clinical medicine, I entered straight into histopathology following foundation training. Along with my clinical work, I undertook a PgCert degree in molecular pathology and genomics. After careful consideration, I subsequently decided to pursue molecular pathology and systems oncology research opportunities. I would like to share my passion and encourage other trainees to engage in pathology education, research, and reaching out to wider communities.

One of my main interests is in precision medicine and equipping the new generation of histopathologists with skills in molecular and computational pathology. With my interests and strength in identifying areas for improvement and implementing practical solutions, I have served various locoregional to international roles in trainee education and management. I didn't take a conventional academic pathway; I come from a clinical background with experience in basic research. Hence I believe I can provide fair representation of a wide range of trainees. I will draw on my experience to engage with trainees and to promote opportunities for early career pathology researchers and educators. Outside of work, I enjoy travelling, philosophy, graphic design & contemporary art.

I am a friendly and motivated academic trainee originally from Dorset. I graduated from Sussex University in 2009 (BSc Molecular Medicine) and Cambridge University in 2013 (Medicine). After university, I completed my foundation years in London before moving to Glasgow for my specialty training. During this time, I obtained a PGCert in Molecular Pathology, presented research at an international conference in Rio, and passed the FRCPath part 2 exam. I am currently in my first year of a CRUK funded PhD working on radiotherapy resistance in soft tissue sarcoma. My career aim is to become a clinician scientist. 

I sat my part 2 exam during the pandemic and am all too aware of how covid has affected our training. I am keen to work with pathsoc to build a list of comprehensive resources for trainees to help with exam preparation. Secondly, having done my histopathology training in Glasgow, I aim to provide a more vital link between Pathsoc and the north of the UK. I’m also keenly aware of the lack of exposure to academic pathology in some UK centres. I will increase PathSoc’s outreach to more pathology departments to encourage more people to get involved with research.

I’m Ali, currently an ST2 in Hull. I'm originally from Iran and having lived in many different countries throughout my life, I came to the UK from Australia in 2018 to start my Foundation training in the West Midlands where I was introduced to the wonderful world of histopathology. I am interested in research, specifically to use robust statistical models and deep-learning approaches to analyse DLBCL tumour microenvironment using whole-slide images. I’m also passionate about education and developing virtual materials. When I’m not using R or Python, I’m probably watching cat videos or binge-watching Netflix!

I’m determined, dependable and will always see through the projects I embark on. I’m passionate about improving trainees’ experience and promoting academia; as such, I set up Junior Doctors Ground Round and FY2-Buddy Scheme during foundation. Currently, I’m involved in developing Blackboard virtual learning environment, for which I received the Dean’s Choice award, in competition with consultants and staff across Yorkshire and Humber. Although a non-academic, my previous experiences in teaching and research puts me in a unique position, if successful, to engage and promote opportunities for trainees from all walks of life.

I grew up and completed all my training so far in Yorkshire, and I am currently an ST2 pathology trainee in Leeds. I recently started an ACF role and prior to this completed a seven month research fellowship after my ST1 year.  My research interests are artificial intelligence and liver disease.  I came to pathology and research through an unconventional route and want to encourage a diverse range of trainees to engage with and benefit from PathSoc. Outside of pathology, I enjoy arts and crafts, gardening, running and I have two cats. 

I have been working as a representative of PathSoc’s education subcommittee over the last year. In this role, I have been co-leading the PathSoc Academic Mentoring Scheme, providing support to trainees pursuing an academic career. I have recently been elected as the new Vice Chair of the Trainees’ Sub-committee and am excited to be further involved in the great work that PathSoc does.

With my experiences so far, as both an academic and non-academic trainee, I hope to represent both my clinical and academic trainee colleagues and especially any trainees interested in pursuing research through an unconventional route. 

Hi there!  I’m Natasha, one of the education subcommittee reps.  I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2016, then moved up to Yorkshire for my foundation programme and histopathology specialty training.  I am interested in haematopathology and have worked on projects looking at Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and Rosai-Dorfman Disease.  Working on the latter taught me a lot about the challenges and frustrations that come with rare diseases research.

I have a broad teaching experience and am passionate about promoting educational opportunities.  I’m very chatty and approachable, so if you have any ideas or up-coming events you’d like to talk about and share, get in touch- I’d love to hear about them!

