Dr. Laurie Griesinger joined the South Bend Medical Foundation team on July 26, 2022. Our team is thrilled to welcome Laurie, who is driven and enthusiastic to work with us. We are excited to sit down with her to discuss her experience and her role as a pathologist.
1. What is your educational and career background?
I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Indiana University in 2010, then spent two years working as a lake ecology research assistant in Lewiston, Maine. After that, I attended University of Vermont for medical school, graduating in 2017, then came back to the Midwest to complete an Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency at the University of Michigan, followed by a Gynecologic Pathology fellowship at the University of Virginia. I just finished that fellowship in July of 2022, so this is my first post-training job.
2. What led you to work at SBMF?
I grew up in South Bend, and my family is all still in the area. After spending 16 years away following high school, I decided it was time to come back. I was interested in a career as a general surgical pathologist in a mid-sized community practice, and SBMF was a perfect fit for that.
3. What do you love most about working at SBMF?
I love that I get to see a wide range of surgical specimens on a daily basis, and that there are so many great pathologists and staff members who have been incredibly supportive as I have eased into my first post-training job.
4. As you have additional subspecialty training in gynecologic pathology, is this your favorite area of pathology, and if so, what do you wish more people knew about it?
Gynecologic pathology is by far my favorite area, and within that subspecialty cervical pathology is a big interest of mine. I wish more people fully understood the importance of routine preventive care with Pap smears as well as HPV vaccination in the prevention of cervical cancer. It is one of the only vaccines that can actually prevent a cancer, and it is still unfortunately underutilized.
5. Why is SBMF’s work an important part of providing healthcare in the area they serve?
Timely and accurate tissue diagnosis is the first step in treatment for many disease processes, especially in oncology. We are able to provide that for the community.
Additionally, the blood center is extremely important in keeping hospitals in the area supplied with much-needed blood products.
6. Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
I am an avid reader and spend many of my evenings and weekends reading. I love spending time with my husband and our rapidly growing cat family (we have two elderly cats and just added two kittens to the mix) and have also been very happy to reconnect with family since returning to the area.
