Meet the Class of 2021!
Left to right: Jillian Rae Aveni, Dani Rodriguez, Dakota Bevans, Taylor Dubose-Harris, Haley Walters,
Chloe O'Donoghue, Gabrielle Perry, Alexandra Giardina, McKenzi Babin
Chloe O'Donoghue, Gabrielle Perry, Alexandra Giardina, McKenzi Babin
Jillian Rae Aveni
Jillian Rae Aveni was born and raised in Concord, Ohio, where she remained until moving to New Orleans in 2015 for her undergraduate studies. She graduated from Tulane University cum laude in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology (with a concentration in Biological Anthropology) and a Bachelor of Art in French. It was only after taking an anatomy lab in her senior year that she was inspired to take a risk, change all of her plans, and apply to the brand new Pathologists’ Assistant Program at the Tulane University School of Medicine for the following year. Given her lifelong passion for biology as well as her love of human anatomy and dissection, the program has been a perfect fit. In her free time, Jill enjoys doing any and everything in the outdoors and is driven by a fierce desire to travel. These interests in combination with the experience gained during her clinical year will serve her well in the future – she has big plans for a cross-country move and adopting her own dog!
Jillian completed her clerkship rotations at LSU/Ochsner Shreveport in Shreveport, Louisiana in surgical pathology as well as medical and forensic autopsy. In Shreveport, Jillian quickly became an essential member of the surgical pathology team, helping process the Ochsner HSC lab’s high volume of specimens with increasing efficiency. Over the summer, she assisted in mostly coroner cases during her two-month rotation in the forensic autopsy suite (even participating in some high-profile cases). Her time in northwestern Louisiana has been marked by an unforgettable camaraderie with the residents at her site and her “coworkers,” all of which provided an incredible support system and lasting friendships.
Jillian will be working at Calpath Medical Associates in San Jose, California after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Prostate or larynx
Favorite pathology: Polycystic kidney disease
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Realizing how passionate I really must be about anatomy and pathology to have started to love teaching (something I’ve NEVER had any interest in and never thought I would do)! Teaching residents grossing protocol and setting up teaching demonstrations for high-schoolers on field trips has brought me more joy than I thought possible.
Jillian Rae Aveni was born and raised in Concord, Ohio, where she remained until moving to New Orleans in 2015 for her undergraduate studies. She graduated from Tulane University cum laude in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology (with a concentration in Biological Anthropology) and a Bachelor of Art in French. It was only after taking an anatomy lab in her senior year that she was inspired to take a risk, change all of her plans, and apply to the brand new Pathologists’ Assistant Program at the Tulane University School of Medicine for the following year. Given her lifelong passion for biology as well as her love of human anatomy and dissection, the program has been a perfect fit. In her free time, Jill enjoys doing any and everything in the outdoors and is driven by a fierce desire to travel. These interests in combination with the experience gained during her clinical year will serve her well in the future – she has big plans for a cross-country move and adopting her own dog!
Jillian completed her clerkship rotations at LSU/Ochsner Shreveport in Shreveport, Louisiana in surgical pathology as well as medical and forensic autopsy. In Shreveport, Jillian quickly became an essential member of the surgical pathology team, helping process the Ochsner HSC lab’s high volume of specimens with increasing efficiency. Over the summer, she assisted in mostly coroner cases during her two-month rotation in the forensic autopsy suite (even participating in some high-profile cases). Her time in northwestern Louisiana has been marked by an unforgettable camaraderie with the residents at her site and her “coworkers,” all of which provided an incredible support system and lasting friendships.
Jillian will be working at Calpath Medical Associates in San Jose, California after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Prostate or larynx
Favorite pathology: Polycystic kidney disease
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Realizing how passionate I really must be about anatomy and pathology to have started to love teaching (something I’ve NEVER had any interest in and never thought I would do)! Teaching residents grossing protocol and setting up teaching demonstrations for high-schoolers on field trips has brought me more joy than I thought possible.
