Get to Know Sara Niyazi, DO October Member Spotlight

Sara Niyazi, DO
Resident Physician - Anatomic & Clinical Pathology
University of South Florida | Morsani College of Medicine
Tampa, Florida

What is your current role?
I am currently a PGY-2 Anatomic & Clinical Pathology resident at The University of South Florida.
 
What is the best part of your occupation? 
The best part is the contributions to patient care. It is rewarding to know that your diagnosis can provide answers that will lead to appropriate treatments and potentially better outcomes for patients. I also enjoy the intellectual challenge of piecing together the histologic findings, laboratory results, and patient history to determine the cause of disease.
 
How did you become interested in pathology?
My interest in pathology began after I underwent a surgical procedure. As a patient waiting on a diagnosis, I quickly realized what an important role the pathologist plays in medicine. I was inspired to learn more about pathology, and I became amazed by the fact that a pathologist can see what's happening on a cellular level and use this to make diagnoses. I was truly fascinated and decided that pathology was the field for me!
 
How did you become involved with the FSP?  
I became involved with FSP during my final year of medical school, as I wanted to begin building relationships within the pathology community. The educational resources have been wonderful, and the meetings are something that I really look forward to!
 
Explain how you benefit from being a member of FSP.  
FSP membership has provided me with great educational opportunities and has helped to keep me up to date on current topics and advancements in pathology. I also love that FSP allows me to connect with colleagues who are passionate about pathology. 
 
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 would like to see more community awareness on the pathologist's role in medicine and in patient care. When asked what a pathologist does, majority of individuals will respond with "autopsies". As those of us in pathology know, there is so much more to our field! 

There are various ways that we can work to increase awareness among the general public, such as partnering with patient advocacy groups, hosting talks and webinars, and posting across social media outlets. I currently work with a program to mentor high school and college students, and this has been a great outlet for spreading awareness about our field. 

On the patient care level, increasing knowledge within the clinical team is also important. It would be nice to see better education on the role of pathologists in medical schools and other healthcare programs, as this can help future healthcare professionals better communicate the role to patients.
 
 What are your hobbies outside of the office? 
I enjoy exercising, photography, painting, cooking, traveling, and spending time with my family, friends, and pets.

What is something surprising that most people do not know about you?
Something that only a few people know (until now) is that I like to listen to true crime podcasts when I workout. 
I'm also "mixed-handed" and can complete most tasks with either hand, which is pretty useful for grossing!

Is there anything I did not ask that you would like me to mention in the article?
I will be pursuing a fellowship in hematopathology and look forward to applying soon!