About the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
About
The Department of Pathology has a wide-ranging educational mission. In addition to training residents and fellows and conducting conferences for other clinicians, the department ensures that the doctors and physician assistants trained at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School are well-grounded in the discipline of pathology.
First- and second-year medical students are taught pathology in small groups and lecture classes by our attending physicians, residents, and volunteer physicians under the direction of Dr. David Weissmann. Virtually all the attendings and all but the first-year residents participate in this instruction.
In addition, physician assistant students are taught in pathology by many of the same faculty under the direction of Dr. Gene Martin. Thus all our attending pathologists and our advancing residents have an opportunity and obligation to become pathology educators.
Message from the Chair
Academically, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School provides the bridge between the clinical and basic sciences at our institutions. This function is pervasive throughout our institution, affiliated institutes and client hospitals in New Jersey. In this role, our department assists physician assistants, medical students and others in their transformation from the basic to clinical sciences.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is affiliated with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - New Brunswick, Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center - South, Public Health and Environmental Laboratory, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - New Brunswick, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Somerset, and Rutgers Health – Center for Dermatology.
The department has divisions of anatomic pathology, biomedical informatics, clinical pathology, cytopathology, experimental/research pathology, hematopathology, transfusion medicine, and translational pathology. Our anatomic and clinical pathology divisions have sub-specialties that are comprised of faculty that have completed fellowships in those areas. Our pathologists are also board certified in their specialized area. In addition, the departments oversees an expanding molecular diagnostic laboratory. Their research efforts contribute substantially contribution to the scientific community, as well as within the institution.
Our department looks forward to expanding our contributions to the institutions well as the national and international community via our research through our clinical and educational missions.
Valerie A. Fitzhugh, MD
Professor and Chair
Meet Our Staff
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Deneen K. Blow, MBA
Sr. Director of Administration
732-235-8122
deneen.blow@rutgers.eduMagdalena Rios
Business Manager
732-235-8117
rodrig27@rwjms.rutgers.eduJuusaee Rosa, MLS (ASCP)
Point-of-Care Testing Coordinator
732-235-6045
juusrosa@rwjms.rutgers.eduHelga Badillo
Residency Coordinator
732-235-8110
hb367@rwjms.rutgers.eduAntonia Hamilton
Program Assistant
732-235-8110
ah1160@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
Raj Patel
Core Imaging Lab
732-235-4648
rpatel@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
Joanne Corbo
HIV Program Manager
732-743-3620
Corbojo@rwjms.rutgers.eduLisa May
Program Assistant
732-743-3624
Mayli@rwjms.rutgers.eduKaren Williams
Administrative Assistant
732-743-3630
Willak2@rwjms.rutgers.eduAida Gilanchi
Medical Technologist and Point of Care Testing Coordinator
732-743-3629
gilancai@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Events
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Date: Occurs on the last Wednesday of the Month
Time: Noon (12:00pm)
Location: MEB 212
Lecturer: Pathology Residents -
Date: every fourth Thursday (will be different in holiday months)
Time: 11:00am
Location: MEB 205
Lecturer: Pathology Resident -
Date: Occurs on the last Thursday of the Month
Time: 3:00pm
Location: MEB 102 or CAB 1302 -
Date: Occurs every Friday
Time: 8:00am
Location: Residents Room, CINJ Auditorium B
Lecturer: Marina Chekmareva, MD -
Date: Occurs every Tuesday
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: RWJUH 2FL Path Microscope Room
Lecturer: Lauri Goodell, MD -
Date: Occurs on the second Wednesday of the Month
Time: 12noon
Location: MEB 212
Lecturer: Pathology Residents -
Date: Occurs on the first and third Friday of the Month
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Sign Out Room
Lecturer: Nicola Barnard, MD -
Date: Occurs on the third Friday of the Month
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location: MEB 102
Lecturer: Malik Deen, MD -
Date: Occurs every Friday
Time: 11:30am
Location: 10 Plum Street, 7th Floor
Lecturer: Billie Fyfe, MD
Giving
Please join the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in striving to advance the field of medicine through innovative clincal and research endeavors. Your donation will forever shape patients' care and have an indelible impact on countless lives and loved ones. With your help, the department will make societal and medical differences by providing future pathologists with the resources that are necessary for medical advances. Your support will bolster the department's mission by fostering improved patient care and continued academic growth.
