Get to Know Diane Davey, MD- December Member Spotlight

Diane Davey, MD
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Orlando, Florida

What is your current role?
I am Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine (Orlando), involved with building residencies across Central and North Florida in partnership with HCA Healthcare. I also practice part-time at the Orlando VAMC in cytopathology and hematopathology disciplines and teach medical students.

What is the best part of your occupation? 
Working with so many medical professionals and faculty across specialties, helping to build new programs and see them flourish. I began as founding faculty at UCF College of Medicine in 2007. I also value my patient care contributions to veterans and mentoring the next generation of doctors.

How did you become interested in pathology?
Although I started medical school intending to choose primary care, I found I loved looking through a microscope and reaching a diagnosis. I did pathology shadowing early in medical school and realized during my clerkships that I was more interested in helping determine a diagnosis than managing and following patients.

How did you become involved with the FSP?
I moved to Florida from the University of Kentucky in late 2007 and joined the FSP shortly after this. I have always been a supporter of state pathology societies. I was glad to be asked to be more active in the FSP as a board and committee member when I was approached. I enjoy helping and supporting the FSP, similar to my past work with other societies and ABPath.

Explain how you benefit from being a member of FSP?
We all benefit from the strong advocacy efforts of the FSP, and our strong collaborations with the CAP. I have also enjoyed networking and getting to know other pathologists around the state, as I plan to finish my career and retire in Florida. Finally, the educational offerings are superb!

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?
I hope to see more encouragement of medical students to consider pathology careers, as we now see less emphasis on traditional pathology teaching in medical school. I would especially like to see good pipeline programs for underrepresented minorities entering pathology training. I would like pathologists build more cross-disciplinary efforts with other specialties like oncology and radiology to optimize patient care.

What are your hobbies outside of the office?
I love to travel and have been to all continents except Antarctica. I enjoy natural scenery, wildlife and going to historic sites and art museums. During the pandemic I have been riding my bicycle more. My husband and I also own a double kayak and a small boat.

What is something surprising that most people do not know about you?
I grew up in South Dakota and all four of us (siblings) became physicians. While we were the first physicians in our family, my mother (hospital volunteer) and father (WW2 veteran and POW) encouraged us to become doctors.