Physician Center

Pathologist Biographies

Kanwaljit Aulakh, M.D.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, GI Pathology, Head & Neck Pathology

Dr. Aulakh joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in 2012. He is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology with an emphasis in GI/Liver/Hepatobiliary and Head & Neck pathology. He went to the University of Oklahoma and received a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. In 2003, he went to St. George’s University School of Medicine and graduated in 2007. He was then accepted in an anatomic and clinical pathology program at Texas A&M University Health Science Center at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. After completing residency in 2011, he then went to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he did a Gastrointestinal and Surgical Pathology Fellowship with an additional emphasis in Head and Neck pathology.


Tammy Battaglia, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Cytology

Dr. Battaglia is currently Laboratory Director of Via Christi Hospital Pittsburg and Regional Medical Laboratory of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Dr. Battaglia joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in July 2001. After growing up in Girard, Kansas, she attended Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in pre-medical biology. She then went on to receive her M.D. from the University of Kansas Medical School in Kansas City, Kansas. She completed her Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center, also in Kansas City, Kansas. Her primary interest is in general surgical pathology. Dr. Battaglia is currently working at the Pathology Laboratory Associates office at Via Christi Hospital Pittsburg in Pittsburg, Kansas.


Lisa (Mask) Bull M.D.

Dermatology and Dermatopathology

Dr. Bull earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry at the University of Tulsa in 2009 and earned a medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 2013. In 2014 she completed an internship at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa and finished a residency in dermatology at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in 2017. She completed a fellowship in dermatopathology at the Tulane University School of Medicine in 2018.


Steve Casner, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology

Dr. Casner is the Laboratory Director at Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He practices clinical pathology and anatomic pathology with an emphasis on gastrointestinal pathology.

Dr. Casner joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in July of 1996, after successfully completing an anatomic and clinical pathology residency in June of 1996 at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, he successfully completed one year internships in internal medicine and diagnostic radiology, also at Baylor. Dr. Casner is a graduate of Texas Tech University (1986), where he majored in biology.


A. Neil Crowson, M.D., FCAP, FRCPC

Surgical Pathology, Dermatopathology, Cytology

Dr. Crowson is currently President of Pathology Laboratory Associates, Vice President of Regional Medical Laboratory and Chief of Medical Staff at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, OK.

Dr. Crowson joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in April of 1999, coming from Winnipeg, Canada. He did his premed at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario and attended medical school at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1980. He did his postgraduate training at the University of Toronto in Anatomic Pathology and Hematopathology. He spent fourteen years in Winnipeg doing combined AP and CP and directing the laboratory department at the Misericordia General Hospital and Central Medical Laboratories. Dr. Crowson is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Pathology and Surgery at the University of Oklahoma Medical School, where he is Director of Dermatopathology. He has over 320 publications including an award-winning book on melanoma, now in press as a second edition, Textbook of Dermatopathology (McGraw Hill, 2010) which he co-edits with Raymond Barnhill, Cynthia Magro and Michael Piepkorn, Biopsy Interpretation of the Skin (Lippincott, 2010) and The Cutaneous Lymphoid Proliferations (Wiley, 2007). He maintains active research interests in the molecular biology of skin cancer and the inflammatory dermatoses, and directs the 5-day ASCP education course entitled Dermatopathology : Contemporary Diagnostic Criteria and Strategies, on an annual basis.


Terrence Dolan, M.D., FCAP, FCRP(Ireland)

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Medical Microbiology, Informatics- Management

Dr. Dolan joined St. John Medical Center as the Director of Pathology Laboratories in 1980. He started Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. as a physician owned professional corporation for a group of pathologists in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1981, Regional Medical Laboratory was formed to take advantage of outreach laboratory markets in Tulsa and the surrounding area. Dr. Dolan has served as the President of Regional Medical Laboratory since that time. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Regional Medical Laboratory. He was the President and a member of the Board of Directors of Infometrics Systems Corporation. He is a Clinical Professor of Pathology at the University of Oklahoma Medical School and a past-president of the Oklahoma State Association of Pathologists. He is currently a member of the Board of the St John Health System.

Dr. Dolan received his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, graduating first in his class. He received his Pathology specialty education at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following completion of his training, he became a staff physician at the Mayo Clinic as well as an instructor at the Mayo Clinic Medical School. He is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology as well as in Medical Microbiology. He is a past member of the Board of Editors of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. He has served on numerous committees for the College of American Pathologists since 1969.

Over the last thirty-five years, Dr. Dolan has been interested in using informatics to leverage medical and management decisions in the clinical laboratory. During this time, he has developed extensive methods of measuring laboratory performance.


Paul Gelven, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Cytology

Dr. Gelven is the Department Chairman and Laboratory Director for Ponca City Hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He served as the Chief of Medical Staff for Ponca City Hospital in 2007 and 2013.

Dr. Gelven graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.A. in chemistry in 1988. He graduated from their medical school in 1992. Dr. Gelven performed his residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina-Charleston from 1992-1996, and did a flexible fifth year fellowship at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1996-1997 in Anatomic Pathology. He has practiced pathology since July 1997, in Ponca City, Oklahoma and joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in 2004.