Academic growth is a cornerstone of the department. As an academic institution, the department basks in its Residency and Fellowship opportunities. Residents and Fellows will not only flourish professionally, but they also will be honing their skills under the astute eyes of the seasoned Rutgers faculty of board certified pathologists.
Contact Us
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Medical Education Building - Room 212
125 Paterson Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-235-8118
Fax: 732-235-8124
Biopsy Reports
If you need information regarding Biopsy Reports or Pathology Slide Loans, please contact the Surgical Pathology Department at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at 732-937-8596 or 732-937-8812. Please fax all requests to 732-418-8445.
Residency
Pathology Residency Program
The fundamental goal of the residency program in pathology is to provide a superior training experience in all the disciplines encompassing pathology.
Dermatology Residency Program
The Dermatology Residency at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School offers a three-year residency program accredited by the ACGME. The focus of the program is mainly on clinical dermatology designed to allow the residents to develop a high degree of competence, experience and confidence.
Fellowship
Hematopathology Fellowship Program
This is a one-year ACGME accredited fellowship offered in laboratory hematology and hematopathology. Training focuses on skills in laboratory methods including automation and instrumentation, interpretation of peripheral blood morphology, performance of bone marrow aspirations and biopsies and their interpretation, and lymph node and spleen pathology.
Medical Student Pathology Instructions
In the context of an integrated medical school curriculum, pathology instruction is offered to medical students during their first and second years. The instruction is most concentrated in the second year when they study pathology as part of a series of blocks organized by organ system.
As part of these blocks, pathology material is taught to small groups of 12-15 students who view images of gross and microscopic lesions and discuss the disease processes with their instructor. In addition the students manipulate and discuss digital virtual slides so that they become accustomed to the kinds of diagnostic inquiry that form the basis for much of the pathologist's mission.
By participating in these activities, the students learn the basics of morphologic analysis and master the fundamentals of disease as presented in the textbook "Robbins' Basic Pathology" and in various lectures and demonstrations of gross organs.
Physician Assistant Course in Pathology
The School of Health Professions - Physician Assistant Program confers a Master of Science degree upon completion of three years of didactic and clinical education. During the didactic phase of the Program, students study the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc.) to prepare a foundation for the clinical sciences (clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, etc.) which are learned during the latter half of the program.
During the first year of the A curriculum, the Department of Pathology conducts a year-long introductory course designed to establish a foundation of basic knowledge of general pathology and a comprehensive approach to systemic disease tailored to the needs of a physician assistant. Drs. Eugene Martin and Parisa Javidian serve as course directors for the PA Pathology program, assisted by Nancy Martin, the course coordinator.
Based upon the textbook, Robbin’s Basic Pathology, 9th Ed. By Kumar, Cotran and Robbins, Saunders, the course provides an introduction to the mechanisms of disease and the clinical characteristics of a broad spectrum of disease entities. The focus of our efforts is to provide a foundation for the understanding of disease states at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal levels.
Faculties from the department lecture, facilitate discussions, present illustrative cases, provide gross presentations and clinical enrichment throughout the course. Additional volunteer faculty are recruited as needed to provide information on topics such as: the role of the Medical Examiner, oral pathology and gerontology.
Graduates of PA program consistently achieve outstanding results on the PA National Certifying Examination (PANCE) with scores that typically place them in the upper 97th percentile nationwide.
Eugene Martin, Ph.D.
Course Director
martineu@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Life at Rutgers
Envision Yourself Here
Rutgers is located in central New Jersey in the city of New Brunswick and across the Raritan River in Piscataway. Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon counties rank fourth in per capita income nationwide. It is a manufacturing center, agricultural center, high-tech corporate center, and small-town America rolled into one.