Hi I'm Solange and I am currently an ST3 in London. I always wanted to pursue a career in pathology, however I only discovered my passion for research on entering the training program on meeting academic trainees from across the UK (through the Path Society) who were all very supportive. I am now beginning my PhD after completing a 6 month OOP Research placement, and I have really enjoyed the contrast between clinical and academic work. My goal upon completing training is to be a research active pathologist pursuing projects aligned with my specialties of interest. When not working, I enjoy outdoor sports, cooking and crafts.  

It has been my experience that many trainees are curious about getting involved in some form of research and I hope to encourage more people to get involved, regardless of their previous academic experience. I am keen to further the educational opportunities offered by the Society and ensure that they remain high quality, accessible, and relevant to the needs of trainees. In addition, I believe we can also increase the exposure of medical students and foundation year doctors to our wonderful specialty.

I am a Clinical PhD Fellow (The Institute of Cancer Research) Honorary Registrar in Histopathology. I have background experiences in basic science and clinical practice; establishing a career in which I have been able to integrate these has been an important factor in my decision to undertake Histopathology Speciality training. Support from the Pathological Society in the form of a Leishman Grant provided a stepping stone to Molecular Pathology training opportunities as an NIHR/BRC fellow at The Institute of Cancer Research. The resulting work has formed the basis of my CRUK/Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD fellowship; I now aspire towards the integration of multi-omic data with traditional Histopathology. I have an openness to innovative methods and value intra- and cross-disciplinary collaborations; recognising the unique skills and perspectives individuals may contribute. As I have progressed through training, I have identified many of the challenges and molecular pathology opportunities available. I realise the importance of encouraging and supporting individuals at every stage of a career in pathology and the need to promote research. I am prepared to share my experiences, which may help equip trainees and individuals with an interest in pathology and research with the skills needed to progress in their own career area. My time outside work is dedicated to my wife and two daughters.

Hello! I am Mohammed Nimir, an ACF/ST2 at UHCW in Coventry. I hail from Sudan; the land of the river Nile, and have started training in the UK in 2017.

I loved pathology during medical school but never considered histopathology seriously as a career, because of some misconceptions that I had around the speciality. A histopathology trainee friend of mine opened my eyes to the possibility of histopathology as a career. At the start of my FY2 year I looked into the requirements of histopathology training and applied. I was fortunate enough to get a post immediately after foundation training. 

I represent the molecular pathology subcommittee as part of the trainee subcommittee; however, I am also interested in research. I like listening to audiobooks about various topics, learning about astronomy and biology (especially anything related to genetics), and watching historical documentaries. I am passionate about research involving the use of digital pathology and artificial intelligence.

Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can do to help.

I graduated from Peninsula Medical School in 2016, completed my Foundation training in the North  Central Thames Deanery, took a year out to work in Emergency medicine and started my Histopathology training in 2019. I have a strong interest in education and Neuropathology and have applied for a Clinical Research Fellow post looking to develop a Histopathology atlas for temporal arteritis. Currently I am involved in a digital pathology project as part of the NPIC program. I have been involved in a range of quality improvement projects and have passed the FRCPath Part 1 at the start of my second year.

I am a very approachable, motivated and reliable individual. I am currently the ST2-ST5 trainee working group representative. I organise weekly departmental teaching sessions and host autopsy quiz of the week.  Good organisational skills and effective communication allow me to successfully fulfil my clinical duties and carry out these roles.  Throughout my undergraduate and current training to date, I have been involved in teaching medical students. I offer the perspective of an ambitious current non-academic trainee looking to explore new avenues.  I am a hard-working trainee who cares about education and research and would be grateful for this opportunity.

Growing up in Croydon, South London, I moved up north to attend medical school at theUniversity of Leeds. I graduated in 2016 and stayed in Yorkshire for academic foundation training. I then started histopathology training wanting to become a forensic pathologist, however, instead I developed a keen interest in breast pathology and breast cancer research. I changed tack and I am currently completing an industry-funded PhD in artificial intelligence tools for pan-cancer diagnostics and prognostication focusing largely on breast cancer.

Outside of work, I’m currently training for the Ilkley Half Marathon and am hoping to beat my last time!

As someone who had changed their mind about an academic career part-way through their training, I feel I will be able to offer guidance and support for those who want to do the same. The transition to the academic field can often feel daunting if you have not been consistently involved in research throughout your medical career, and I am hoping to be able to share my experience with others in a similar position. Also, having taken a non-traditional route to gaining PhD funding, I would like to promote the possible opportunities between trainees and industry.