About John Oyelakin-Ogunbileje

What is on your laboratory wish list, and how are you working towards making that a reality?

As a clinical chemist with a master’s degree in chemical pathology and a PhD in chemical pathology and toxicology, I understand how difficult it can be to progress from learning the fundamentals of clinical pathology to discussing the discipline with confidence. My goal is to improve medical students’ and pathology residents’ understanding of clinical chemistry so that they no longer see it as a black box.

My approach combines multidisciplinary learning, mentorship through research and quality improvement, and practical teaching. Over the past year, I established an interspecialty forum on myeloma diagnosis involving a renal pathologist, a hematopathologist, and a clinical biochemist. Together, we show residents how the specialties contribute to diagnosing myeloma and interpreting test results.

We have held five sessions for fourth-year residents, each centred on a distinctive case, and are preparing a manuscript about the project. The aim is to demonstrate that modern pathology is most effective when specialties work together rather than in isolation. Resident feedback has been highly positive, with participants saying that the sessions helped them see the complete diagnostic picture. I plan to extend this model to other areas, including liver and thyroid disease.

Mentorship is equally important. Over the past three years, I have mentored at least 10 pathology residents and medical students through research, quality improvement projects, and teaching. This work has led to several case reports and submitted original research manuscripts, with three additional papers in progress. One resident-led quality improvement project is now being implemented across Indiana University Health.

I have also revised the clinical chemistry curriculum to combine comprehensive content with practical learning activities that prepare residents for board examinations and future clinical practice. One resident told me:

“I was nervous when I began studying for the boards and wondered how I would understand and remember all the information. I used several resources, but nothing compared with your laboratory administration and chemistry review sessions. Everything you covered was relevant, and the question-based format was engaging and memorable. Despite my nerves, chemistry became the subject I felt most confident about.”

Experiences like this show that when clinical chemistry is taught clearly and accessibly, residents become more engaged, confident, and prepared for their careers.