Fall 2025 Edition

A Message from the FSP President

Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD
President, Florida Society of Pathologists

As we welcome the Fall season, I am pleased to share some highlights from a busy and rewarding few months for the Florida Society of Pathologists.

This Summer, the FSP hosted another successful FSP Summer Pathology Conference in Miami at the JW Marriott Turnberry. We were thrilled to welcome more than 200 attendees, including practicing pathologists, trainees, and industry sponsors. A special highlight was a session with Dr. Jerad Gardner, How Twitter & Facebook Changed My Life: The Role of Social Media in Pathology & Medicine. Our in-training pathologists found this session especially valuable, as Dr. Gardner continues to be an inspiring mentor and advocate for the next generation of pathologists.

 

Also in July, the FSP proudly participated in the Florida Medical Association (FMA) Annual Meeting in Orlando to support organized medicine along with several other specialty societies in the state of Florida. Our delegation included Drs. Adrian Palmer, Elena Vrotsos, Vatsal Patel, and myself, and we were proud to represent Florida pathologists at the state level. 

 

In September, the FSP had the privilege of attending the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Annual Meeting in Orlando, an event that underscored both the vitality of our specialty and the leadership of Florida pathologists on the national stage. A particular point of pride was celebrating Dr. Zhai’s official inauguration as the 39^th President of CAP, a remarkable achievement and an inspiring moment for all of us. To mark the occasion, the FSP hosted a special interactive speed painter experience during the Inauguration Celebration, which brought energy, artistry, and camaraderie to an already memorable evening.

 

Florida pathologists represented one of the largest state delegations in attendance, a testament to the strength and engagement of pathologists in the state of Florida and FSP membership. Florida residents were well represented at CAP with numerous poster presentations, while several of our board members were honored for their outstanding contributions. Dr. Ronald Giffler was presented with the Mary K. Fowkes Award, I was humbled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dr. Bui led multiple educational presentations and moderated the CAP House of Delegates.

 

These accomplishments not only highlight the individual excellence of our members but also reflect the collective influence and leadership of Florida pathologists across the country.

As we look ahead, I encourage each of you to remain active in the FSP. We are stronger in numbers, and your engagement ensures that pathology remains a visible, valued, and united voice in medicine.

Please mark your calendars for the 52nd Annual FSP Pathology Conference, February 13–15, 2026, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando. This flagship meeting promises to deliver exceptional education, networking, and celebration of our shared profession.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you.

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Legislative Update

Amy J. Young
Legislative Consultant, Ballard Partners

As we put the 2025 Legislative Session in the rearview, which was marked by contentious budget negotiations and an unprecedented extension of session well into the summer, we take a moment to reflect on the key developments while also preparing for the upcoming year. Interim committee weeks are fast approaching and will begin in October. Regular Session is slated to begin shortly after the New Year. As I write this report, bills are already being filed for consideration during the upcoming session. At this point, most are claim bills, but will be diligently watching as more bills are introduced and will flag anything pertinent to FSP.

We will see Senate President Ben Albritton and Speaker of the House Danny Perez preside over their respective chambers for the second and final year of their leadership roles. As you may recall, President Albritton is highly prioritizing agriculture issues, and we will see the next phase of his agenda as a follow-up to this year’s “Rural Renaissance” bill. Speaker Perez will likely try to revive his tax reform agenda, some of which was scrapped as budget negotiations came down to the wire and were unable to be resolved with the Senate and the Governor’s office. Governor Ron DeSantis will continue to influence policy, and we will have more insight into his administration’s priorities when agency LBRs are released on October 15.

