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Neuropathology

Division of Anatomic Pathology

The Neuropathology Service offers expert and timely diagnosis, comprehensive clinical services, state-of-the-art education programs, and innovative research.

The service is dedicated to advancing the understanding and diagnosis of neurological diseases through an integrated approach.  Bringing decades of experience combining clinical acumen with innovative research, two world-renowned neuropathologists, Drs. Sakir Humayun Gultekin and Tarik Tihan lead the service. Drs. Erik Williams and Roberto Ruiz-Cordero participate in all aspects of the program and expand the capacity and depth in all these areas.

High Volume Brain Tumor Center and Autopsy Experience

The consultation service, directed by Dr. Gultekin, is integral to one of the busiest brain tumor centers in the United States. With more than 2000 specimens including central nervous system (CNS) tumors, muscle biopsies, approximately 200 adult and pediatric autopsies, and a high volume of national and international consultations, the service offers a diverse and robust diagnostic experience. This experience is further enriched by the unique geographic location of Miami, which brings cases of rare CNS infectious diseases that are not commonly encountered in other parts of the country.

Cutting-Edge Research

The Neuropathology Service is also a hub for groundbreaking research, with a strong focus on translating scientific discoveries into clinical practice. Research endeavors are expertly coordinated by Drs. Erik Williams and Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, who are leading innovative studies in CNS tumor pathology, molecular diagnostics, and more. The research programs are designed to complement the clinical services, offering a well-rounded approach to neuropathology that benefits both patients and the scientific community.

Education is a cornerstone of the mission of the department; we offer a variety of educational programs for medical students to experienced pathologists.

The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine offers a Fellowship in Neuropathology.

Our Team

Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, M.D.

Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, M.D.

Clinical Associate Professor, Hematopathology
Publications
Biography: Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, MD, FASCP, is an associate professor of Pathology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Before that, he served on the faculty in the Cytopathology Department at the University of California, San Francisco. He was recruited back by the University of Miami to join its faculty as associate director of Cytopathology to develop the University’s...
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Tarik Tihan

TARIK TIHAN, MD PhD

Consultant Neuropathologist, Department of Pathology, Anatomic Pathology Division, Anatomic Pathology

Biography: 1986-1989 University of Istanbul, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry, Istanbul, Turkiye
1988-1989 University of Vienna, Dept. of Medical Chemistry, Vienna. Austria
1989-1990 University of South Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa FL
1991-1992 Beth Israel Medical Center, Dept. of Neurosurgery, NYC, NY
1992-1994 Beth Israel Medical Center,...
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Erik Williams, M.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor

Biography: Dr. William received his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed fellowships in molecular genetic pathology and dermatopathology. His areas of interest include cancer genomics, melanoma, sarcoma, HPV-related neoplasia, and health disparities.
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