Who We Are
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David J. Foran, PhD
Chief Informatics Officer and Director, Computational Imaging and Biomedical Informatics - Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Chief Research Informatics Officer - Rutgers Health
Professor Pathology, Laboratory Medicine and Radiology - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
foran@rwjms.rutgers.eduSarah Hitchcock-DeGregori, PhD
Professor Emerita
hitchcoc@emeritus.rutgers.eduJoseph Kramer, PhD
Assistant Professor
kramerjo@rwjms.rutgers.eduFrederick H. Silver, PhD
Professor
silverfr@rwjms.rutgers.eduMartha C. Soto, PhD
Professor
sotomc@rwjms.rutgers.eduWilliam G. Wadsworth, PhD
Professor
william.wadsworth@rwjms.rutgers.eduDonald A. Winkelmann, PhD
Professor
winkelma@rwjms.rutgers.eduPeter D. Yurchenco, MD, PhD
Professor
Director of the Division of Experimental Pathology
Vice Chair of Research
Medical Director of Electron Microscopy Services
yurchenc@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
Valerie A. Fitzhugh, MD
Professor and Chair
fitzhuva@njms.rutgers.eduAqeel Ahmed, MBBS
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset
aa2697@rwjms.rutgers.eduRandah Al-Kana, MBBS
Assistant Professor
Medical Director
Community Medical Center
ra1013@rwjms.rutgers.eduAsima Arslan, MD
Associate Professor
Medical Director
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton
arsianas@rwjms.rutgers.eduJasminka Balderacchi, MD
Associate Professor
Medical Director for Monmouth Medical Center
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
jasminka.balderacchi@rwjbh.orgSarag Boukhar, MD
Associate Professor
Director of Gastrointestinal Pathology
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
sb1379@rwjms.rutgers.eduTamar C. Brandler, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Director of Cytopathology
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
tamar.brandler@rutgers.eduMary Carayannopoulos, PhD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
carayamo@rwjms.rutgers.eduMarina Chekmareva, MD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
chekmama@rwjms.rutgers.eduTsuey-Ling Chen, MD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset
tsueyling.chen@rutgers.eduYing Chen, MD
Assistant Professor
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
ying.chen@rutgers.eduSubhajyoti De, PhD
Assistant Professor
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
sd948@cinj.rutgers.eduMaria De Los Angeles Muniz, MD
Assistant Professor
Co-Director of Transfusion Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
md1822@rwjms.rutgers.eduSiraj El Jamal, MD
Associate Professor
Director of Immunohistochemistry
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
sml362@rwjms.rutgers.eduNirag Jhala, MD
Professor
Vice Chair
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
nj407@cinj.rutgers.eduBillie Fyfe-Kirschner, MD
Professor
Director Residency Program
Director of Autopsy
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
fyfekibs@rwjms.rutgers.eduDariusz Galkowski, MD, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Associate Director of Residency Program
Rutgers Health Point of Care Testing Director
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
galkowd1@rwjms.rutgers.eduLauri Goodell, MD
Associate Professor
Division Chief of Hematopathology
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
goodell@rwjms.rutgers.eduYing Guo, MD
Professor
Director of Dermatopathology
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
ying.guo@rutgers.eduMohammad Hafiz, MBBS
Assistant Professor
Community Medical Center
mah393@rwjms.rutgers.eduRachel Hudacko, MD
Associate Professor
Medical Director
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
hudackra@rwjms.rutgers.eduYong Kang, MD
Assistant Professor
Monmouth Medical Center
yk489@rwjms.rutgers.eduThomas J. Kirn, MD, PhD
Professor
Director of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
State of New Jersey Department of Health
Public Health and Environmental Laboratory
kirntj@rwjms.rutgers.eduLin Li, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
lin.li2@rutgers.eduStacey Longo, MD
Assistant Professor
Director of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking
Monmouth Medical Center
Monmouth Medical Center Southern CampusAmin Maghari, MD
Assistant Professor
Community Medical Center
magharam@rwjms.rutgers.eduEugene Martin, PhD
Professor
Director of University Diagnostic Laboratory
Rutgers Health Clinic in Somerset
martineu@rwjms.rutgers.eduKant Matsuda, MD
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
km1325@rwjms.rutgers.eduAndrew Parrott, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
parrotam@rwjms.rutgers.eduMaressa Pollen, MD
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
noto@rwjms.rutgers.eduAli Rashidbaigi. MD
Assistant Professor
Monmouth Medical Center
rashidba@rwjms.rutgers.eduGreg Riedlinger, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
gr338@cinj.rutgers.eduAli Saad, MD