Interim Committee Weeks

October 2025 – Week of the 6th

October 2025 – Week of the 13th

November 2025 – Week of 3rd

November 2025 – Week of 17th

December 2025 – Week of 1st

December 2025 – Week of 8th

 

Legislative Session Dates

November 21, 2025	5:00 p.m. – All requests for drafts of general bills, memorials, and joint resolutions, including requests for companion bills must be submitted
January 9, 2026	5:00 p.m. – All drafts of general bills, memorials, and joint resolutions, including drafts for companion bills, must be approved to file in final form
January 13, 2026	Regular Session convenes; 12:00 noon, deadline for filing bills for introduction
February 28, 2026	Motion to reconsider made and considered the same day; All bills are immediately certified
March 3, 2026	50th day – Last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings
March 13, 2026	60th day – Last day of Regular Session

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Legal Update

Patrick Montoya, JD
Legal Consultant

We continue to fight for proper reimbursement for hospital-based professional pathology services. The seminal case of Health Options, Inc. v. Palmetto Pathology Services, P.A., from 2008, has paved the way for many significant victories; however, insurance companies and HMOs continue to stop at nothing to avoid payment for pathologists’ crucial life-saving work.

Commercial payors continue to use of denial codes, including denial code 4 (procedure code is inconsistent with the modifier that was used) and 97 (the benefit for this service is included in the payment/allowance for another service/procedure that has already been adjudicated) to deny the professional component of clinical pathology services. These denial codes often are used improperly, and, in such cases, it is imperative that hospital-based pathologists and their billing companies timely appeal all wrongfully denied or partially paid professional pathology services claims, so as to exhaust all administrative remedies before seeking redress from the courts. This includes any denial or partial payment of professional anatomic services based on providers being out of network or other spurious reasons for nonpayment.

Pathologists should also keep their eyes open for any nonpayment under Florida Medicaid plans. Florida Medicaid has a fee schedule, which specifies reimbursement amounts for the professional component of both clinical and anatomical pathology services.

If after appealing and exhausting all administrative hurdles, a commercial payor still refuses to properly reimburse you for your professional pathology services, we advise that you timely consult with attorneys experienced in these matters to identify your legal options. 

If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to contact Steven R. Weinstein (steven.weinstein@klgates.com), Patrick Montoya (psm@pathologylawyers.com), or Markus M. Kamberger (mmk@pathologylawyers.com).

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Pathology PAC Update

Ronald Giffler, MD, JD
PAC Chair

The mission of the FSP Political Action Committee (PAC) is to identify and support candidates for public office who understand and value the needs of Florida’s physicians and patients, most particularly our members who are practicing Pathologists.

The past year has witnessed several notable successes for our small but dedicated group. In a hotly contested race for the Florida House of Representatives Brian Hodgers was elected in House District 32 in Brevard County. The FSP strongly endorsed Mr. Hodgers. Our support included a large and successful fundraiser at the home of Dr. Giffler. Good luck Brian!

There was an effort early in the legislative session by dermatology to introduce a bill regarding dermatopathology that would have had considerable negative impact on the financial and professional independence of Florida’s Pathologists. Thanks to our strong efforts this bill was pulled from consideration and does not appear likely to return. Special thanks go to our friends at the Florida Medical Association. Our FSP team has worked tirelessly with that of the FMA and other specialty societies to maximize our legislative efforts. This includes supporting the good, as well as effectively opposing the bad.

The FMA PAC, the FSP PAC, and those of other specialty societies have been expanding their joint efforts to support physician friendly candidates. Critical in this effort has been our professional lobby team headed by Amy Young and her lobbying team at Ballard Partners.

State elections in 2026 will include all statewide offices from Governor on down, 20 of 40 Florida Senate seats, and all 120 Florida House seats. This will therefore be a busy time for political fundraising, and many opportunities to make friends. Now more than ever we must build on our past successes and support fundraising efforts for individual candidates. 

Listed below are our current PAC donors. If you are not on the list, now is the time to make your donation! Donate here. 

