Javier Redding-Ochoa, MD

MD, Universidad Panamericana Escuela de Medicina, Mexico City, 2014

Residency, Anatomic Pathology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, 2019

Post-doc Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2024

Pathology allows the integration of clinical medicine with the conceptual depth of the basic sciences through an activity that generates pivotal information for patients. This motivated me to become a pathologist in Mexico.  Afterward I continued working in pathology as a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr Juan Troncoso's laboratory at Johns Hopkins. Throughout my stay, I participated in both the clinical and research settings, learning and engaging in the cutting-edge technological infrastructure employed to solve challenging cases. The positive experience of working in this country has motivated me to try to continue my career in pathology in the United States.

I am interested in many aspects of anatomic pathology, and I have a special interest in neuropathology, especially in the neurodegeneration field; an interest that has continued to grow at Johns Hopkins. Since 2019, I have had the opportunity to cut and examine more than 500 brains. One major skill I developed during my stay is an expertise development in multiple topics in forensic neuropathology and neurodegenerative pathology, thanks to the great mentorship from Dr Troncoso, who is a nationwide leader in this field. Also, I have participated in multiple neurodegenerative-related research collaborations, taking part in experiment planning, design, and execution as well as following through on many projects to publication. Additionally, I have gained thorough experience on how to run a brain bank, which may be useful for future job positions at academic institutions with a brain tissue repository.

Regarding my teaching experience, I have given formal lectures to Johns Hopkins' neurology residents on multiple occasions, taught undergraduate medical students in a gross neuropathology workshop for two years, and provided a microscopic forensic workshop to forensic pathology fellows at Baltimore's OCME and pathologists from Latin America.

As someone who has completed a prior anatomic pathology residency, I am aware of the responsibility that residency entails, and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and training through completion of an additional residency in the United States. I believe I will be an asset as a resident for the following reasons. I am a teachable person, and I am aware that there is always room for learning and growth in any field. I enjoy education and working in a collaborative environment, and I look forward to opportunities helping medical students and those new to the field. Finally, I am adaptable and experienced in working in changing and challenging situations, both in the United States and in Mexico.

My primary goal in completing residency is becoming a solid, well-rounded pathologist and neuropathologist. I also aspire to collaborating in translational or clinical research projects in order to keep contributing to medical knowledge. I am excited about the possibility of strengthening my skills and knowledge through pathology residency and I look forward to the possibility of bringing my prior experience, teachable outlook, and enthusiasm to the position.