ARKANA LABORATORIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Member of the United States
Daniel Kenan, MD, PhD, joined Arkana Laboratories in 2017. Dr. Kenan received his MD and PhD from Duke University. While there, he also completed a residency in Anatomic Pathology. In 2014, Dr. Kenan completed a fellowship in renal pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is board-certified in Anatomic Pathology.
Dr. Kenan is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Renal Pathology Society, and College of American Pathology.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Nephropathologist
- Member of the College of American Pathologists
Dr. Chris Larsen joined Arkana in 2009 after graduating from medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, completing an anatomic pathology residency at Emory University, and completing a renal pathology fellowship at Arkana Laboratories. Dr. Larsen helped develop our molecular lab, directs our research activities, and serves as executive director of Arkana Laboratories. He is an avid researcher who has published extensively in the areas of membranous glomerulopathy, APOL1-related kidney disease, LECT2 amyloidosis, monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance and has described new and esoteric kidney diseases such as membranous-like glomerulopathy with masked IgG kappa deposits and LRP2-associated nephropathy. In his free time, Dr. Larsen enjoys spending time outdoors and with his wife and children.
Dr. Larsen is a member of the College of American Pathologists, the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the Renal Pathology Society, the American and the International Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Clarissa Cassol joined Arkana in 2020. Dr. Cassol hails from Brazil where she completed medical school at Santa Catarina Federal University and her initial anatomic pathology training at the University of Sao Paulo. She completed a further anatomic pathology residency, molecular oncologic pathology fellowship, and renal pathology fellowship at the University of Toronto, where she also served as chief resident and chief fellow. While at the University of Toronto, Dr. Cassol received a USCAP Stowell-Orbinson award and Stanley-Raphael award for professionalism. Prior to coming to Arkana, Dr. Cassol has held assistant professorships at SUNY Upstate Medical University and The Ohio State University, where she also worked as a dedicated renal and transplant pathologist. Arkana is proud to have Dr. Cassol and excited to benefit from her considerable expertise in renal and transplant pathology.
Job Titles:
- Arkana Laboratory 's Physician
Dr. Danni Holanda joined Arkana Laboratory's physician team in 2021. Dr. Holanda completed her MD at Universidade Federal do Ceará in Brazil and her pathology residency training at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She completed her renal pathology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University and a transplant pathology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Holanda comes to Arkana from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine where she was an associate professor, division head of renal pathology, and director of electron microscopy. Throughout her career, she has published multiple peer-reviewed articles and presented many invited lectures and grand rounds in the areas of medical renal pathology, transplant pathology, and genitourinary pathology. When not diagnosing kidney biopsies, Dr. Holanda enjoys spending time with family and doing "all things Mom". When time allows, she is a curious artistic photography and literature learner and has fun contributing with a few vocal notes to a physician women's amateur music band from her medical school.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Doctors & Team
- Emeritus Nephropathologist
Dr. Fred Silva joined Arkana Laboratories in 2011 following 12 years of service as the Executive Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. During that time, he also served as Adjunct Professor of Pathology at Emory University in Atlanta, as well as Visiting Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Dr. Silva received his BS and MD from the University of Oklahoma. He trained at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City where he also served as Assistant Professor in Surgical and Renal Pathology. In 1980, he became Associate Professor and Director of Surgical Pathology at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, a position he held for nine years. He then became the Lloyd Rader Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology at the University of Oklahoma from 1989-1999.
After decades of service, Dr. Silva remains as staff emeritus in order to continue sharing his knowledge and wisdom with the faculty at Arkana Laboratories.
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology
Dr. Jane Bell graduated in 1981 from the University of Nebraska with a BS in Life Sciences (with Highest Distinction), and in 1985 from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She completed a pathology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was chief resident during her tenure. After residency, Dr. Bell joined UAMS as an Assistant Professor in anatomic and clinical pathology and later had appointments at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock as well as Arkansas Children's Hospital before coming to Arkana (then Nephropath) in 2004. Dr. Bell was the first renal pathologist fellow to come onboard to Arkana. During her tenure, she has provided countless hours of teaching, coaching, and instruction to numerous renal pathology fellows as well as providing exceptional care to thousands of patients. When away from Arkana, Dr. Bell is an entrepreneur, managing a thriving sewing and embroidery store where she has taught hundreds of Arkansans the art of clothes making and embroidery. Dr. Bell works with the Arkansas chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America on programs such as Wee Care, where members sew and smock gowns and donate them to local hospitals to clothe babies who die at birth or shortly after. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and family.