McKenzi Babin
McKenzi Babin was born and raised in Gonzales, Louisiana. She graduated from Louisiana State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Science and Technologies. She practiced as a veterinary assistant for four years but switched gears when she entered the human medical field as a medical assistant. McKenzi joined the Tulane Pathologists’ Assistant program because of her love for science and fascination with the human body. She was very excited to be accepted into Tulane’s program and be able to stay in the south. She was the Class of 2021 social media representative and enjoys advocating for the profession whenever she can. Outside of school, McKenzi loves spending time with her family and friends and taking care of her animals.
McKenzi completed her clerkship rotations at Pathology Group of Louisiana, Woman’s Hospital, and Ochsner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in surgical pathology and autopsy. She also completed a short rotation at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.
McKenzi will be working at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Kidney
Favorite pathology: cancers of the female reproductive tract/GYN pathology
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Studying in the park with my dog Theo and meeting many amazing people in the field of pathology. Sampling all the mac n cheese at the Uptown and Downtown campuses was also a highlight.
McKenzi Babin was born and raised in Gonzales, Louisiana. She graduated from Louisiana State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Science and Technologies. She practiced as a veterinary assistant for four years but switched gears when she entered the human medical field as a medical assistant. McKenzi joined the Tulane Pathologists’ Assistant program because of her love for science and fascination with the human body. She was very excited to be accepted into Tulane’s program and be able to stay in the south. She was the Class of 2021 social media representative and enjoys advocating for the profession whenever she can. Outside of school, McKenzi loves spending time with her family and friends and taking care of her animals.
McKenzi completed her clerkship rotations at Pathology Group of Louisiana, Woman’s Hospital, and Ochsner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in surgical pathology and autopsy. She also completed a short rotation at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.
McKenzi will be working at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Kidney
Favorite pathology: cancers of the female reproductive tract/GYN pathology
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Studying in the park with my dog Theo and meeting many amazing people in the field of pathology. Sampling all the mac n cheese at the Uptown and Downtown campuses was also a highlight.
Dakota Bevans
Dakota Bevans was born and raised in the bay area of California. His first exposure of pathology was during a summer youth program designed to teach and employ high school students while working in the healthcare system. Once discovering the field of pathology, he pursued a bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Medical Microbiology by enrolling in the University of California, Davis. After graduating, he worked for 5 years as research associate in the Department of Regenerative medicine and gene therapy at UC Davis. He worked closely with the pathology department learning more about the field as well as shadowing local hospitals. In the fall of 2019, he accepted a position in the inaugural class for Tulane’s Pathologists' Assistant Program.
Dakota completed his surgical pathology clerkship rotations at Scripps Health in San Diego, California and Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office in Harvey, Louisiana and did a teaching rotation as a Supplemental Instructor in Human Histology.
Dakota will be working at Scripps Health in San Diego after graduation. Scripps Health has 7 grossing PA’s and over 20 Pathologists which received over 50,000 specimens annually that range from small biopsies to complex large resections all of organ systems.
Favorite specimen: Orchiectomy
Favorite pathology: All gastrointestinal pathologies
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Challenging myself and taking on difficult specimens.
Dakota Bevans was born and raised in the bay area of California. His first exposure of pathology was during a summer youth program designed to teach and employ high school students while working in the healthcare system. Once discovering the field of pathology, he pursued a bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Medical Microbiology by enrolling in the University of California, Davis. After graduating, he worked for 5 years as research associate in the Department of Regenerative medicine and gene therapy at UC Davis. He worked closely with the pathology department learning more about the field as well as shadowing local hospitals. In the fall of 2019, he accepted a position in the inaugural class for Tulane’s Pathologists' Assistant Program.
Dakota completed his surgical pathology clerkship rotations at Scripps Health in San Diego, California and Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He completed forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office in Harvey, Louisiana and did a teaching rotation as a Supplemental Instructor in Human Histology.
