Medical Staff

PLUS Diagnostics Pathologists' Training and Experience

• Albany Medical College
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
• Bringham Hospital
• Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center
• Case Western Reserve University
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
  
• Jefferson Medical Collegev
• Johns Hopkins University
• Lenox Hill Hospital
• Magee Womens Hospital University of Pittsburgh
• Metro Health Center
• Monmouth Medical Center
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Muhlenberg Hospital
• New York University Medical Center
• North Shore University Hospital
• Rhode Island Hospital
• St. Barnabus Health Care System
• University of Michigan
• University of Nevada
• University of Purkinje
• University of Texas Health Science Center
• University of Texas, Galveston
• Yale University

Medical Staff

Mohammad Kamal, MD (based in CA)
Chief Medical Officer
mkamal@plusdx.com

Dr. Kamal joined PLUS Diagnostics in September 2009. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pathology. Dr.Kamal was born in Washington, D.C. and was raised and educated in Cairo, Egypt. After receiving his medical degree from Cairo University School of Medicine, Dr. Kamal returned to the United States to continue his studies and research in Los Angeles, CA. He completed his pathology residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and fellowship training at the Klaus Lewin GI Pathology fellowship program at UCLA. Previously, Dr. Kamal served as the Medical Director of Dianon Systems in Los Angeles and is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pathology at UCLA. He is a frequent lecturer at medical schools and medical conferences throughout the United States and internationally, speaking on topics related to gastrointestinal pathology, including inflammatory bowel disease and Barrett’s esophagus. In 2003, Dr. Kamal’s study on living donor liver transplant was selected for the Presidential Poster of Distinction Award by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Dr. Kamal is board certified in anatomic pathology.

Michael McGinnis, MD
Medical Director
Dr. McGinnis joined PLUS Diagnostics as Medical Director in December 2007. He received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. His residency in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology was at The Institute of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and a one year Cytopathology fellowship followed at Metro Health Center. Throughout his career, he has held numerous university teaching roles, CAP committees positions, and served as Chairman on a variety of cancer committee and review boards including but not limited to Chairman of the ASCP Laboratory Management and Safety Committee.

Ali Riba, MD
Associate Medical Director
Dr. Riba came to PLUS Diagnostics as Associate Medical Director in October 2007. He served the last 6 years at Yale University in the capacity of Assistant Professor and Attending Pathologist, with his first year focused in completion of a fellowship in surgical pathology. He completed his residency at St. Barnabas Health Care System with rotations at Saint Barnabas, Monmouth Medical Center and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Riba received his medical degree from Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria graduating in the top 25 of his class. He has authored or co-authored multiple papers focusing on his areas of interest including Gastrointestinal Pathology, Genitourinary Pathology, Dermatopathology and Breast Pathology.

Jess Savala, Jr., MD
Director of Hematopathology

Dr. Savala joined PLUS Diagnostics in November of 2009 as Director of Hematopathology from Genzyme Genetics (Los Angeles, CA) where he was the Director of Hematology for both the Physician Services and Analytical Services divisions of the company.  Prior to his position with Genzyme, Dr. Savala was responsible for the medical directorship of numerous satellite cytogenetic laboratory locations of US Labs before becoming Medical Director in July of 2006.  Dr. Savala holds a BS in biology and microbiology from Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA) and his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine.  He completed his pathology residency at Loma Linda as well, before finishing his education with a hematopathology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA) in the Department of Clinical Pathology.  He is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and hematology. 


Mohamed Abdulla, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Abdulla joined PLUS Diagnostics in September 2007 as a part-time staff pathologist and cytopathologist. He
completed his cytopathology fellowship at Magee Women’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh and his Anatomical and Clinical Pathology residency at Albany Medical College. Dr. Abdulla received his medical degree from Cairo University. He holds active memberships in the International Academy of Pathology, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, New Jersey Society of Pathologists, College of American Pathologists and American Society of Clinical Pathology, as well as Friends and Alumni of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. His areas of research include but are not limited to cytopathology, genitourinary and breast pathology. Dr. Abdulla is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as cytopathology.