Professor
Director - Pediatric & Perinatal Pathology Service, Neuropathology, Bone & Soft Tissue Pathology
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New BrunswickGratian Salaru, MD
Associate Professor
Director of the Clinical Laboratory
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
salarugr@rwjms.rutgers.eduVirian Serei, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
sereivd@rutgers.eduWendy T. Shertz-DiPietro, MD
Assistant Professor
Monmouth Medical Center
ws395@rwjms.rutgers.eduRichard Siderits, MD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton
siderirh@rwjms.rutgers.eduPayal Sojitra, MD
Associate Professor
Director Hematopathology Fellowship Program
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
ps1067@rwjms.rutgers.eduBrian Stanford, DO
Associate Professor
Medical Director
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset
bs211@rutgers.eduYi Sun, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
ys859@rwjms.rutgers.eduOliver Szeto, MD
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
oliver.szeto@rwjbh.orgGrace C. Tenorio, MD
Assistant Professor
Co-Director of Transfusion Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
tenorigc@rwjms.rutgers.eduDingming Yang, MD
Assistant Professor
Community Medical Center
yangdi@rwjms.rutgers.eduXin Yu, PhD
Assistant Professor
CINJ
yuxi@cinj.rutgers.eduZhongren (David) Zhou, MD, PhD
Professor
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
zz442@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
- Diane Ambrose - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Peter Amenta - Emeritus Professor
- David Artz - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Barry Barnoski - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Sharathkumar Bhagavathi - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Charlene Bierl - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Kari Briggs - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Evan Cadoff - Emeritus Professor
- Jeanette Camacho - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Abhijeet Chaubal - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Frederick DiCarlo - Clinical Associate Professor
- Tina Edmonston - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Brian Erler - Clinical Associate Professor
- Clinton Ewing - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Helen Haupt - Adjunct Professor
- Sarah Hitchcock - Emeritus Professor
- Jane Date C. Hon - Clinical Instructor
- Parisa Javidian - Emeritus Professor
- Li Jin - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Diane Karluk - Clinical Assistant Professor
- William Klump - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Sunita Kramer - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Elliot Krauss - Clinical Associate Professor
- Mercy Kuriyan - Emeritus Professor
- Friedrich Laub - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Bette Lazzaro - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Marvin Lessig - Clinical Associate Professor
- Adriana Lombardi - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Ramesh Mahapatro - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Theodore Matulewicz - Clinical Associate Professor
- Masako Mizusawa - Clinical Associate Professor
- Jeanne Myers - Adjunct Associate Professor
- Zaida Olmo-Durham - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Xin Qi - Adjunct Associate Professor
- William Rafferty - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Karel Raska - Professor
- Carolyn Revercomb - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Roy Rhodes - Emeritus Professor
- Eric Richfield - Emeritus Professor
- Ivan Rodero - Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Evita Sadimin - Clinical Associate Professor
- Amrik Sahota - Clinical Professor
- Roland Schwarting - Adjunct Professor
- Frederick Stone - Clinical Professor
- Kong Tan - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Alex Zhang - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Lanjing Zhang - Clinical Assistant Professor
Affiliations and Collaborations
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- Community Medical Center - Toms River, NJ
- Monmouth Medical Center - Long Branch, NJ
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at New Brunswick - New Brunswick, NJ
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton - Hamilton, NJ
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Somerset - Somerville, NJ
- Rutgers Health - Center for Dermatology - Somerset, NJ
Research Activities
The Department of Pathology supports research as an important academic mission for our faculty and staff. The research interests and activities of our faculty cover a broad range that includes basic science as well as clinical and translational research. Particular areas of strength in the basic sciences include biomedical imaging, developmental genetics, cell polarity and morphogenesis, extracellular matrix, and protein folding and molecular motors.
