UK HealthCare

Spires Receives Prestigious College of American Pathologists Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2012) -- The University of Kentucky's Dr. Susan Spires, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, received the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Public Service Award on Sept. 8.

Spires was honored with the award at the CAP annual meeting in San Diego. She received her medical degree from the University of Kentucky in 1976 and completed her anatomic and clinical pathology residency at UK in 1984. She served as chief resident in her final year. Spires completed subsequent fellowships at UK in surgical pathology and cytopathology.

The Public Service Award she received was originally established as the Frank C. Coleman Award for Public Service in 1989 to honor the memory and work of Dr. Frank C. Coleman, the sixth president of the CAP. The award is given to a Fellow of the College who best exemplifies the political, citizenship, and leadership qualities of the late Dr. Coleman, and is the College’s highest honor for outstanding accomplishments and dedication to political and civic life and to public service in the USA. The award is given when merited, not always annually, and has only been awarded seven times since 1989.

Spires was given the award for her advocacy on behalf of the specialty of pathology. She was also honored for her continuous years of service as the CAP representative for pathology on the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC).

"I am deeply humbled to be recognized by my peers with the CAP Public Service Award. I would like to thank the College for presenting many opportunities throughout my career to serve the profession, as well as my community," Spires said.

The College of American Pathologists was formed in 1947 and has now emerged as the leading organization of board-certified pathologists. It aims to serve patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide.

MEDIA CONTACT: Allison Elliott, aelli4@uky.edu