Joseph Khoury, MD, named chair of pathology and microbiology

Following a national search, Joseph Khoury, MD, has been named the chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology in the College of Medicine.

He will start at UNMC on or before June 1.

"Dr. Khoury is an internationally recognized leader in the field of hematopathology," said Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine. "His expertise in clinical diagnostics, teaching and translational research, as well as his proven abilities as a leader, will support the continued growth of the already outstanding quality of UNMC’s pathology and microbiology faculty and staff.

"We feel very fortunate to have attracted an individual of Dr. Khoury’s abilities and accomplishments to lead this complex and important department that contributes so substantially to all of the college’s missions, as well as the clinical activities at Nebraska Medicine."

James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine and a pathologist, also was enthusiastic.

"First, my thanks to Dr. Steve Hinrichs; his leadership has built a strong foundation in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology," Dr. Linder said. "Dr. Khoury is receiving a department with talented clinical and research faculty who support countless activities at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.  This, coupled with Dr. Khoury’s deep experience and reputation at a national level, positions the department for continued success."

Dr. Khoury will join UNMC from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where, as tenured professor in the Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine, he has been serving as medical director for clinical expansion and cancer network executive director.

He has expertise in the fields of molecular pathology, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, with particular emphasis on clinical applications of these tools for biomarker discovery and detection.

Dr. Khoury has authored more than 270 publications, as well as textbooks and numerous book chapters. He has received multiple awards for teaching, research and clinical achievements. In addition to having lectured extensively at venues and conferences across the United States and the world, Dr. Khoury has organized multiple successful international and regional medical educational conferences.

He is a fellow and an active member of the College of American Pathologists, where he currently serves as chair of the CAP Cancer Committee. Dr. Khoury is a standing member on the editorial board of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours.

Dr. Britigan thanked the members of the search committee and Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD, and Howard Fox, MD, PhD, co-chairs of the committee, for their efforts.