• Adrian Palmer, MD
• Ana Medina, MD
• Bennie Slucher, MD
• Brett Cantrell, MD
• Carole Brathwaite, MD
• Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD
• Christina Kovacs, MD
• Cristina Vincentelli, MD
• David Smith
• Diane Davey, MD
• Edward Jones, MD
• Elena Vrotsos, MD
• Ericka Olgaard, MD
• Evita Henderson-Jackson, MD
• Farhad Askarian, MD
• Hong Wang, MD
• Jason Savell, MD
• Jesse Kresak, MD
• John Accola, MD
• John Alexis, MD
• John Newby, MD
• Katherine Drews-Elger, MD, PhD
• Kenneth Hennick, MD
• Khaled Algashaamy, MD
• Liurka Lopez, MD
• Lin Li, MD
• Lydia Howard, MD
• Margarita De La Ossa, MD
• Marijan Mirzabeigi, MD
• Marilyn Bui, MD, PhD
• Maryam Tahmasbi, MD
• Merce Jorda, MD, PhD, MBA
• Monica Recine, MD
• Muhammed Hakim, MD
• Naomi Montague, MD
• Odille Mejia, MD
• Oksana Posnik, MD
• Patrick Montoya
• Philip Robinson, MD
• Ralph Korpman, MD
• Rebecca Johnson, MD
• Robert Poppiti, MD
• Robert Seifert, MD
• Rodrigo Valencia, MD
• Ronald Giffler, MD
• Ross Wheeler, MD
• Sarah Alghamdi, MD
• Sean Kaufman, MD
• Shadi Qasem, MD
• Stephen Nelson, MD
• Stephen Vernon, MD
• Vaishali Pansare, MD
• Vathany Sriganeshan, MD
• Vatsal Patel, MD
• Viviana Lorda Seijo, MD
• Yumna Omarzai, MD
• Ziyan Salih, MD

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Membership Update

Jason Savell, MD
Membership Chair, Florida Society of Pathologists

Looking Ahead to 2026

As 2025 comes to a close, the Florida Society of Pathologists is not only thriving but surpassing expectations in growth, success, and innovation. This year has been one of tremendous progress, and 2026 is shaping up to be even more remarkable. Since our April Board meeting, we have also welcomed 71 new members to FSP — a tremendous sign of our growing community and engagement. Please welcome the following new members listed below to our Society. Also, we are excited to share that our group memberships continue to grow! As of 2025, we are proud to have thirteen active groups memberships. This year, we welcomed two new groups: FirstPath, LLC and Jupiter Pathology Consultants. Our current group membership includes:

1. University of Florida
2. Mt. Sinai Medical Center
3. Pathology Consultants of South Broward
4. SEPA Labs
5. St. Vincent’s Pathology Associates
6. KWB Pathology Associates
7. University of Miami
8. Ruffolo, Hooper & Associates
9. Moffitt Cancer Center
10. Associated Pathologists
11. Comprehensive Pathology Associates
12. FirstPath, LLC
13. Jupiter Pathology Consultants

We’re grateful for the continued growth of our community and the collaboration it represents. If you would like to learn more about group memberships, please contact membership@flpath.org.

FSP Member Spotlight Opportunity

FSP loves to showcase our members! If you’re interested in being featured in a Member Spotlight, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to membership@flpath.org to express your interest.

Thank You for Your Support

To all members of the Florida Society of Pathologists: Thank you for your dedication and contributions to our mission. Your commitment fuels our success and inspires our continued growth. It is an honor to serve as your Membership Chair, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together in 2026. Please welcome our newest FSP members:

