API Celebrates Women's History Month!



Meet Dr. Ji Yeon Kim, API's President-Elect

Dr. Kim is a clinical pathologist who oversees the chemistry department as well as the laboratory computer systems for the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Regional Reference Laboratory.

Dr. Kim began her involvement in API as a trainee and 2008 travel award recipient. She soon became involved in API leadership, including co-chairing the Training & Education Committee. Dr. Kim follows in the footsteps of women pioneers in Pathology Informatics, including former API Presidents Drs. Myra Wilkerson, Alexis Carter, Monica de Baca, and Mary Edgerton. Learn more about her and her predecessors below!

Dr. Wilkerson was API's first woman President in 2009-2010. She helped to establish the Association for Pathology Informatics as a non-profit organization in its nascency, enabling the society to focus on its mission of supporting training and education for future pathology informaticists.
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Dr. Carter was API President in 2014 and she helped to establish one of the most important conduits of PI communication. She founded API's ListServ "PathBytes," where informaticists are able to come together and discuss the real-time challenges they face and their experiences with new technologies. Dr. Carter also started the women's networking group at the PI Summit, which will continue at PI Summit 2022. Be sure to REGISTER!

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Monica E. de Baca, MD

Dr. de Baca served as API's third woman President in 2019. She helped to spearhead a Joint Meeting of API, American College of Radiology and the College of American Pathologists to discuss synergies in integrated reporting and governmental regulatory topics during the API Summit. Dr. de Baca and her partner also generously provided funding to help host the women's networking group at PI Summit 2019.



Dr. Edgerton provided essential leadership to the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, when API had to pivot and reimagine its education and training programs and mission. Thanks to her guidance and the intrepid dedication of all of APIs leaders and members, the society continues to thrive and grow as it provides support to pathologists throughout the world.

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A Letter from API's Executive Director

The Association for Pathology Informatics would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge Women’s History month and all of the women who have been integral to API and the field of Pathology Informatics.

I love being a part of this organization and I appreciate the opportunity to work closely with so many incredible women starting with Grace Chae, who joined API in early 2021 as my assistant and the JPI Managing Editor. I also have the pleasure of working with our long-time web developer Becky Boes and Beth Gibson from the University of Michigan, who has been my Co-Conference Manager since we took over planning the logistics of the meeting in 2014. Previously the meeting planning was under the long-term stewardship of Barb Karnbauer, and Beth and I have had big shoes to fill.

I also want to acknowledge our women leaders in the organization who have participated on API Council over the last 14 years. Dr. Myra Wilkerson was API’s first female President (2009-2010) and played a critical role in establishing API as a registered non-profit association. Dr. Alexis Carter took on the role of API President in 2014 and we continued to grow under her leadership as API transitioned to a stand alone association outside of the University of Pittsburgh. Under Dr. Monica de Baca’s presidency (2019), API strengthened our collaborative relationships with other associations. Dr. Mary Edgerton (2020) helped the association stay the course through a worldwide pandemic that presented many challenges, including the cancellation of PI Summit and the need to quickly pivot to virtual events. This year, we are led by Dr. Ji Yeon Kim, who is working closely with Grace, myself, and the API Council to develop new programs and educational opportunities for the API membership. API is grateful for all of their contribution and dedication to the success of the organization.  

Other women have also greatly contributed to API. Dr. Mehrvash Haghighi served many years as the Chair of the API Membership Committee. Dr. Veronica Klepeis served as Co-Chair of the Training and Education Committee and as Program Committee Chair. Dr. Kinjal Shah served as API Training and Education Co-Chair and created the API "Mentoring Monday" series. Current members of the API Council are Dr. Michelle Stoffel, who is serving as the Co-Chair of the API Training and Education Committee, Dr. Jennifer Woo who has taken over the reins of API Membership Committee, and Lisa-Jean Clifford, current API Secretary and member of the both PI Summit Planning and PI Summit Topic Review Committees. 

I would also like to thank the many women who have served as members on API Committees and who have participated as speakers at our in-person and virtual events. API is stronger because of their contributions to the organization and we hope that more women will volunteer their time to serve on API Committees. If you are interested, please reach out to Grace ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) to get involved.

 Sincerely,
Nova Smith
Executive Director
Association for Pathology Informatics