Paul N. Staats, MD, has been appointed as the Chair of the Department of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), effective September 29. Dr. Staats, a distinguished expert in cytopathology and gynecologic pathology, assumes leadership of a comprehensive department comprising 35 faculty members, 16 residents, and three fellows. This department supports a wide-ranging clinical practice that spans the University of Maryland Medical Center at both Downtown and Midtown campuses, UM Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute, UM Shore Regional Health, and UM St Joseph Medical Center. Concurrently, Dr. Staats will serve as Chief of the Pathology Service at the University of Maryland Medical Center, overseeing its diverse pathology operations.
In addition to his academic leadership role, Dr. Staats undertakes the critical responsibility of Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). This expansive role includes coordination of pathology services across 12 UMMS hospitals and more than 150 clinical sites throughout the state of Maryland. His position uniquely integrates laboratory and diagnostic pathology across multiple health system locations, enabling streamlined clinical workflows and enhanced diagnostic accuracy, which are pivotal in modern healthcare systems.
Dr. Staats’s appointment comes at a significant juncture, with UMSOM and UMMS positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation in pathology and laboratory medicine. Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean of UMSOM, highlights Dr. Staats’s instrumental efforts in modernizing clinical and anatomical pathology operations, underscoring his commitment to advancing diagnostic practice and fostering research among emerging medical professionals. Such leadership is essential to translating cutting-edge scientific discoveries into tangible improvements in patient care and diagnostic precision, particularly in complex fields such as cytopathology and gynecologic pathology.
As a seasoned leader, Dr. Staats brings a strong history of enhancing operational efficiencies and expanding service capabilities. His prior roles as director of anatomic pathology operations and cytopathology at UMMC Midtown Campus involved integrating pathology services across hospital sites, reformatting electronic medical record systems, and redesigning workflow and facility operations—endeavors which have yielded significant improvements in diagnostic turnaround times and quality assurance protocols.
Moreover, Dr. Staats played a key role in expanding outpatient laboratory services in partnership with other regional health organizations, including UM Capital Region Health. By strengthening these community-based services, he has effectively broadened access to specialized pathology diagnostics outside of major medical centers, thereby enhancing early disease detection and management in varied patient populations.
Dr. Staats’s scholarly contributions to pathology are noteworthy, with 56 peer-reviewed publications and 12 book chapters that focus on refining malignancy categorization and improving ancillary diagnostic testing. His research emphasizes the critical importance of morphologic criteria standardization and laboratory quality metrics, both of which underpin accurate, reproducible pathology diagnoses essential for guiding therapeutic interventions in oncology and gynecology.
Within UMMS, Dr. Staats leads clinical and research collaborations as a member of the Hormone Responsive Cancers Program at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. This multidisciplinary initiative advances innovative diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies for hormone-driven malignancies such as breast, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. His role bridges the gap between pathology’s microscopic insights and translational cancer research, fostering developments that may soon transform clinical protocols.
Beyond clinical and research domains, Dr. Staats contributes extensively to pathology education and national professional standards. He serves as chair of the Association of Pathology Chairs Fellowship Directors Committee, spearheading efforts to implement a national match system for pathology fellowship recruitment. This initiative aims to standardize and streamline fellowship placement, ensuring equitable access and enhancing the training pipeline in pathology subspecialties.
As an educator, Dr. Staats has been repeatedly recognized for excellence, receiving multiple teaching awards, including the Harlan I. Firminger Faculty Teaching Prize and accolades from pathology residents for his instructive capabilities in anatomic pathology. Such recognition reflects his dedication to mentorship and pedagogy, critical components for sustaining and advancing academic pathology programs.
His leadership extends to operational oversight within UMMS, where he serves as medical director for the laboratory information system transition to Epic Beaker and co-chairs the Laboratory Stewardship Committee. These roles are pivotal in ensuring robust laboratory informatics infrastructure and stewardship of laboratory resources, which are essential for sustaining high-quality diagnostic services in increasingly complex healthcare environments.
Dr. Staats’s commitment to pathology excellence is underscored by his past presidency of the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology and editorial contributions to leading pathology journals. His multifaceted roles reflect a career devoted to integrating clinical service, research innovation, education, and administrative leadership, embodying the full spectrum of academic medicine’s mission.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine, founded in 1807, continues to lead biomedical research and education through its expansive faculty, innovative research programs, and significant clinical outreach. Dr. Staats’s leadership in pathology aligns with the institution’s strategic focus on leveraging biomedical advances and advanced technologies such as AI and health computing to address pressing healthcare challenges. As pathologists increasingly guide precision medicine approaches, his role will be central to elevating pathology’s impact within clinical care and translational science.
Dr. Staats himself articulated a deep personal commitment to the University of Maryland and its community. He expressed enthusiasm for advancing departmental and system-wide pathology services, underscoring the importance of alignment and integration in laboratory medicine across health system affiliates as a critical factor in optimizing patient outcomes.
In summary, Dr. Paul N. Staats’s appointment as Chair of the Department of Pathology and Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UMMS signifies a transformative leadership moment. His broad expertise, operational acumen, academic scholarship, and visionary outlook position him to drive substantial advancements in pathology’s role within academic medicine and public health. This leadership promises to elevate diagnostic precision, foster research translation, enhance educational excellence, and expand collaborative healthcare delivery models across Maryland and beyond.
Subject of Research: Cytopathology, Gynecologic Pathology, Diagnostic Practice Improvement, Pathology Laboratory Efficiency, Hormone Responsive Cancers
News Publication Date: Not explicitly stated; appointment effective September 29 (year implied as 2024)
Web References:
- University of Maryland School of Medicine profile: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/staats-paul/
- University of Maryland School of Medicine homepage: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/
Image Credits: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Keywords: Pathology, Oncology, Gynecology