The Division of Experimental Pathology seeks to elucidate molecular mechanisms of complex processes, to understand biological processes in normal and disease states, and to utilize insights into mechanisms for the rational development of therapies. The Division consists of faculty, staff, fellows and students who are engaged in basic and/or translational research, teaching, and related scholarly activities. The Division is located on the second floor of the Research Tower on the Piscataway (Busch) campus of Rutgers University.
Divisions
Our Divisions
Our department is made up of 6 divisions, each focusing on a specific area of pathology and laboratory medicine.
Clinical Services
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The Department of Pathology Electron Microscopy Laboratory offers state-of-the-art equipment and expertise for the current needs of the department, the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Rutgers University, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and the private sector.
We carry out a wide range of services from conventional electron microscopy to negative staining. The facility is organized to encourage the use of the equipment by individual users both within and outside the university. Individual and small-group instruction in the use of equipment and in electron microscopy techniques is provided to faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows and residents. In addition, electron microscopy services are available for a set fee. Examples of some the services provided are: Routine sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy, including specimen preparation, specimen observation and image capturing, ultrathin sectioning and negative staining.
Those interested in Cryoelectron Microscopy please visit the Cryo-EM/ET core facility, located in the Rutgers Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine.
More Information on the Core Imaging Laboratory
Raj Patel
Lab Manager
683 Hoes Lane West
School of Public Health, Room 24
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Phone: (732) 235-4648
Fax: (732) 235-4819
Email: rpatel@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
We are academic pathologists with many years of experience and subspecialty training in all organ systems. We practice in a state-of-the-art facility with on-site specialty studies including immunohistochemistry, electron mircoscopy, immunoflorescence, cytogenetics, post-mortem chemistry and microbiology. We have a team of board-certified neuropathologists ready to handle even the toughest dementia cases.
- We perform complete or partial autopsy and brain-only autopsy.
- We offer verbal consultation with families at the time of autopsy request as well as to discuss the autopsy findings.
- Autopsies are done in a timely manner to facilitate ease of timing of funeral services.
- We are available for autopsies Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
- To access this service or to receive additional information, please call (732) 507-8613 to speak to a member of our Autopsy Service team.
Please note: We require an authorized individual to sign consent forms for the Rutgers Regional Autopsy Service and for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. These forms are faxed upon request for services.
Transportation to and from our convenient New Brunswick facility is arranged and paid for by the family.
For pricing inquiry, please contact Dr. Billie Fyfe at fekibs@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
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Our Outpatient Surgical Pathology Services provides surgical pathologic diagnoses for tissue samples obtained from patients in ambulatory practices. Special diagnostic microscopy services are available, if needed.
Special Treatments or Services
Gastrointestinal pathology (e.g., colonic biopsies), Dermatopathology, Ob/Gyn pathology (e.g., cervical biopsies and cytologies), Breast pathology, Hematopathology (e.g., bone marrow, lymph nodes), Uromuscular pathology, Renal pathology, and Genitourinary pathology (e.g., prostate biopsies). Courier services available.
Contact Us
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-937-8596 -
Histopathologic consultations are available from members of the Department. These services are provided to pathologists and surgeons for the purpose of resolving diagnostic dilemmas or establishing a histopathologic diagnosis.