Dakota will be working at Scripps Health in San Diego after graduation. Scripps Health has 7 grossing PA’s and over 20 Pathologists which received over 50,000 specimens annually that range from small biopsies to complex large resections all of organ systems.
Favorite specimen: Orchiectomy
Favorite pathology: All gastrointestinal pathologies
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Challenging myself and taking on difficult specimens.
Taylor Dubose-Harris
Taylor Dubose-Harris is from Bloomington, Illinois and earned a B.A. in Biological Psychology from McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) in 2017. Taylor serves as the Class of 2021 Secretary and is an Advocacy and Outreach Representative. She is also a member of the Student National Medical Association. Fun facts: Taylor was a nationally ranked competitive cheerleader for 4 years (GO BEARCATS!). She is the second oldest of nine children and is a dog mom to a wonderful pup named Xander. Her journey in healthcare has taken her from being a Certified Nursing Assistant, to a Residential Treatment Counselor, then a Mohs Surgery/Histology Tech. Working in histology introduced her to the wonders of laboratory science, specifically Pathology. Pathology combines the best parts of science and service by examining disease at its most basic level while also guiding patient treatment. Taylor lives by the belief that if you have the opportunity to make someone’s life better, you do it. Becoming a Pathologists’ Assistant gives her the opportunity to make people’s lives better every day.
Taylor is proud to be the first Black woman to obtain a Master’s in Anatomic Pathology from Tulane School of Medicine. During her time in the Pathologists’ Assistant program, Taylor has promoted diversity in pathology through social media engagement and by working with nonprofit organization, Minorities In Medicine. Taylor plans to continue advocating for diversity in laboratory medicine and has an ultimate goal of establishing a Pathologists’ Assistant program at a Historically Black College or University.
Taylor completed her surgical pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, and University Medical Center. Taylor also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office. Throughout clerkship, Taylor completed multiple rotations at Ochsner Medical Center Kenner, one of the nation’s largest treatment centers for neuroendocrine tumors. Additionally, she participated in interdisciplinary tumor board conferences at both University Medical Center and Ochsner Medical Center. Taylor was also a contributing author to the AAPA Grossing Guidelines.
Taylor will be working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Whipple
Favorite pathology: Signet ring gastric adenocarcinoma
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: bone saw day!
Taylor Dubose-Harris is from Bloomington, Illinois and earned a B.A. in Biological Psychology from McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) in 2017. Taylor serves as the Class of 2021 Secretary and is an Advocacy and Outreach Representative. She is also a member of the Student National Medical Association. Fun facts: Taylor was a nationally ranked competitive cheerleader for 4 years (GO BEARCATS!). She is the second oldest of nine children and is a dog mom to a wonderful pup named Xander. Her journey in healthcare has taken her from being a Certified Nursing Assistant, to a Residential Treatment Counselor, then a Mohs Surgery/Histology Tech. Working in histology introduced her to the wonders of laboratory science, specifically Pathology. Pathology combines the best parts of science and service by examining disease at its most basic level while also guiding patient treatment. Taylor lives by the belief that if you have the opportunity to make someone’s life better, you do it. Becoming a Pathologists’ Assistant gives her the opportunity to make people’s lives better every day.
Taylor is proud to be the first Black woman to obtain a Master’s in Anatomic Pathology from Tulane School of Medicine. During her time in the Pathologists’ Assistant program, Taylor has promoted diversity in pathology through social media engagement and by working with nonprofit organization, Minorities In Medicine. Taylor plans to continue advocating for diversity in laboratory medicine and has an ultimate goal of establishing a Pathologists’ Assistant program at a Historically Black College or University.
Taylor completed her surgical pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, and University Medical Center. Taylor also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office. Throughout clerkship, Taylor completed multiple rotations at Ochsner Medical Center Kenner, one of the nation’s largest treatment centers for neuroendocrine tumors. Additionally, she participated in interdisciplinary tumor board conferences at both University Medical Center and Ochsner Medical Center. Taylor was also a contributing author to the AAPA Grossing Guidelines.