Paul Gillum, M.D.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Dermatopathology

Dr Gillum and the Oklahoma Dermatopathology Institute merged with Pathology Laboratory Associates in August of 2017. Dr Gillum completed his Bachelor of Science with distinction (Microbiology), his Doctoral Degree with outstanding distinction, and his Dermatology residency at the University of Oklahoma. He took his Dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Colorado under the guidance of Loren Golitz, subsequently returning to his faculty position at the University of Oklahoma in the Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Board certified in Dermatology and Dermatopathology. Through his 24 year medical career, Dr. Gillum has practiced Dermatology in a private setting and at the Universities of Oklahoma and Colorado, and has served as Medical Director of the Oklahoma Dermatopathology Institute. He currently continues his Dermatopathology practice with PLA and leads clinical trials as Principal Investigator / Sub-Investigator in the fields of Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. He is the Medical Director of a regional NADO tissue bank, and is involved 3-D skin modeling research.


Brent Hartsell, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Special Interests Transfusion Medicine and Coagulation

Dr. Hartsell is the Laboratory Director of Regional Medical Laboratory at St John Medical Center and Chief of Blood Bank for Regional Medical Laboratory at St. John Medical Center. He is currently the Chairman of the St. John Medical Center Department of Pathology.

Dr. Hartsell has been a member of Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. since 1994. After graduating from University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Dr. Hartsell received his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. He received the Hemphill-Gojer Scholarship and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Hartsell completed an internship in Internal Medicine and then completed his residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology.

Dr. Hartsell is past president of Pathology Laboratory Associates and Vice President of Regional Medical Laboratory. In 2000 he was president of the Oklahoma State Association of Pathologists and held the position of Vice Chair of Utica Physicians’ Association from 2002 to 2011. He is past chairman of the UPAL Finance committee. He was a board member at the Oklahoma Blood Institute for 3 years, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ValuMed, an IPA for 2 years. Dr. Hartsell holds a special interest in clinical pathology, transfusion medicine and coagulation.


Ryan Hendren M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology

Dr. Hendren is Chief of Cytopathology at Regional Medical Laboratory and serves on the Pathology Laboratory Associates Executive Committee as Secretary.

Dr. Hendren joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in 2007. He received his B.S. from Georgetown University in 1992, and his MD from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in 2001. He completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of North Carolina in 2006, followed by a Fellowship in Cytopathology at the same facility, completed in 2007. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, and is also board certified in Cytopathology.


Adam Hoffhines, M.D., Ph.D., FCAP

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Hematopathology

Dr. Hoffhines joined Pathology Laboratory Associates in 2015. A native Oklahoman, he completed his undergraduate studies at Oklahoma Christian University in 2002, majoring in Biochemistry. He then entered the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, earning his Ph.D. (Cell Biology) in 2008 and his M.D. in 2010. His dissertation research involved elucidating the biologic significance of tyrosine sulfation of mammalian proteins, which had been shown to be an important process in several different biologic systems, including HIV infection and blood coagulation. Dr. Hoffhines then pursued residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, which he completed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2014, followed by a 1-year Hematopathology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.


Stephanie Holt, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology/Cytopathology

Dr. Holt joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in March of 2006. She received her B.S. in Chemistry and Zoology from George Washington University in 1976, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She received her M.D. from University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine in 1980. She completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Chicago in 1984, and a fellowship in Surgical Pathology/Cytopathology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in 1986. She was in practice in the Chicago area for two years, followed by seventeen years of practice in Boca Raton, Florida. At Boca Raton Community Hospital, she served as Medical Director of the Transfusion Service, in addition to practicing surgical pathology and cytopathology. She also served on the board of directors of a large regional blood center, Community Blood Centers of South Florida, from 1989 to 2005, including three years as Chairman. Her special interests include fine needle aspiration cytology, gynecologic pathology, gynecologic cytology and transfusion medicine. She is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, with subspecialty board certification in Cytopathology and Transfusion Medicine/Blood Banking.


Erica Kumar, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Dermatopathology

Dr. Erica Kumar is Board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, with a subspecialty Board certification in Dermatopathology.
Dr. Kumar joined Pathology Laboratory Associates in September 2015. She received her Bachelor of Arts and medical degrees at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. She completed pathology residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, during which time she rotated at several hospitals within the Houston Medical Center, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Herman Hospital. Her fellowship in Dermatopathology was completed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where she trained jointly with Cornell University and Memorial Sloan Kettering dermatologists and dermatopathologists.


Gerald Miller, Ph.D.

Immunology, Microbiology and Flow Cytometry

Dr. Miller is Chief of Immunology, Flow Cytometry, and Microbiology at Regional Medical Laboratory in Tulsa.

Dr. Miller joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in 1994 following 12 years of owning and operating Immuno-Diagnostics Laboratory. He is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology at OSU School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Miller received a Ph.D. degree in virology from Kansas State University in 1972 with subsequent training as a Mayo Research Fellow in the fields of virology and immunology. He is board certified by the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology. Other professional activities include serving on the editorial board of Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (CVI), past member of the Board of Examiners for the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology as well as being the past treasurer and past secretary of the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunology.