Dr. Bell is a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. She received board certification by the American Board of Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical) in 1990.
Dr. Joel Murphy joined our physician staff after the successful completion of his renal pathology fellowship here at Arkana. He completed his pathology residency at University of Virginia where he was Chief Resident and received his MD from University of Texas at Houston. During his fellowship, Dr. Murphy developed and hosted the Fellowing Joel video series sharing his daily experiences as a fellow, and he continues to be a member of the Social Media team working on new educational series.
At Arkana, Dr. Murphy is always willing to lend a helping hand and has been known to help out several times in a pinch when the deadlines are tight but the work needs to get done. Outside of work, Dr. Murphy enjoys spending time with his family, working out with his co-workers, and even occasionally impressing everyone in a pick-up soccer game. We are lucky to get to work with Dr. Murphy and are thankful he has joined the Arkana team.
Dr. Jon Wilson joined Arkana Laboratories in 2013 following several years of work in academic centers. He completed a fellowship in molecular pathology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MI, as well as a fellowship in neuropathology at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Additionally, Dr. Wilson is board certified in both neuropathology and molecular pathology. His knowledge and direction have been instrumental in the development of our muscle and nerve pathology program, as well as our molecular diagnostics laboratory, where he helps create new molecular diagnostic assays utilizing next-generation sequencing. Our lab has also been aided in maintaining several of its certificates from pathology regulatory agencies through Dr. Wilson's proficiency in regulatory knowledge, organization, and his diligent work. In his free time, Dr. Wilson enjoys spending time with his wife, exercising, and renovating their lovely home.
Dr. Wilson became board certified in 2001 in Neuropathology and in 2011 in Molecular Pathology.
Dr. Michael Kuperman joined our staff in 2016, after previously practicing renal pathology for several years in Texas. He received his medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2006 and completed his residency at Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine in 2010. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Kuperman received fellowship training in nephropathology, and surgical pathology from Johns Hopkins Medical Center, and became board certified by the American Board of Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical) in 2010.
Here at Arkana, Dr. Kuperman is involved with our Social Media team where he produces questions for our "Pushing Glass" and "Teaching Points" segments. He also helps out with our images team.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Founder, Nephropathologist
- Member of the American Society of Nephrology
Dr. Patrick D. Walker is the founder of Arkana Laboratories and has more than 40 years of experience in the interpretation of native kidney and renal allograft biopsies. Before founding Arkana Laboratories, Dr. Walker was Chief of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the John L. McClellan Veterans Administration Hospital, Vice-Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1991-2002), and on faculty in the Department of Pathology at Tulane University (1978-1991). Dr. Walker has a passion for advancing the understanding of disease and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles. He has been the principal investigator or co-principle investigator on more than 20 research grants, published multiple book chapters, lectured and participated in grand rounds and conferences in the United States and internationally, and has received numerous teaching, research, and service awards. Despite his extensive academic endeavors, he has remained actively committed to clinical work, interpreting biopsies and communicating patient results to our nephrologists daily. Dr. Walker's best times outside of work are spent with his wife being "Papa" and "Gigi" to their grandchildren.
Dr. Walker is a member of the American Society of Nephrology, the College of American Pathologists, the International Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, the Renal Physicians Association, the Renal Pathology Society, and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
Dr. Randy Haun joined Arkana Labs in 2019. Dr. Haun received his doctorate in biochemistry & molecular biology from Purdue University and performed his post-doctoral research training at the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. From 1996 to 2018, Dr. Haun was a faculty member at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) engaged primarily in pancreatic cancer research using both molecular and proteomic approaches to identify biomarkers for early cancer detection and targeted therapy.
