Get to Know Lamees Saeed, MD

Lamees Saeed, MD
Ruffolo, Hooper & Associates & Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida

What is your current role?
I serve as a Staff Pathologist with Ruffolo, Hooper & Associates at Tampa General Hospital and as an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida. My weeks are split between diagnosing complex cases, collaborating with oncologists and surgeons, and teaching the next generation of pathologists. It’s a vantage point where science, teamwork, and patient stories intersect. 

What is the best part of your occupation?
Turning uncertainty into clarity for a patient and their family. A well-crafted report can change a treatment plan the same day. I love the intellectual rigor—pattern recognition, biomarkers, and genomics—but I stay grounded by remembering that every slide represents a person waiting for an answer. 

How did you become interested in pathology?
Curiosity and gratitude brought me here. Early in training, I was captivated by how much truth a single slide can hold. As I focused on breast pathology, I found a specialty where morphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular data come together to guide life-changing decisions. The work rewards patience, precision, and empathy—values I try to bring to every case. 

How did you become involved with the FSP?
During fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center, I discovered the Florida Society of Pathologists. Presenting posters at FSP meetings was energizing—Florida colleagues asked the tough questions that sharpen results and accelerate learning. That experience led me to join the Membership Committee, where I now help welcome new members into a community that supported me from day one. 

Explain how you benefit from being a member of FSP?
FSP is my professional home base. It keeps me current on advances, connects me with colleagues across the state, and creates a runway for research and quality improvement. Most importantly, it’s a network that turns individual effort into shared progress—better reporting, better communication with our clinical partners, and better care for Floridians. 

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?
Three things: First, deeper real-time dialogue between pathologists and oncologists, especially around nuanced categories like HER2-low and ultralow disease. Second, measured adoption of AI—tools that are validated, equitable, and truly decision-supportive rather than decorative. Third, patient-centered reports that integrate morphology, IHC, and genomics into one clear, actionable narrative. 

What are your hobbies outside of the office?
Exploring Tampa Bay with my family and discovering new places together. I recharge on evening walks along Tampa’s waterfront—the light on the water is a reminder to end the day present and grateful. 

What is something surprising that most people do not know about you?
Before starting my formal pathology residency training, I completed a post‑sophomore pathology fellowship year. That immersive year—hands on the microscope, in the gross room, and with multidisciplinary teams—sharpened the habits I still rely on today: disciplined pattern recognition, precise communication, and relentless correlation with clinical reality. It set the tone for a career built on translational thinking and service to patients. 

Is there anything we didn’t ask that you’d like included?  
I’m active in institutional quality initiatives and in breast program leadership at Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute, and I teach trainees in breast pathology. Education and quality improvement keep me accountable: every improvement we make in the lab echoes at the bedside.