Jim Palmer, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Surgical Pathology, Cytology, Special interest in breast pathology

Dr. Palmer has been with Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc.since 1989. He received both his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After completing his surgical pathology residency and fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine in 1983, he remained at Washington University as an instructor and as a pathologist at Barnes Hospital and Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Tulsa. He maintains a special interest and expertise in breast pathology. Dr. Palmer successfully completed the new Multidisciplinary Breast Pathology Program offered by the College of American Pathology in 2012.


Igor Shendrik, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Dermatopathology, Hematopathology

Dr. Shendrik joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in August of 2004. He served as Assistant Professor and Director of the Dermatopathology Section at Creighton University Medical Center. Dr. Shendrik graduated with an MD degree with honors from the Kharkov Medical Institute in Kharkov, Ukraine, followed by postdoctoral training in Pediatrics, and a residency program in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed a Fellowship in Hematopathology at Columbia University, followed by a Fellowship in Dermatopathology at Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio). Dr Shendrik is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Dermatopathology. His sub-specialty board certifications also include Hematopathology. His research subspecialty interests include atypical melanocytic lesions and cutaneous lymphocytic dyscrasias.


Sean Smith, M.D.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Cytopathology

Dr. Smith is the Medical Director of Clinical Laboratories at Hillcrest Medical Center and the Chairman of the Hillcrest Medical Center Department of Pathology.
Dr. Smith joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in May 2014. He began practicing pathology at Hillcrest Medical Center in 1999 after completing a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia, Missouri. During his residency, Dr. Smith served as Chief Resident of the University of Missouri Department of Pathology. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1994, and his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1990. While practicing at Hillcrest Medical Center Dr. Smith has served as Medical Staff Secretary, Medical Staff Vice President, Medical Staff President and Chair of the Credentials Committee.


Cindi Starkey, M.D., Ph.D., F.C.A.P.

Clinical and Surgical Pathology, Hematopathology, Special Interest in Molecular Pathology and Flow Cytometry

Dr. Starkey is the Laboratory Director and Chief of Molecular Pathology at Regional Medical Laboratory in Tulsa; and serves on the Pathology Laboratory Associates Executive Committee as Treasurer.

Dr. Starkey joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in August of 2006. She completed a Hematopathology Fellowship under the direction of Dr. Kathryn Foucar at the University of New Mexico. During her fellowship, her research interests were focused on prognostic indicators in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She completed her residency training in pathology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and she is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, and Hematopathology. Prior to initiation of her pathology residency training, she completed an internship in pediatrics at Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana. She earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was a member of the national honor medical society Alpha Omega Alpha. Prior to initiation of medical training, she completed her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, where she examined molecular determinants of leukemogenesis. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she graduated with Distinction in University Honors. She has co-authored two publications stemming from work with molecular testing for high risk HPV while at Regional Medical Laboratory, and has several publications stemming from her work as a fellow in hematopathology, as a resident, and as doctoral student.


Jason Stratton, M.D.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology with an emphasis in dermatopathology and soft tissue pathology

Dr. Stratton joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in July of 2012. He earned his undergraduate education in Biochemistry and Comparative Religion at the University of Washington. In 2007, he received his medical degree from Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Dr. Stratton completed his residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2011, he continued his training at the Cleveland Clinic, receiving sub-specialty training in dermatopathology under Drs. Wilma Bergfeld and Steven Billings. His areas of interest are dermatopathology, soft tissue pathology, composite tissue allograph pathology, and digital pathology.


James Taylor, M.D., F.C.A.P.

Surgical Pathology, Cytology, Special interest in Renal Pathology, GI Pathology and Immunohistochemistry

Dr. Taylor is Chief of the Immunohistochemistry Department at Regional Medical Laboratory.

Dr. Taylor joined Pathology Laboratory Associates, Inc. in April of 2000. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he received an undergraduate degree in Biology. He then received his MD degree at the University of Chicago in 1982 and remained there for three additional years for his pathology training. He spent the academic year of 1985-1986 as an instructor in surgical pathology, diagnostic electron microscopy and renal pathology. In the summer of 1986 he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Taylor is board certified in Anatomic Pathology and his special interests include immunohistochemistry, GI pathology, renal pathology, and fine needle aspiration cytology.


Todd Wullschleger, M.D.

Anatomic and Clinical Pathology

Dr. Todd A Wullschleger is a Pathology Specialist in Fort Scott, Kansas. He graduated with honors from University Of Nebraska College Of Medicine in 1991. Having more than 28 years of diverse experiences, especially in PATHOLOGY, Dr. Todd A Wullschleger affiliates with many hospitals including Via Christi Hospital Pittsburg Inc, Girard Medical Center, Fredonia Regional Hospital, Ellett Memorial Hospital, Cedar County Memorial Hospital, cooperates with many other doctors and specialists in medical group Pathology Laboratory Associates Inc.