Monica Chatterjee, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Chatterjee joined PLUS Diagnostics in December 2008. Previously, she held attending pathologist positions at Columbus Hospital, Newark, NJ and The Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY. Dr. Chatterjee completed her undergraduate degree in Bombay, India, as well as her medical degree at G.S. Medical College, KEM Hospital, Bombay, India. She began her residency training at Akron City Hospital, OH and completed her residency at Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY, an affiliate of State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook. She also completed a one year surgical pathology fellowship at Winthrop University Hospital, NY. Dr. Chatterjee is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Kanta Davessar, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Davessar joined PLUS Diagnostics in December 2004, with more than 25 years of experience focused in gastrointestinal pathology. Throughout her career she has served as Medical Director in a variety of hospital appointments and trained GI fellows in pathology at Rhode Island Hospital. She was appointed an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UMD-NJ School of Health, and has publications in her select areas of interest such as Barrett’s Esophagus and Gastric Adenocarcinoma. Dr. Davessar completed her medical degree at Punjab University in India and her postgraduate training at Monmouth Medical Center in NJ. Dr. Davessar is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Ludmila Engelbach, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Engelbach joined PLUS Diagnostics in November 2007. She has dedicated the last 26 years to practicing anatomic pathology, and previously served as Co-Director of Pathology at Ocean County Medical Laboratories, NJ. Dr. Engelbach received her medical degree while living in the Czech Republic at the University of Purkinje and completed her anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Monmouth Medical Center, NJ. Her areas of interest include gastrointestinal and genitourinary pathology. Dr. Englebach is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Frank Fromowitz, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Fromowitz joined PLUS Diagnostics in November 2007. He joins PLUS after practicing surgical pathology in various academic, hospital and private pathology settings throughout the Northeastern US. Dr. Fromowitz completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University and his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College. He completed his residency training at Yale as well as additional training at New York University Medical Center. He has held full-time academic appointments at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, State University of New York at Stony Brook and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Fromowitz has a number of peer-reviewed publications in genitourinary pathology. Dr. Fromowitz is board certified in anatomic pathology.

Petronela Iorga, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Iorga joined PLUS Diagnostics in July 2005. In 2006 she completed a mini-fellowship at Johns Hopkins University with Dr. Epstein. She received her medical degree at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, Romania. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Lenox Hill Hospital, NY and her hematopathology fellowship at Albany Medical College. To date, Dr. Iorga’s areas of interest as well as research and publications have been in hematopathology, breast and genitourinary pathology. She is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology as well as hematopathology.

Gunawan Kartika, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Kartika came to PLUS Diagnostics in June of 2008, after serving the last 18 years in surgical pathology and cytopathology at hospital settings throughout the Northeast region. He completed his medical degree at the University of Liege in Belgium and went on to complete residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. In addition, Dr. Kartika completed fellowship study in hematopathology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center of the State University of NY in Buffalo. Dr. Kartika maintains active professional affiliations with the CAP and USCAP, as well as the American Society of Cytopathology. He is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology as well as cytopathology.

David A. Lederman, DMD
Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
Dr. Lederman was director of Garden State Oral Pathology Laboratory for 17 years before joining Plus Diagnostics in 1997 as Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology. He received his DMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania and certificate in oral pathology from the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn & Queens, NY. He is board certified in both oral and maxillofacial pathology and in oral medicine and served as a board examiner in the latter. Dr. Lederman has been an active member of the Governor’s Task Force on Cancer in New Jersey since 2000 and chairs the Workgroup on Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer. He serves as a consultant at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark and Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ. Dr. Lederman’s primary focus is oral cancer and premalignant conditions and he lectures throughout the country.

Rongshan Li, MD, PhD (NJ)
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Li joined PLUS Diagnostics in August 2009. Previously, Dr. Li practiced surgical pathology with specialization in genitourinary pathology, as well as held the distinction of Assistant Professor, Departments of Pathology and Urology,at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Li received his medical degree at Tongji Medical University in Wuhan, China and completed his residency training (AP & CP) at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester in New York. Dr. Li also completed a one year genitourinary pathology fellowship at the University of Rochester in New York, and a one year surgical (oncologic) pathology fellowship at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He completed his PhD at the Department of Pathology at University of Rochester. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles and is a member of various professional societies, including the College of American Pathologists. Dr. Li is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Usha Pai, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Usha Pai joined PLUS Diagnostics in May 2008. Having spent more than 13 years at Jersey City Regional Medical Center as well as two other hospitals, she has extensive experience in cytology as well as in surgical cases in the specialties of genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and gynecologic pathology. Dr. Pai is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NY and has also participated in pathology quality improvement teaching with medical residents and students at Jersey City Medical Center. Dr. Pai completed her medical degree from the Institute of Medical Sciences in Varanasi, India and went on to complete her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at University of Medicine & Dentistry in Newark, NJ and Metro Health Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. She completed her cytopathology fellowship at Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Dr. Pai is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as cytopathology.

Gloria Romerocaces, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Gloria Romerocaces joined PLUS Diagnostics in January of 2007. Previously, she has served the past 15 years in a variety of hospitals and out-patient reference laboratories throughout Northern NJ and NYC, including Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Overlook Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital, New York Hospital and Labcorp. Dr. Romerocaces received her medical degree from the University of St. Tomas in the Philippines and completed her residency training at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. She completed cytopathology and surgical pathology fellowships at North Shore University Hospital. She is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as cytopathology.

Mona Sharaan, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Sharaan joined PLUS Diagnostics in October 2007 after most recently completing fellowship and research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in molecular pathology. She received her BS degree from Cairo University in Egypt and she completed her residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, holding chief resident distinction her fourth year. Dr. Sharaan completed her fellowship in cytopathology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Dr. Sharaan has published several articles, co-written a book, and performed research in the areas of anatomic pathology, cytopathology and molecular pathology. She is board certified in anatomic pathology and cytopathology.

