Get to Know Charles E. Middleton IV, MD - November Member Spotlight

Charles E. Middleton IV, MD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine
Gainesville, Florida

What is your current role?
Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine (UFCOM) in Gainesville, Florida. I am also the Associate Program Director for the Pathology residency program, Director of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Pathology, and the faculty advisor for the UFCOM Pathology Interest Group. I am actively involved in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows. As for my clinical work, I am primarily involved in Anatomic Pathology, specifically the subspecialties of gastrointestinal/hepatic and breast pathology.

What is the best part of your occupation? 
Working with our outstanding trainees is the most rewarding part of my job. If that wasn’t enough, my colleagues are fantastic, and I am lucky to be surrounded by such intelligent and compassionate individuals. Our leadership here is very supportive of the faculty and has helped me continually improve myself and become the pathologist I am today.  

How did you become interested in pathology?
I probably have a different story than most. While I loved histology and anatomy in medical school, I initially did not have a great experience in my Pathology elective. Luckily for me, I was granted a second opportunity and spent time with a few forensic pathologists. As they love to admit, they “converted me to the dark side”. At this point, I was introduced to the field of Pathology in a whole new light and appreciated the investigative approach to each case, immediately appreciating the impact a Pathologist has on the care of a patient. It was my initial (less than ideal) experience in my med school Pathology elective that provides my drive for championing the Pathology Interest Group.

How did you become involved with the FSP?
As a fellow at a large hospital system such as UF, we see interesting and rare pathology. FSP provided an opportunity to not only showcase these unique cases, but also learn from other experts in the field. Not to mention serving as an incidental Disney trip for my family and I.    

Explain how you benefit from being a member of FSP?
As I mentioned, FSP serves as an excellent opportunity to learn from experts in the field. In addition, the sense of community at FSP meetings is genuine. FSP provides a network of like-minded individuals in and around the state of Florida the ability to learn from one another and collaborate on projects between other institutions. 

What would you like to see occur in the field of pathology (i.e., scientific advances, greater awareness of the field, etc.) during your career?
Selfishly, I would love for Pathology to be incorporated into medical school curriculum (3rd and 4th year). I think it is vital for the budding doctors, that do not go into the field of Pathology, to at least have an idea of what happens behind the closed doors of the lab. Being able to understand what we do and why we do it would be invaluable information for the likes of internists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and oncologists, among others. So much of what we do directly impacts their decision making, that I think it would be a worthwhile experience for them. And if we “convert them to the dark side” it’s an added bonus!   

What are your hobbies outside of the office?
I love the outdoors so moving to Florida has been great! Visiting the crystal-clear waters of the springs is an experience! These natural wonders allow me to enjoy kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving. Although there are some things I can’t do here, I plan my vacations accordingly, so I am able to go snow skiing and hiking. Running could be considered a hobby as I do it for exercise and peace of mind, while tennis is my favorite recreational sport. When I’m not reading the latest journal article, I enjoy reading fantasy and military history novels. Lastly, I love college football and between the months of August and December my Saturdays are spoken for!

What is something surprising that most people do not know about you?
Most people don’t know that I lived abroad. My father was in the military, so we moved every few years while I was growing up. One of his duty stations was in southern Germany and we lived there for 3 years. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot about the culture there while experiencing great food and amazing architectural masterpieces (here’s looking at you Neuschwanstein). In fact, I’m currently learning to speak German in preparation for our next trip!