Featured Neuropathologist: Roger McLendon, MD

Today I feature the inimitable Dr. Roger McLendon, director of neuropathology at Duke University. McLendon has made major contributions to the field in the area of molecular characterization of gliomas. He has also demonstrated a commitment to professional service, including his current work on the Neuropathology Committee of the College of American Pathologists. Check out this interview with one of the most influential neuropathologists practicing today.....Roger McLendon, MD1.    Why did you decide to become a neuropathologist?When I was in college, I asked a buddy of mine who was in vet school what course should I take that would help me out in med school.  His answer was neuroanatomy.   I did not have a course available in neuroanatomy at Emory, so I went over to the med school and talked with a guy working in pain fibers.  He had a great project (using the old Fink-Heimer silver stain) that got me interested in the anatomy of the brainstem.  I followed that experience up in med school with a project working in muscle enzyme histochemistry with Dale Sickles.  I found the use of stains to identify things not seen before to be an exciting way to spend a career.  I have followed those experiences up with immunohistochemistry and FISH to see things in brain tumors.2.    Name some important professional mentors. Why were they important to you?Obviously my Duke colleagues and teachers have had huge impacts on...
Source: neuropathology blog - Category: Radiology Tags: neuropathologists Source Type: blogs