Publications by authors named "Alisha D Ware"

In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and well-being in the medical field. Interventions such as increasing early exposure to pathology, postsophomore pathology fellowship programs, clinical rotations through pathology services and laboratories, and increasing the visibility of diverse leadership have all shown to increase recruitment into the pathology workforce. Dedicated well-being initiatives that focus on both individualized and system-based interventions have been shown to have an impact on mitigating work-related stress.

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Lymphoid malignancies are a broad and heterogeneous group of neoplasms. In the past decade, the genetic landscape of these tumors has been explored and cataloged in fine detail offering a glimpse into the mechanisms of lymphomagenesis and new opportunities to translate these findings into patient management. A myriad of studies have demonstrated both distinctive and overlapping molecular and chromosomal abnormalities that have influenced the diagnosis and classification of lymphoma, disease prognosis, and treatment selection.

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Lymphoproliferative disorders are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with varying clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic characteristics. A subset of lymphomas have a proclivity for the gastrointestinal tract, although this region may also be involved by systemic lymphomas. In addition, a number of indolent lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract have been defined over the past decade, and it is important to accurately differentiate these neoplasms to ensure that patients receive the proper management.

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Identification of genomic signatures with consistent clinicopathological features in myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) is critical for improved diagnosis, elucidation of biology, inclusion in clinical trials, and development of therapies. We describe clinical and pathological features with co-existence of mutations in ASXL1 (missense or nonsense), SRSF2, and SKI homologous region of SETBP1, in 18 patients. Median age was 68 years with a male predominance (83%).

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Pathologists who enter the workforce must have a diverse skill set beyond that of clinical diagnostics alone. Anticipating this need, the Johns Hopkins Pathology Residency Program developed Special Expertise Tracks to enhance training in relevant subspecialty domains. Using a combination of discussions and surveys, we assessed: (1) our current resident curriculum; (2) perceived curricular strengths and needs; (3) resident career preferences and ultimate career paths; (4) perceived barriers to implementing an advanced elective curriculum; and (5) available departmental/institutional resources.

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Lymphoid malignancies are a broad and heterogeneous group of neoplasms. In the past decade, the genetic landscape of these tumors has been explored and cataloged in fine detail offering a glimpse into the mechanisms of lymphomagenesis and new opportunities to translate these findings into patient management. A myriad of studies have demonstrated both distinctive and overlapping molecular and chromosomal abnormalities that have influenced the diagnosis and classification of lymphoma, disease prognosis, and treatment selection.

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Context.—: Like many medical specialties, pathology faces the ongoing challenge of effectively enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion within training programs and the field as a whole. This issue is furthered by a decline in US medical student interest in the field of pathology, possibly attributable to increasingly limited pathology exposure during medical school and medical student perceptions about careers in pathology.

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Context.—: In the early months of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) (Baltimore, Maryland) leadership reached out to faculty to develop and implement virtual clinical clerkships after all in-person medical student clinical experiences were suspended.

Objective.

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Myeloid neoplasms with PDGFRA rearrangement are rare, and most commonly present with features of chronic eosinophilic leukemia; however, they rarely manifest as acute myeloid or lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients typically present with symptoms of hypereosinophilia including cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms. An increase in mast cells is also a common feature of this disease, and there may be elevated serum tryptase with significant clinical overlap with systemic mastocytosis.

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Objectives: This study assessed historical and current gender, racial, and ethnic diversity trends within US pathology graduate medical education (GME) and the pathologist workforce.

Methods: Data from online, publicly available sources were assessed for significant differences in racial, ethnic, and sex distribution in pathology trainees, as well as pathologists in practice or on faculty, separately compared with the US population and then each other using binomial tests.

Results: Since 1995, female pathology resident representation has been increasing at a rate of 0.

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Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by a reciprocal translocation, t(9;22) (q34.1;q11.2).

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With 3.8% black trainees in 2012, pathology had significantly fewer trainees from groups underrepresented in medicine compared to other specialties. To address this, faculty in the Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology established an outreach program and funded rotation for students underrepresented in medicine and from disadvantaged groups.

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Purpose: Accurate classification of breast phyllodes tumors (PTs) on core biopsy can be challenging. The differential diagnosis of benign PT (BP) is fibroadenoma (FA), whereas the differential diagnosis of malignant PT (MP) is sarcomatoid (metaplastic) carcinoma (SC).

Methods: Here, we compare the pre-excision core biopsy diagnosis and clinicopathologic features of histologically confirmed MP, borderline PT (BLP), BP, FA, and SC.

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Nonhereditary heterotopic ossification (NHO) is a common complication of trauma. Progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) are rare genetic causes of heterotopic bone. In this article, we detail the vascular patterning associated with genetic versus NHO.

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Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a relatively uncommon benign bone tumor of cartilaginous differentiation. The primary pitfall in the histopathologic diagnosis of CMF is confusion with a high-grade chondrosarcoma, owing to the atypical stellate and spindled cells set within a chondromyxoid background. CMF is particularly challenging to diagnose within the pelvis, where clinical suspicion for chondrosarcoma is high and benign lesions may grow to a large size to occupy the pelvic bones.

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