Job Titles:
- Nephropathologist, Director - Transplant Translational Research, Director - Multiplex Imaging Center
Dr. Shana Coley joined Arkana Laboratories in 2021 to direct the Transplant Translational Research Program and to establish and direct the Multiplex Imaging Center. A physician-scientist, Dr. Coley is a cellular immunologist with a focus on T cell biology in the setting of transplantation. Her clinical sub-specialty training and diagnostic expertise are in renal transplant pathology and medical renal pathology, with fellowship training at Columbia University, and faculty practice at both Columbia University and the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In her research, Dr. Coley has developed novel approaches using cutting-edge technologies to interrogate archival human kidney allograft biopsies with a focus on predicting outcomes of therapy in T-cell mediated rejection and understanding mechanisms of human T cell behavior within peripheral tissues.
When not at the scope or at the bench, Dr. Coley enjoys traveling to different countrysides, eating outside, and listening to her daughter's stories.
Job Titles:
- Laboratory Director, Nephropathologist
Dr. Shree G. Sharma joined Arkana Laboratories in 2014 following two years at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR, where he served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology. He received his MD from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, and went on to complete a residency in pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and a fellowship in renal pathology at Columbia University Medical Center. At Arkana Laboratories, Dr. Sharma oversees our nephropathology lab. He is a committed and engaging teacher with a passion for teaching nephropathology. Dr. Sharma spearheads multiple teaching initiatives each year through Arkana Labs and other organizations and has recently leveraged social media and live streaming in an attempt to provide insight to as many fellows, pathology residents, and nephrologists as possible. He was certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology in 2011. In his free time, Dr. Sharma enjoys spending time with his family, meditating, and finding new and innovative solutions to everyday problems.
Dr. Sharma is widely published in pathology and has numerous teaching awards. He is a member of the American Society of Nephrology, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, College of American Pathologists, and the Renal Pathology Society.
Job Titles:
- Nephropathologist, Scientist
Dr. Tiffany Caza joins our staff following the completion of her fellowship training in renal pathology at Arkana Labs. In 2012, she received her MD/PhD from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, where she also went on to complete her pathology residency. At Arkana, Dr. Caza is involved in translational research in the areas of autoimmune disease and immunology and contributes to our social media team where she produces our "Art of Medicine" segment. She has also completed a nephrology social media collective fellowship and was involved in #NephJC during her pathology fellowship year. In her free time, you can find Dr. Caza painting and spending time with her family.
In 2018, Dr. Caza became board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She is a member of the College of American Pathologists, the United States and Canadian Society of Pathology, and the American Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Jaime Singh joins our staff after the completion of subspeciality training in renal pathology at Arkana Labs. She completed her MD at West Virginia University School of Medicine and her pathology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where she also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Singh completed a surgical pathology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Singh has received several commendations during her training, including the Resident Research Award, two years in a row, the Surgical Pathology Award and the Autopsy Award. She also received the Trainee Global Health Fellowship Award from the American Society of Clinical Pathology in 2018, which she used to study pathology at Muhimbili University in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania during a one month rotation. She comes to Arkana after serving as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee and general surgical pathologist with Memphis Pathology Group.
Dr. Singh is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. She is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the College of American Pathologists, the American Society of Nephrology, the Renal Pathology Society, and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Job Titles:
- Contract Research Director
Jason Paris, PhD joined Arkana Laboratories in 2022. He received his BS from Marywood University in Scranton, PA and his PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from The University at Albany-SUNY in Albany, NY. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in Pharmacology and Neurovirology at the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and Virginia Commonwealth University. After completing his training, Dr. Paris established a pharmacology and neurovirology laboratory at the University of Mississippi that was continually funded by the National Institutes of Health. While at the University of Mississippi, he directed a contract research organization and established a Bioenergetics Phenotyping Core. Since joining Arkana, Dr. Paris serves as the Director of Contract Research and manages the Clinical Trials Department.
Joshua A. Sonnen, MD joined the Physician Team at Arkana Labs in September 2022 as a neuropathologist. Dr. Sonnen received his MD from the Keck School of Medicine, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. He completed his pathology residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ in 2005, and his neuropathology fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA in 2007. Prior to working at Arkana, Dr. Sonnen was as an Associate Professor and Director of Neuroautopsy at McGill University, and an associate in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Montreal Neurological Hospital & Institute in Montreal, QC. Dr. Sonnen held previous academic appointments at the University of Utah and the University of Washington. His research interests include age-related neuropathology, neurodegenerative disorders, neuroepidemiology and genetics, and the disease-modifying potential for drug and lifestyle exposures.