Special Treatments or Services
- Courier service available: 732-235-8768
- Fax reporting available: 732-235-8770
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We provide the highest quality diagnostic service to you and your patients through timely, accurate diagnoses. Personalized direct communication with the referring physician is available. Each specimen is expeditiously processed and evaluated by a board-certified pediatric pathologist with a background in obstetrics and gynecology, with proven expertise in the diagnostic nuances of perinatal pathology.
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Point-of-Care Testing assists with the implementation and monitoring of clinical laboratory programs administered by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, including programs within RWJMS (including RWJUMG) and at HIV testing sites.
Point of Care services are available at each clinical facility, so long as the required training, proficiency testing, quality control procedures and validation procedures are performed by the clinical staff in the facility. The Robert Wood Johnson Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Medicine oversees this program and provides Bioanalytical Laboratory Directorship (BLD) and all necessary state and federal licensing for each site.
Dariusz Galkowski
125 Paterson Street - MEB 212
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Email: galkowd1@rwjms.rutgers.edu -
Supported by grants from the NJ Department of Health - Division of HIV, STD & TB Services, the Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides Rapid HIV Test Support to more than 100 sites throughout NJ where rapid HIV testing is available.
Rutgers Health
1 World's Fair Drive - Second Floor
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: 732-743-3630
Message from the Director
As a Center for Dermatology, we have a commitment to the delivery of exemplary patient care, teaching and research. We recognize the need to provide high-quality services to benefit present and future patients with abnormalities and diseases of the skin. Each member of our team works collectively toward building patient care services, educational programs and research that are critical to patient care outcomes. The Center for Dermatology provides high-quality medical and surgical dermatologic services for the diseases of the skin, hair and nails within its outpatient facility. These services include general dermatology, medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology and cosmetic procedures.
Our Dermatology Residency Program offers professional training for residents and medical students in the latest skills and knowledge of dermatology. The department's research activities include clinical investigations of novel therapeutics including the use of biologics and non-invasive tools in the management of psoriasis and melanoma.
With its continued growth, the department is focused primarily on establishing itself as a center of excellence in clinical care, education and research and as a leading center for academic dermatology.
Bahar Firoz, MD
Clinical Director
Director of Mohs and Cosmetic Surgery
Meet Our Faculty
Bahar Firoz, MD
Clinical Director and Director of Mohs and Cosmetic Surgery
bahar.firoz@rutgers.edu
Amy Pappert, MD
Associate Professor
amy.pappert@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Babar K. Rao, MD
Clinical Medical Instructor
raobk@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Cindy Wassef, MD
Assistant Professor
wassefci@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Our Faculty in the Media
Clinical Services and Programs
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The Contact Allergy Testing Clinic helps identify the cause of skin rashes.
A common cause of skin rashes is allergy to materials in the home and workplace. This condition is "contact dermatitis," and the rash may burn or itch. The allergens or products, ingredients, chemicals, or materials that people may be allergic to include:
- Cleansers
- Dyes
- Flavorings
- Fragrances
- Metals
- Preservatives
- Topical antibiotics
- Topical creams and ointments
To identify the cause of the rash, our specialists can run contact allergy testing (patch testing). Unlike the more common "prick testing" and radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests, patch testing uses no needles and does not require blood tests. The test involves taping allergens to your back. These "patches" remain on for two days before removal. We then read the patches, return them to your back, and then read them again after two more days. If we find the cause of the rash, removal of a responsible allergen from a person’s environment can occur. If cause of the rash is not due to an identified allergen, patients will know their discomfort is not the result of most common allergens.
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The Cosmetic Dermatology program helps people achieve a more youthful appearance through the correction of fine lines and wrinkles, removal of unwanted hair and veins, and elimination of age spots. We provide leading-edge aesthetic treatment options.
The services we offer include:
- Botox treatment, Restylane, and other fillers
- Chemical peels
- Correction of fine lines and wrinkles
- Elimination of age spots
- Laser-assisted hair removal
- Leg vein therapy
- Microdermabrasion
- Photo rejuvenation
The physicians in our cosmetics program are on the faculty of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a part of Rutgers University, one of the top research institutions in America. Our doctors are active in clinical research and in teaching about all aspects of dermatology. Each brings leading-edge knowledge from the classroom to the exam room.
