ASCP honors BMC resident for clinical and anatomic pathology

Stephen Hammond, MD, a fourth-year resident in clinical and anatomic pathology at Boston Medical Center (BMC), recently received the highly coveted Resident Leadership Representative Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) for demonstrating leadership and promoting ASCP membership and resident activities. In addition, Hammond collaborating with the laboratory team led by Dr. Martin Kroll, won the best poster by a resident at the recent ASCP meeting for his presentation "Reducing Patient Waiting Times for Phlebotomy."

Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Hammond came to the United States in 2008 for his residency to study both clinical and anatomic pathology, which have to be studied separately in his native country. He discovered an innate talent for dermatopathology and has accepted a Fellowship in the specialty at the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York under the mentorship of Dirk Elston MD- President-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Hammond's involvement with ASCP began in 2009 after his research of pathology organizations revealed the Society had a singularly global view of pathology within health care. "I really wanted to dive in the deep end of pathology," he said. "I persuaded other pathology residents to subscribe to fantastic ASCP resources such as Daily Diagnosis, to apply for ASCP subspecialty grants, and to join the ASCP residency program."

Through his years as an ASCP Resident Representative, Hammond has learned how important it is to belong to the larger pathology community and "not have a myopic vision." He enjoys networking for new ideas, not just to meet new people, to become a better pathologist. Hammond has a passion for how digital pathology can transform diagnoses in developing countries. In the future he hopes to perform secondary consultations overseas.