Taylor will be working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Whipple
Favorite pathology: Signet ring gastric adenocarcinoma
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: bone saw day!
Alexandra Giardina
Alexandra Giardina graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Minor in Chemistry. She has 4 years of experience in neurosignaling physiology research and 8 years of experience in cancer research and clinical application of biobanking. She also has 6 years of biorepository management experience with a focus on fresh tissue procurement. Alex is a current master’s student in the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Tulane University because of her interest in tumor morphology, etiology and presentation. Her intent is to foster more efficient collaborations between researchers, surgeons and pathologists that would otherwise be overlooked. She currently is a busy momma and leads the biobanking operations of Audubon Bioscience.
Alex completed her surgical and autopsy pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital New Orleans.
Alex will be working at Audubon Bioscience, a biobanking company, as the U.S. Country Manager with PRN-PA duties after graduation. Some of her duties include:
-Starting up major projects geared towards liquid biomarker analysis and discovery
-Increasing U.S. collection site capacity and collaborations with academia, the NIH/NCI and private industry
-Traveling and presenting on biobanking efforts at local, country and global meetings
-Continue to operate a quality control site here in New Orleans for globally collected samples
Favorite specimen: Uterus + soft tissue tumors
Favorite pathology: Fetal/congenital anomalies and environmental risk factors for tumorigenesis
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Being on the uptown campus. It was nice to have that “school” atmosphere and helped me a lot with studying and transitioning from mom life to graduate life.
Alexandra Giardina graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Minor in Chemistry. She has 4 years of experience in neurosignaling physiology research and 8 years of experience in cancer research and clinical application of biobanking. She also has 6 years of biorepository management experience with a focus on fresh tissue procurement. Alex is a current master’s student in the Pathologists’ Assistant program at Tulane University because of her interest in tumor morphology, etiology and presentation. Her intent is to foster more efficient collaborations between researchers, surgeons and pathologists that would otherwise be overlooked. She currently is a busy momma and leads the biobanking operations of Audubon Bioscience.
Alex completed her surgical and autopsy pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital New Orleans.
Alex will be working at Audubon Bioscience, a biobanking company, as the U.S. Country Manager with PRN-PA duties after graduation. Some of her duties include:
-Starting up major projects geared towards liquid biomarker analysis and discovery
-Increasing U.S. collection site capacity and collaborations with academia, the NIH/NCI and private industry
-Traveling and presenting on biobanking efforts at local, country and global meetings
-Continue to operate a quality control site here in New Orleans for globally collected samples
Favorite specimen: Uterus + soft tissue tumors
Favorite pathology: Fetal/congenital anomalies and environmental risk factors for tumorigenesis
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Being on the uptown campus. It was nice to have that “school” atmosphere and helped me a lot with studying and transitioning from mom life to graduate life.
Chloe O'Donoghue
Chloe O’Donoghue received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience and a Minor in French from Tulane University in 2019. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Community Tutor for local New Orleans elementary and high schools. She also volunteered as an intern for the Tulane University Center for K-12 STEM Education where she ran science workshops for before school programs in the New Orleans area. During her didactic year, she worked in the Tulane School of Medicine Molecular Pathology SARS-CoV-2 Lab.
Chloe completed her surgical pathology and autopsy clerkship rotations at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas.
Chloe will be working as a traveling Pathologists’ Assistant in Baton Rouge after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Breast
Favorite pathology: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy/concussion
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Endocrine unit in Mechanisms of Disease
Chloe O’Donoghue received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience and a Minor in French from Tulane University in 2019. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Community Tutor for local New Orleans elementary and high schools. She also volunteered as an intern for the Tulane University Center for K-12 STEM Education where she ran science workshops for before school programs in the New Orleans area. During her didactic year, she worked in the Tulane School of Medicine Molecular Pathology SARS-CoV-2 Lab.