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The Center for Dermatology provides a full range of dermatology services for adults and children. Our physicians offer expertise in medical and surgical dermatology, as well as in the study and treatment of skin cancer and common skin diseases including:
- Acne
- Contact dermatitis
- Rare skin diseases such as
- Blistering diseases
- Hair loss disorders
- Lupus
- Rosacea
- Psoriasis
- Warts
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The Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Center provides treatment and care of melanoma, pigmented lesions, and other skin irregularities. We practice the latest techniques and approaches to identify conditions so that patients can receive the best treatment options available.
Our physicians are on the faculty of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a part of Rutgers University, one of the top research institutions in America. Our doctors are active in clinical research and in teaching about all aspects of dermatology. Many of our physicians also have national and international recognition for their experience with dermatoscopy, the examination of skin lesions with a dermatoscope, an instrument that uses high-power lenses for close-up views. Dermatoscopy is one of the latest and most accurate methods of managing pigmented lesions.
The treatments and services we offer also include:
- Dermatopathology (the study of skin diseases at a microscopic and molecular level)
- Image analysis
- Screening and management of nevi (skin lesions) and melanoma
Our staff has a commitment to prevention, education, treatment, and monitoring of patients with melanoma, pigmented lesions, and other conditions, as well as to people who may be at risk. The Rutgers Health Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Center can provide the diagnosis and care you need for skin conditions.
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Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective method for eradicating basal and squamous cell carcinoma, common types of skin cancer, with nearly a 100 percent cure rate. It is the treatment of choice for facial skin lesions and recurring lesions on other parts of the body.
Physicians in the Rutgers Health Mohs Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery program specialize in the procedure. Our doctors are on the faculty of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a part of Rutgers University, one of the top research institutions in America. Our doctors are active in clinical research and in teaching about all aspects of dermatology and skin cancer. Each brings life-changing knowledge from the classroom to the exam room.
The treatment we provide for many types of skin cancers can be completed within a few hours. Same-day reconstruction of affected skin areas may also be available.
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The Rutgers Health Pediatric Dermatology Clinic treats children who may be experiencing unusual conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. Parents or guardians of pediatric dermatology patients may obtain a referral from other doctors to see us, or may choose to make an appointment on their own.
The types of conditions we often see in our clinic include:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Minor skin problems
- Viral rashes
- Warts
We also examine less common types of skin conditions, such as:
- Birthmarks
- Contact dermatitis
- Hair loss
- Hemangiomas
- Psoriasis
- Skin growths
We also perform minor surgical procedures (those that can proceed without anesthesia or under local anesthesia), such as wart treatment, removal or biopsy of skin growths, and certain laser procedures.
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Photodynamic Therapy and Phototherapy
These two procedures involve the use of light in the treatment of skin diseases. Phototherapy uses ultraviolet (UV) light to treat disorders such as psoriasis, vitiligo, severe eczema, and a certain type of skin cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Patients come to our office to receive phototherapy treatments (narrow band UVB or PUVA) usually 2-3 times per week, while standing in a phototherapy booth. Although dermatologists generally recommend avoiding exposure to UV light, these skin problems may actually be helped by light treatments in many people. Since so many different skin conditions can look alike and each patient has different skin types, the UV treatments are designed to treat the specific condition in that specific patient unlike commercially available UV light, or “tanning” which should never be used.Narrow UVB Phototherapy
Narrow UVB Phototherapy is a treatment for skin eruptions using artificial ultraviolet light. The initials UVB stand for the type B ultraviolet, the part of sunlight that gives one sunburn. Carefully controlled, it is an extremely effective tool for several serious skin diseases.PUVA
PUVA is a combination of psoralen (P) and long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) that is used to treat several severe skin conditions. Psoralen is a drug that makes the skin disease more sensitive to ultraviolet light. This allows the deeply penetrating UVA band of light to work on the skin.Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is also called photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy. It involves using drugs, called photosensitizing agents, along with light to kill cancer cells. The drugs only work after they have been activated by certain kinds of light. Depending on the part of the body being treated, the photosensitizing agent is either injected into the blood stream or applied to the skin. After the drug is absorbed by the cancer cells a light source is applied only to the area to be treated. The light causes the drug to react with oxygen, which forms a chemical that kills the cancer cells. PDT may also work by destroying the blood vessels that feed the cancer cells and by alerting the immune system to attack the cancer.
