Dr. Donna J. Lager

Board Certified Pathologist

Dr. Donna J. Lager

Why did you choose to specialize in Pathology?

I became a Pathologist to help solve medical mysteries through biopsy interpretation and communication with other medical specialists to correlate biopsy findings with patient symptoms, clinical history and laboratory results in order provide a unifying diagnosis and facilitate a treatment plan.

Do you have a specialty of interest within Pathology?

Gastrointestinal and Renal Pathology

Where did you study?

Medical School: University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA

Internship: Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program, Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, AZ

Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (AP/CP), Iowa City, IA

Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Surgical Pathology)

What certifications do you hold?

Board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
Voluntary recertification in Anatomic Pathology, 2009

Do you have any special honors or recognitions in your medical career that you would like to share?

Academic Appointments:

  • Associate Professor, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
  • Associate Professor, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Consultant, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Teaching activities:

  • Pathology course, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 1986-1997
  • Pathophysiology Course director, Mayo Medical School, 1997-2007
  • American Society for Clinical Pathology Workshops, 1993-2001
  • Faculty, Practical Surgical Pathology course, Mayo Medical Laboratories, 1998-2004
  • Invited Faculty, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 2003-2015
  • Faculty, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology short course, 2005-2008
  • Invited Speaker: Shanghai, P.R. China; Jacksonville, FL; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Fargo ND, Sioux Falls, SD; Cleveland, OH; Indiana, PA; Rio de Janiero, Brazil; Seoul, Korea; Houston, TX

Other Awards:

  • American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellowship, University of Iowa, 1989-90
  • United States Patent Number: 05583102. Human Thrombomodulin in Wound Healing. Steven R. Lentz, Thomas J. Raife, Donna J. Lager. Issued: December 10, 1996
  • Pathology Resident Teacher of the Year, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 1997
  • Faculty Service Award, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 2001

Selected GI related publications:

  • Nielsen JA, Lager DJ, Lewin M, Weber JJ, Roberts CA. Incidence of diagnostic change in colorectal polyp specimens after deeper sectioning at 2 different laboratories staffed by the same pathologists. Am J Clin Pathol. 140(2):231-7, 2013.
  • Nielsen JA, Lager DJ, Lewin M, Rendon G, Roberts CA. The Optimal Number of Biopsy Fragments to Establish a Morphologic Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol 109(4):515-520, 2014.
  • Nielsen JA, Roberts CA, Lager DJ, Putcha RV, Jain R, Lewin M. Lymphocytic Gastritis is not Associated with Active Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter 19(5):349-355, 2014.
  • Nielsen JA, Weber JJ, Lager DJ. Diarrhoea and Duodenal Disease. Gut 63(11):1736, 2014.

Textbook:

  • Lager DJ, Abrahams NA (Editors), Practical Renal Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia, PA 2013.

Please list your professional affiliations.

ProPath
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP)
The American Society of Nephrology
The Renal Pathology Society