Pathologist Spotlight: Dr. Yanyun Wu

We recently had the opportunity to touch base with Yanyun Wu, M.D., Ph.D., one of the busiest faculty members in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Wu serves as professor and vice chair of business development and innovation and the medical director of Transfusion Medicine at the UHealth and Jackson Health System. She remarked, “It is a fun job with a combination of patient care, education, research, and administration.”

Dr. Wu sees her role as integral to the mission of the department, adding “Clinical services performed by the department are essential for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases and for the promotion of health.” She says she is honored to be part of the team whose “efforts in research and innovation are preparing and positioning the institution for the ongoing evolution in medicine and future breakthroughs. It is an exciting time to be a pathologist at the University of Miami.”

Merce Jorda, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., professor and chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, commented, “Dr. Wu has greatly enhanced the care of patients throughout our clinical pathology services and specifically in Transfusion Medicine at both the Jackson and UHealth systems. Her dedication and diverse abilities have made a major impact in our department and institution as a whole.”

Dr. Wu received her medical degree from Beijing Medical University and her Ph.D. from Tulane University. She completed her clinical pathology residency and blood banking and transfusion medicine fellowship training at Yale University, was awarded boards in the same disciplines, and later served on the faculty. She also completed a fellowship in clinical chemistry at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Wu later served as the Chief Medical Officer at Bloodworks Northwest, located in Seattle, an independent, non-profit organization harnessing donor gifts to provide a safe, lifesaving blood supply to 95% of hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.

When asked about her career path and what she would say to pathology trainees, she responded, “Knowing what you enjoy doing and your capabilities are the key for success. Understand that all experiences can add value to your career.”

Just joining the department in 2020, Dr. Wu has seen firsthand the quality of the training programs as she works with the residents and serves as program director for the Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Fellowship. “There are amazing opportunities offered at the department and the medical school for the trainees, both for the variety of clinical cases and for the innovative approaches to learning,” she added.

Tags: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dr. Yanyun Wu