Chloe completed her surgical pathology and autopsy clerkship rotations at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas.
Chloe will be working as a traveling Pathologists’ Assistant in Baton Rouge after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Breast
Favorite pathology: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy/concussion
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Endocrine unit in Mechanisms of Disease
Gabrielle Perry
Gabrielle Perry was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys riding and training horses, which she has been involved in since the age of 5. She attended the College of Charleston and graduated in 2015 with a BS in Biology. After graduation she briefly worked as a veterinary technician before being introduced into the world of pathology when her grandfather was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer. She was driven by an interest in anatomy and medicine as well a curiosity towards the field of pathology. After diligent research she discovered the career of Pathologists’ Assistants and eventually was hired on at a pathology lab in South Carolina where she worked for several years. During this time, she found her passion for teaching, and she knew she had to find a way to mesh both pathology and being able to expand the knowledge of others. This lead her straight to Tulane, with its prestigious reputation and uniquely structured curriculum she knew she found where she was supposed to be. Gabrielle has since been working as an anatomy and histology Teaching Assistant during her time at Tulane.
Having only recently relocated, she was told by many that New Orleans would quickly be a place that she would fall in love with and not want to leave, which was entirely accurate. Gabrielle frequently states that pathology is her niche in
healthcare and a passion that she will tirelessly pursue and strive for advancement.
Gabrielle completed her surgical pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, University Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Gabrielle also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office and teaching rotation at Tulane University.
Gabrielle will be working at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana as the Supervisor Pathologists’ Assistant after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Total Nephrectomy
Favorite pathology: Urothelial Cell Carcinoma
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Incorporating being a supplemental instructor and teaching assistant with my second-year clinical rotations.
Gabrielle Perry was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys riding and training horses, which she has been involved in since the age of 5. She attended the College of Charleston and graduated in 2015 with a BS in Biology. After graduation she briefly worked as a veterinary technician before being introduced into the world of pathology when her grandfather was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer. She was driven by an interest in anatomy and medicine as well a curiosity towards the field of pathology. After diligent research she discovered the career of Pathologists’ Assistants and eventually was hired on at a pathology lab in South Carolina where she worked for several years. During this time, she found her passion for teaching, and she knew she had to find a way to mesh both pathology and being able to expand the knowledge of others. This lead her straight to Tulane, with its prestigious reputation and uniquely structured curriculum she knew she found where she was supposed to be. Gabrielle has since been working as an anatomy and histology Teaching Assistant during her time at Tulane.
Having only recently relocated, she was told by many that New Orleans would quickly be a place that she would fall in love with and not want to leave, which was entirely accurate. Gabrielle frequently states that pathology is her niche in
healthcare and a passion that she will tirelessly pursue and strive for advancement.
Gabrielle completed her surgical pathology clerkship rotations in New Orleans, Louisiana at Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Medical Center, University Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Gabrielle also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office and teaching rotation at Tulane University.
Gabrielle will be working at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana as the Supervisor Pathologists’ Assistant after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Total Nephrectomy
Favorite pathology: Urothelial Cell Carcinoma
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Incorporating being a supplemental instructor and teaching assistant with my second-year clinical rotations.
Daniela Rodriguez
Daniela Rodriguez was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She moved to Denver, Colorado when her family emigrated in 2010. She attended the University of Colorado at Denver and graduated with a bachelor’s in science. Dani got introduced to pathology when she began working as a laboratory assistant while attending college, and after a couple of years became a certified histotechnologist. After working in the field for a few years she ended up working as a traveling histotechnologist in New Orleans where she learned about the new Pathologists’ Assistant program at Tulane so she decided to apply. When Dani is not studying you might see talking to her family, catching up on her favorite crime podcasts, watching "The Office" or hanging out with her fiancé, his son and their two highly energetic pups.
Dani completed her clerkship rotations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama and Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana where she rotated in surgical pathology as well as medical and forensic autopsy.
