Dana Powell Baker, Ed.D., MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM
she/her/hers

President

Affiliation: Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)

Dr. Dana Powell Baker serves in the role of Manager for Academic Partnerships with the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL). An ASCP-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist, Dr. Baker possesses over 20 years of professional experience in the field of medical laboratory science. Her areas of expertise include higher education, curriculum development, laboratory operations, partnership development, interprofessional education and healthcare simulation. In addition to her responsibilities, she is an advocate for diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion and belongingness (DEIAB) in the laboratory medicine workforce and the public health sector.

Dr. Baker has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to the medical laboratory profession and has served in various roles across professional organizations including the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB). As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she is involved with community outreach and mentorship initiatives.

Dr. Baker earned her baccalaureate degree in Medical Technology from Georgia Southern University and completed her training in the clinical laboratories at the Medical University of South Carolina. Additionally, she received a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management as well as a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Simulation. Her strong interest in DEIAB led to the completion of the certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University. Dr. Baker obtained a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Practice and Innovation with a concentration in Curriculum Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Lois E. Rockson, PhD, MPH, MAEd, SCT(ASCP)^CM
she/her/hers

Vice President

Affiliation: Rutgers University School of Health Professions

Dr. Rockson is an assistant professor and director of the masters in Diagnostic Cytopathology programs at Rutgers School of Health Professions in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Rockson completed a BS in Biology from Rutgers Newark College of Arts and Sciences in 1989 and a certificate in Cytotechnology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-School of Health-Related Professions in 1993. She holds two masters’ degrees, a MS in Health Professions Education, a joint degree from Seton Hall University and UMDNJ-School of Health Professions in 2000 and a MS in Public Health, Epidemiology concentration from the UMDNJ School of Public Health in 2008.

In 2020, Dr. Rockson completed her PhD in Urban Systems with a concentration in Urban Health, a joint degree with the Rutgers School of Nursing, New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Rutgers Graduate School, Newark. Dr. Rockson’s research interest is in cancer health disparities among immigrant groups from the Caribbean and Central America. Her dissertation research examined cancer screening among immigrant Garifuna women from Central America residing in urbanized spaces.

Dr. Rockson has published research on cancer screening among immigrant Afro-Indigenous women and among New Jerseyans with mental disorders. She has several scholarly publications associated with cytopathology education and practice. She is a member of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Center for Cancer Health Equity and various cytopathology organizations.

In her spare time, Dr. Rockson enjoys fishing, gardening, knitting and beekeeping.

Dr. Nicole Aqui, MD
she/her/hers

Secretary

Dr. Nicole Aqui is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania where she serves many important roles, including Vice Chair for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, Pathology Residency Program Director, and Section Chief for Transfusion and Apheresis Services. Advocacy and mentorship are central in all these roles and continue to be an essential component of her career.

Dr. Aqui obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, followed by her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. During her residency in Clinical Pathology and fellowship training in Transfusion Medicine, also at the University of Pennsylvania, she developed an interest in cellular therapy. She went on to complete postdoctoral work in T cell signaling and expansion. Her research focuses on optimizing collections for hematopoietic cell transplantation and immune effector cell therapy.

Dr. Aqui is nationally recognized expert in apheresis, having co-authored evidence-based guidelines for the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice. She is an active member of several professional societies. Dr. Aqui’s clinical practice emphasis is on improving care of sickle cell patients transitioning to adult care. She has been inducted into the Academy of Master Clinicians, the highest clinical honor for a Penn Medicine physician in recognition of her leadership in exceptional patient care.

Carla L. Ellis MD, MS, FASCP
she/her/hers

Treasurer

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Founding Board Member

Dr. Ellis is currently an Associate Professor of Pathology at Northwestern University. She obtained her B.S. in Psychology with honors from Howard University on a full women’s volleyball scholarship, where her jersey is currently retired, and she was inducted into the athletic hall of fame. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in anatomic pathology at the University of Maryland and began her career as a pathologists’ assistant. She proceeded to medical school at the University of Nevada and completed her pathology training at Johns Hopkins, where she received the Joseph Carr Eggleston award for excellence in surgical pathology research and published numerous articles in genitourinary and renal pathology during fellowships in both specialties there.

Dr. Ellis spent the beginning of her career on faculty at Emory University, where she received two Golden Apple teaching awards and the AnnaLee Boyett award for outstanding teaching and support of the residency program. She also began a wellness program for trainees and served as an ambassador for the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.

Dr. Ellis joined Northwestern University in 2019, where she serves as the director of wellness, diversity and inclusion and the medical director of the renal biopsy service. She is a past president and a founding member of the Society of Black Pathologists and was recently inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Ellis is committed to mentorship, outstanding medical education and diversity, equity, and inclusion in pathology and beyond.

Dr. Ellis is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Nicole R. Jackson, MD, MPH, FASCP
2023 past president

Carla L. Ellis, MD, MS, FASCP
2022 past president

Carla L. Ellis, MD, MS, FASCP
2021 past president

Carla L. Ellis MD, MS, FASCP
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Founding Board Member

Oluwole Fadare, MD
University of California San Diego
Founding Board Member

Valerie Fitzhugh, MD, FASCP
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Founding Board Member

Nicole R. Jackson, MD, MPH, FASCP
University of Washington
Founding Board Member

Adebowale Adeniran, MD, FASCP
Yale New Haven Hospital

Michael Idowu, MD, MPH, FASCP
VCU Health

Michelle Reid, MD, MSc
Emory University Hospital and School of Medicine; Winship Cancer Institute

Jordan Reynolds, MD, FASCP
Cleveland Clinic

Kisha Mitchell Richards, MD, FASCP
Yale New Haven Health System

Marissa White, MD, FASCP
The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Kathleen Whitney, MD, FASCP
Montefiore Weiler Hospital

Michael Williams, MD, MSc
University of Alabama