Dr. Sonnen is board certified in anatomic pathology and neuropathology. He is a member of the Association of American Pathologists, the International Society of Neuropathology, the International Society of Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders, and the College of American Pathologists.
Job Titles:
- Member of the College of American Pathologists
- Physician Director, Nephropathologist
Dr. L. Nicholas Cossey joined us in 2013 after completing his fellowship training in renal pathology at Arkana Laboratories. During his fellowship, he received the Renal Pathology Society's Pathologist-In-Training Best USCAP Abstract Award. He also won the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award, in June of 2010. Dr. Cossey received his MD and completed his pathology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. As a resident at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. Cossey taught the renal pathology portion of the sophomore medical student pathology course.
Dr. Cossey is a member of the College of American Pathologists, the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the Renal Pathology Society, and the American Society of Nephrology.
Dr. Rhee joins our staff after completion of subspecialty training in renal pathology at Arkana Labs. She completed her MD at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and her pathology residency training at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. Dr. Rhee completed a surgical pathology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and a pediatric pathology fellowship at the Children's Hospital Colorado, which is affiliated with the University of Colorado in Denver. She comes to Arkana after eight years in private practice as a pediatric and adult surgical pathologist servicing community hospitals in Las Vegas, NV, and briefly in Spokane, WA. During her time as a hospital pathologist, Dr. Rhee was in various leadership roles including Lab Director of Anatomic Pathology, Director of Pediatric Pathology Services, and Medical Director of Outpatient Point-Of-Care Testing.
Dr. Rhee is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, and in Pediatric Pathology. She is a member of the College of American Pathologists, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the Society for Pediatric Pathology, and the United States and Canadian Society of Pathology.
Job Titles:
- Chief Finance Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- in 2017 As Director, Finance
Neal joined Arkana Laboratories in 2017 as Director, Finance. As chief financial officer (CFO) of Arkana, he is responsible for all of the company's financial functions, including accounting, treasury, corporate finance, and financial strategy. He also oversees and manages all revenue cycle management activities. His career spans more than 20 years of varied experience in financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy.
Prior to joining Arkana, Neal served as the practice administrator of Unity Health's Searcy Medical Center, the multi-specialty practice of almost 40 providers. Before that, he lead finance organizations at Lennox International, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, NCR, match.com, and Frontier Communications. His diverse industry experience enables him to innovate and be creative when problem-solving.
Neal holds Bachelor (Accounting) and Master of Business Administration degrees from Harding University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas. He also serves as a leader at his local church congregation.
Samar Hassen joined Arkana Labs in 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, and her Master of Science and Ph.D. in Applied Bioscience from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. After her graduation, she worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and General Supervisor at Physicians Laboratory of America (PLA), a toxicology lab for pain management doctor specializing in the analysis of urine specimens for medication monitoring purposes.
Dr. Hassen's Ph.D. work has been related to the role of DNA mismatch repair proteins in colorectal cancer particularly Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch Syndrome. She established the detection of full-length mismatch repair proteins (MLH1 and MSH2) in human blood lymphocytes and compared the ratios in genetically identified patients and normal population in order to develop a diagnostic method for screening of HNPCC patients. During her research, she obtained extensive research training in the area of cell biology and biochemistry that she is using to expand the work of our molecular lab.
Job Titles:
- Member of the United States
Dr. David Bourne joined Arkana in 2016. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston followed by pathology residency and fellowship training at the University of Virginia. He completed his renal pathology fellowship at Arkana Laboratories. Dr. Bourne brings a unique skillset and perspective to Arkana as he has training and proficiency in many of the esoteric fields of pathology such as neuropathology, renal pathology, transplant pathology, and ophthalmic pathology. Beyond his diagnostic skill and multiple specializations, Dr. Bourne is best known around Arkana for his consistent excellence in everything he does, as well as the humble, kind, and compassionate way he works with his colleagues and clinicians. He also contributes to our Social Media team where he produces "Teaching Points" and "KDIGO Connections" visual abstracts.
Dr. Bourne is a member of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathologists, the College of American Pathologists, the American Society for Clinical Pathologists, and the American Association of Neuropathologists.