Dani will be working at Abbot Northwestern in Minneapolis after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Femoral head
Favorite pathology: Any kind of bone/soft tissue tumor
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: I loved having the opportunity not only to dissect a body but the fact that it was within a small setting. I also love how small the class size is and the fact that the program is catered to us.
Daniela Rodriguez was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She moved to Denver, Colorado when her family emigrated in 2010. She attended the University of Colorado at Denver and graduated with a bachelor’s in science. Dani got introduced to pathology when she began working as a laboratory assistant while attending college, and after a couple of years became a certified histotechnologist. After working in the field for a few years she ended up working as a traveling histotechnologist in New Orleans where she learned about the new Pathologists’ Assistant program at Tulane so she decided to apply. When Dani is not studying you might see talking to her family, catching up on her favorite crime podcasts, watching "The Office" or hanging out with her fiancé, his son and their two highly energetic pups.
Dani completed her clerkship rotations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama and Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana where she rotated in surgical pathology as well as medical and forensic autopsy.
Dani will be working at Abbot Northwestern in Minneapolis after graduation.
Favorite specimen: Femoral head
Favorite pathology: Any kind of bone/soft tissue tumor
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: I loved having the opportunity not only to dissect a body but the fact that it was within a small setting. I also love how small the class size is and the fact that the program is catered to us.
Haley Walters
Haley Walters was born and raised in Laurel, MS. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University. She has over 4 years of clinical research experience involving preventive medicine, interventional studies, as well as pharmaceutical, biological psychiatric, and central nervous system research. Haley worked at one of the nation’s leading private research companies conducting phase one to phase four research trails of both medical and behavioral treatments, specializing in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s studies. Haley also worked in the Tulane University Molecular Pathology SARS-CoV-2 Lab as a Research Technician during her didactic year. With a diagnosis of ovarian cancer to her mother, she become intrigued with the mechanisms, physiology, and epidemiological factors of cancer. This, with a combination of a love for New Orleans, has made Tulane University’s Pathologist’ Assistant program a perfect fit for her. She plans to continue in the field of research after graduation, along with being an advocate for the profession that she loves.
Haley completed her surgical pathology and autopsy clerkship rotations at the University of Kansas Health System as well as Children’s Hospital New Orleans and University Medical Center New Orleans. She also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.
Haley will be working as a traveling Pathologists’ Assistant after graduation and will begin her first assignment here in New Orleans. She plans to continue integrating her interest in pathology and research by also working part-time at a local biobanking company.
Favorite specimen: Breast
Favorite pathology: Bone tumors
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Mechanisms of Disease class and developing lifelong friendships within the program
Haley Walters was born and raised in Laurel, MS. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University. She has over 4 years of clinical research experience involving preventive medicine, interventional studies, as well as pharmaceutical, biological psychiatric, and central nervous system research. Haley worked at one of the nation’s leading private research companies conducting phase one to phase four research trails of both medical and behavioral treatments, specializing in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s studies. Haley also worked in the Tulane University Molecular Pathology SARS-CoV-2 Lab as a Research Technician during her didactic year. With a diagnosis of ovarian cancer to her mother, she become intrigued with the mechanisms, physiology, and epidemiological factors of cancer. This, with a combination of a love for New Orleans, has made Tulane University’s Pathologist’ Assistant program a perfect fit for her. She plans to continue in the field of research after graduation, along with being an advocate for the profession that she loves.
Haley completed her surgical pathology and autopsy clerkship rotations at the University of Kansas Health System as well as Children’s Hospital New Orleans and University Medical Center New Orleans. She also completed a forensic autopsy rotation at Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.
Haley will be working as a traveling Pathologists’ Assistant after graduation and will begin her first assignment here in New Orleans. She plans to continue integrating her interest in pathology and research by also working part-time at a local biobanking company.
Favorite specimen: Breast
Favorite pathology: Bone tumors
Favorite experience in the Tulane PA program: Mechanisms of Disease class and developing lifelong friendships within the program