• Amr Hani Ahmed Masaadeh, MD
• Abdulaziz Al Mana, MD
• Ahmad Alkhasawneh, MD
• FNU Alnoor, MD
• Alwalid Ammoun, MD
• Daniel Arber, MD
• Jean Joel Awoumou Belinga, MD
• Tyler Beining, DO
• Maikel Benitez Barzaga, MD
• Boulos Beshai, MD
• Jennifer Blankenship, MD
• Ruth Brooks, MD
• Enzo Cabrera, MD
• Bo Chen, MD
• Bradley Collins, MD
• Ricardo De La Cruz, MD
• Anne Dharamraj, MD
• Daniel Dolderer, MD
• Brittany Ewing, MD
• Ariel Flotte, MD
• Jon Frankel, MD
• Zarifa Gahramanli, MD
• Jerad Gardner, MD
• Sailaja Golamari, MD
• Marcos Gonzalez Perez, MD
• Claudia Gonzalez Reinoso, MD
• Kenneth Hennick, MD
• Sharon Hook, DO
• Ziaoyin Jiang, MD
• Zhongbo Jin, MD
• Igor Jovanovic, MD
• Roxana Lopez Yazdani, MD
• Taryme Lopez-Diaz, MD
• Ines Mallek, MD
• Anais Malpica, MD
• Odille Mejia, MD
• Marjan Mirzabeigi, MD
• Naomi Montague, MD
• Menatalla Khaled Mohamed Nadim, MD
• Brooke Ortiz, MD
• Domenika Ortiz Requena, MD
• Sean O'Shaughnessy, DO
• Jinesh Patel, MD
• Oksana Posnik, MD
• Elizabeth Ray, DO
• Miguel Reyes-Mugica, MD
• Gonta Roman, MD
• Natali Ronen, MD
• Rayyan Sakr, MD
• Claudia Salgado, MD
• Dario Sanabria Nunez, MD
• Andres Serrano, MD
• Nikunj Shah, DO
• Brandon Shetuni, MD
• Bennie Slucher, MD
• Sarah Starnes, MD
• Amanuel Kassa Tadesse, MD
• Nika Tavberidze, MD
• Tarik Tihan, MD
• Anthony Tuzzolo, MD
• Hong Wang, MD
• Makinsy Wendel, MD
• David Wolfson, MD
• Robert Wood, MD
• Atacan Zeybek, MD

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Education Updates

Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD
Education Committee Co-Chair, Florida Society of Pathologists

Robert Seifert, MD
Education Committee Co-Chair, Florida Society of Pathologists

 

The FSP 2026 Annual Conference will take place from February 13 - 15, 2026 at the Grand Floridian in Orlando, FL. UF Health Gainesville will host the Educational Symposium at the meeting. There will also be a Precision Medicine Update session taking place on Friday. We will once again hold the Rare and Interesting Case session on Saturday, February 14th. Five cases will be chosen to fill an hour-long session. Community pathologists, junior faculty, and trainees with a faculty mentor are encouraged to submit cases by the November 5th deadline. To learn more and submit your case visit the FSP website here.

Many high-profile faculty will be speaking at the meeting, including:

Hannah Y. Wen, MD, PhD
Director, Breast Pathology Fellowship
Associate Director, Breast Pathology Team
Attending Pathologist
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY 
Topic: Breast Pathology 

Rondell P. Graham, MBBS
Anatomic and molecular pathologist
Mayo Clinic 
Rochester, MN
Topic: GI Pathology 

Yasodha Natkunam, MD, PhD
Ronald F. Dorfman, MBBCh, FRCPath Professor of Hematopathology
Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA
Topic: Lymphoma

We hope to see you in Orlando! To register for the meeting, visit: 2026 FSP Annual Conference | Florida Society of Pathologists. 

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Residents and Fellows Update

Katherine Drews-Elger MD, PhD
Resident & Fellow Chair, Florida Society of Pathologists

Florida Pathology Trainees Shine at the CAP Annual Meeting

What happens when trainees from four Florida programs take on the CAP Annual Meeting? A little bit of everything—networking, research presentations, and plenty of Florida pride.

Residents and fellows from across the state proudly presented posters highlighting their innovative research and clinical work. Beyond the posters and fellowship fairs, the meeting was also a moment of celebration for our community: the CAP Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to FSP President Dr. Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, and the new CAP President, Dr. Jim Zhai—a past FSP president—was officially inaugurated. These milestones marked a moment of recognition not just for our outstanding leaders, but for the strength of the Florida pathology community as a whole

Back home, our resident delegates from the different programs are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to volunteer to write manuscripts, to serve as judges for the new fresh poster category for medical students and to step into leadership roles to organize the ever-popular Resident Jeopardy competition at the upcoming FSP Conference in February 2026. Whether developing trivia questions or mentoring younger trainees, they’re keeping education and camaraderie at the heart of every effort.

