A Tip of the CAP: Miller School Pathologist Recognized with Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Carmen Gomez-Fernandez was honored by the College of American Pathologists for her immense contributions to pathology.
Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, M.D ’91., professor, vice chair of education and trainee mentoring, director of the head and neck pathology service and co-director of the breast pathology service at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in recognition of her diagnostic skills and her role as a teacher who has contributed to the next generation of pathologists with her values and approach.
CAP President Jim Zhai, M.D., presented the award to Dr. Gomez-Fernandez at the CAP 2025 annual meeting. The award honors members who have made a broad and enduring impact on the profession through sustained contributions to one or more areas of the organization.
“I applaud CAP for recognizing Dr. Gomez-Fernandez’s many accomplishments over the course of her luminary career,” said Merce Jorda, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Miller School. “She’s been a positive and influential voice in our department, and in the field, for many years, and is well-deserving of CAP’s lifetime achievement award. Her multifaceted leadership—spanning education, mentorship, innovation and global engagement—has positioned her as a cornerstone of academic pathology and a role model for future generations.”
The College of American Pathologists is the leading organization of board-certified pathologists, dedicated to fostering excellence in pathology and laboratory medicine. Its mission centers on improving patient care through diagnostic accuracy, advancing the science and practice of pathology and supporting pathologists in their professional development. CAP plays a pivotal role in setting standards, accrediting laboratories and advocating for the specialty within the broader medical community.
A Significant Contribution to Pathology
A proud alumna of the Miller School, with subsequent residency and fellowship training in pathology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Dr. Gomez-Fernandez has been a faculty member in the department for almost three decades. She has dedicated her career to pathology education, mentorship and international outreach for more than 25 years, with many of her students going on to successful academic and community practices.
Dr. Gomez-Fernandez has mentored numerous residents and fellows, consistently emphasizing the value of collaborative learning environments that prepare trainees to deliver high-quality diagnostic care to a diverse patient population.
For more than 10 years, she has directed the Miller School’s annual Pathology on Beach conference. Soon to celebrate its 50th year, the conference brings together renowned experts and trainees for immersive learning experiences, including many alumni of the department’s training programs, a testament to Dr. Gomez-Fernandez’s dedication to mentorship and education.
Internationally, Dr. Gomez-Fernandez has been a key element in the Miller School’s educational outreach efforts helping to bridge gaps in pathology training and foster global collaboration. She directs a successful observership program in pathology for international medical graduates and has provided numerous educational conferences in English and in Spanish for learners in Central America and Latin America.
Advocacy for the Patient and Profession
Dr. Gomez-Fernandez is also active at the state level, where she serves as the president of the Florida Society of Pathology (FSP) and in numerous roles in her state society, including the Board and the Education Committee Chair. Her work there garnered the FSP Appreciation Award for her leadership in education. She has invited residents and fellows to join her at the CAP Leadership Summit and learn about and engage in advocacy for the profession, including “Hill Day,” a visit to state legislators.
As FSP president, Dr. Gomez-Fernandez looks to increase the number of students in pathology and foster early interest through engaging teaching, mentorship and exposure to the wide-ranging impact of pathology in patient care.
Recently, Dr. Gomez-Fernandez has expanded her educational outreach to include patients. In collaboration with a pathology resident mentee and colleagues at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the Miller School, she launched a direct consultation program that brings pathologists into direct communication with patients in English or Spanish, helping them understand their diagnoses and empowering them to take more active roles in their health care journey. The program redefines the role of the pathologist and reshapes how patients and physicians perceive the key role of pathologists in patient-centered care.
Tags: alumni, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dr. Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, Dr. Merce Jorda, Florida Society of Pathologists, pathology