Ting Shen, MD, PhD
Staff Pathologist  
Dr. Shen joined PLUS Diagnostics in July 2008 as a part time staff pathologist.  Previously, Dr. Shen served as Senior  Staff Pathologist at Quest Diagnostics for the last four and a half years.  Prior to that, he was an Attending Pathologist  and Director of Pathology at Temple University.  Dr. Shen received his medical degree at Shanghai Second Medical  College in Shanghai, China and his PhD in Pharmacology from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit,  Michigan.  Dr. Shen completed his residency at George Washington University Medical Center and his fellowship in surgical pathology at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.  Dr. Shen is an active member of the American Society of  Clinical Pathologists, USCAP and the International Breast Pathology.  He is board certified in anatomic and clinical
pathology.

Calvin L. Strand, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Stand joined PLUS Diagnostics in November 2008.  His professional experience includes Director of Pathology,  Jersey City Medical Center and Medical Director of Damon/Beth Israel Clinical Laboratory, Beth Israel Medical Center,  New York.  Dr. Strand received his undergraduate degree from University of Minnesota and completed his residency at  University of Minnesota Medical School.  He currently serves as Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.   Dr. Strand has demonstrated exceptional dedication to research, with over 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals  and abstracts presented at scientific meetings.  Dr. Strand is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as medical microbiology.
 
Manjula Vara, MD
Staff Pathologist
Dr. Vara came to PLUS Diagnostics in May 2009.  Previously, Dr. Vara spent 15 years as an Associate Pathologist at  St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Richmond, and Bayley Seton Hospital in New York, where she was Co-Director of  Microbiology, Special Microbiology, and Cytopathology.  More recently, Dr. Vara was Associate Pathologist at Trinitas  Hospital.  Dr. Vara obtained her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from T.N. Medical College, Bombay  University.  She completed her residency in anatomical and clinical pathology at Maimonides Medical Center in New  York.  Dr. Vara has been involved in numerous professional associations, committees, community services and  societies. She is also a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists, the New Jersey Society of Pathologists, and the American Society of Cytology. She is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as cytopathology.
 

Laboratory Staff Overview
 
Mark Machulcz (based in NJ)
Executive Vice President of Operations
Mark has led operations at PLUS Diagnostics since August 2009. He has 23 years of diverse operations management  experience working for Quest Diagnostics and one of its predecessor companies. He has implemented innovative solutions to improve quality and efficiency across many value chain activities including Logistics, Customer Service, Field Operations, Clinical and Anatomic Pathology. Prior to joining PLUS Diagnostics he was directing operations pan India for a unit of Quest Diagnostics. Mr. Machulcz received his bachelor’s degree in medical technology from St. Louis University and his master’s degree in business administration from Johns Hopkins University.
 
Robert Embree (CA)
Vice President, Operations
Robert joined PLUS Diagnostics in September 2009.  Robert brings over 20 years of experience operating, managing and directing in the clinical laboratory industry, most recently at the high complexity molecular cytogenetics laboratory, Combimatrix Molecular Diagnostics (CMDX).  He has served as Managing Director of Global IHC and image analysis for US LABS, and has held various management positions in a number of Southern California laboratories.  Robert has been the recipient of several awards for leadership, innovation, productivity and implementation.  He is a licensed histotechnologist and holds a qualification in immunohistochemistry from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).  Robert received his BS degree from the University of Redlands in Southern California.  
 
Craig McKee, CLSp(CG)
Director of Cytology & FISH Operations
Craig joined PLUS Diagnostics in June 2008.  He brings extensive experience in laboratory practices and specialized research in development, validation and implementation of new laboratory procedures with expertise in genetics-based assays.  For the past 15 years, Craig has managed cytogenetic operations in a variety of national laboratories.  He holds strong affiliations with the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel, as well as the Association of Genetic Technologists.  Craig maintains active accreditation as a Clinical Laboratory Specialist in Cytogenetics.  
 
Ann Spjut , DM, MAEd, CLT(HHS), CQA(ASQ)
Accessioning Manager
Ann joined PLUS Diagnostics in July 2009. Ann has extensive experience in management and quality assurance within anatomic pathology laboratories, to include expertise in LEAN principles, regulatory requirements, and implementation of quality plans, operations management and strategic planning. Previously, Ann was manager of anatomic pathology services within an integrated healthcare system. Ann is a Certified Laboratory Technologist, she holds a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, and a Master’s of Education. Ann is also certified as a quality auditor.  
 
Patricia Seigler, MSA
Histology Manager
Pat joined PLUS Diagnostics in February 2009.  She joins PLUS with 19 years of histology experience and leadership at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY.  Pat received her certificate in Medical Technology in Kingston, Jamaica, followed by her BA at City University of New York, Medgar Evers College.  She completed a Master of Science in Administration at Central Michigan University in 2005.