Collaborative projects are also thriving. Residents will work alongside Dr. Gomez-Fernandez on the Medical Student Survey Publication, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing pathology education. And looking ahead, the Pathologists-in-Training Networking Reception at the FSP Annual Conference promises to spark connections, laughter, and opportunities for growth. Also led by trainees, there is an upcoming Kaluza Case Presentation and Diagnostic Challenge on social media aiming to connect present, past, and future pathology trainees through an interactive format that blends education, competition, and fun. More details soon!

Taken together, these activities highlight the remarkable energy, creativity, and dedication of Florida’s pathology trainees. After all, when you’re learning and leading in the Sunshine State, it really is pathology paradise—where every trainee shines a little brighter!

 

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Members in the News

FSP Past President Dr. Qihui “Jim” Zhai Installed as CAP President

The Florida Society of Pathologists (FSP) proudly congratulates past president Qihui “Jim” Zhai, MD, FCAP, who was officially sworn in as the 39th President of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) during the CAP25 Annual Meeting in Orlando on September 13, 2025.

Dr. Zhai, a longtime leader in pathology and a respected member of FSP, now takes the helm of the nation’s largest pathology organization at a pivotal time for the profession. In his inaugural address, he reflected on his journey in medicine and emphasized the importance of resilience, mentorship, and innovation in shaping the future of pathology.

As CAP President, Dr. Zhai plans to:

• Strengthen collaboration and advocacy by connecting pathologists across subspecialties, practice settings, and generations.
• Inspire growth through mentorship, advocacy, and global engagement.
• Embrace innovation, including artificial intelligence and digital tools, to ensure pathologists remain central to patient care.

Dr. Zhai currently serves as Chair of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology at LSU Health Shreveport. His distinguished career spans surgical pathology, leadership, and a commitment to advancing the profession while always keeping patients at the center of care.

The FSP is honored to celebrate this milestone achievement by one of our own and looks forward to the impact Dr. Zhai will make as he leads CAP and champions the vital role of pathologists in modern medicine. 

View Dr. Zhai's inauguration speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4sAizncEe0.

FSP President Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to Dr. Carmen Gomez - Fernandez for being selected to receive a 2025 CAP Lifetime Achievement Award, by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Board of Governors. This award recognizes dedication to mentorship, diagnostic excellence, and patient-centered innovations, including creating opportunities for patients to speak directly with pathologists. Check out this press release to read more: A Tip of the CAP: Miller School Pathologist Recognized with Lifetime Achievement Award. 

FSP President-Elect Ronald Giffler, MD Earns the Mary Elizabeth Fowkes Award

The House of Delegates Steering Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), bestowed Ronald Giffler, MD the 2025 Dr. Mary Elizabeth Fowkes House of Delegates Pathology Achievement Award, the highest honor conferred by the House. This distinction recognizes outstanding leadership within the CAP House of Delegates, steadfast advocacy on behalf of pathologists at both the state and national levels, and exemplary service through the Florida Society of Pathologists and the Florida Medical Association. Dr. Giffler's unwavering commitment to advancing our profession has made a substantive, enduring impact, and we are pleased to honor his achievements.

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FSP Now Accepting Posters

 

The Florida Society of Pathologists (FSP) invites you to share your work at one of the most anticipated events of the year— FSP's 52nd Annual Pathology Conference, taking place February 13–15, 2026, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in Orlando, Florida. Whether you’re a practicing pathologist, resident, fellow, or medical student, this is your opportunity to showcase innovative case-based or research-based posters in the dynamic FSP Poster Hall. The deadline to submit is earlier this year and is December 1, 2025 so make plans to submit early! 

Learn More