Surgeries and Procedures
Accordion Content
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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment that is used to accelerate healing. It is also used to regenerate hair loss. PRP is a three-step process in which blood is taken, processed, and then injected into the scalp.
For best results, consistent treatment is important. Treatments are performed roughly once a month for the first three to four months, and then every three to six months. Results can first be seen within two to three months.
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Mohs surgery is a precise method of tumor removal developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. It is the most advanced and effective treatment for the eradication of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with nearly a 100 percent cure rate. The procedure involves removal of the entire skin cancer layer by layer, while leaving as much of the normal skin as possible. It is the treatment of choice for facial skin lesions and recurrent lesions elsewhere. Many types of skin cancers can be treated and reconstructed on the same day.
Dr. Firoz is a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) and leads the Mohs surgery team in our outpatient clinic facility.
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Shave biopsy or “tangential excision” is a procedure which uses a sterile blade or a curved sterile razor blade to remove a skin surface growth off under local anesthesia. A “curette” does a similar task with a special scraping tool. These are often done to remove a small growth and confirm its nature by sending it for pathologic analysis, at the same time.
We offer the following procedures:
- Laser assisted hair removal
- Laser treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions
- Laser skin rejuvenation
- Dermal Fillers
- Botox Cosmetic Treatment
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical Peels
- Sclerotherapy
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Punch Biopsy is typically used by dermatologists to sample skin rashes or to remove small growths. After a local anesthetic is injected, a biopsy punch, which is basically a small (1 to 4 mm diameter) version of a cookie cutter, is used to cut out a cylindrical piece of skin. The hole may be closed with a suture and heals with minimal scarring.
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Excisional Biopsy is the process of removing the entire skin growth with the use of a sterile scalpel. Local anesthesia is injected to the area before the tissue is removed and the wound is repaired using sterile sutures. The skin growth removed is then sent for pathology for diagnostic purposes.
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ED&C is the scraping and burning of skin growths which is done for less serious skin cancers, pre-cancers and benign growths. A local anesthetic is injected, and then the abnormal tissue is scraped off with a curette. The area is then cauterized until bleeding stops. This may be repeated if the growth is cancerous. The wound will need to be dressed until it heals, and it usually leaves a small white mark after it heals.
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Intralesional Injection is the direct placement of a medication into a problem skin area through a very fine needle. Most often a dilute solution of triamcinolone (Kenalog) is used. Acne cysts, keloid scars, alopecia, psoriasis and chronic forms of eczema may be treated this way. If too much medication is used, a white spot or dent may develop, which is usually temporary.
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Cryosurgery is used frequently by dermatologists to treat various skin problems. Liquid nitrogen is sprayed on to the area of skin involved. Light freezing causes peeling, moderate freezing may form blisters and hard freezing may form a scab. It is used for acne, scars, growths, pre-cancerous lesions and some skin cancers.
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Acne surgery is the process of removing acne lesions, usually by opening up comedones (blackheads) and pimples by using a needle or small pointed blade and expressing the keratin plug with an extractor.
Contact the Center
Center for Dermatology
1 World's Fair Drive
2nd Floor Suite 2400
Somerset, NJ 08873
Make an Appointment with a Physician/Health Provider
Office: 732-235-7993
Fax: 732-235-7117
Donations
Denise Gavala
Office: 732-235-8614 ext. 209
Email: dgavala@winants.rutgers.edu