American Society for Clinical Pathology nominates Barak Valley’s Mustafa Barbhuiya in 40 under 40

A huge moment of pride for Barak Valley. Bahadurpur, Halikandi’s Mustafa Ahmed Barbhuiya, Clinical Chemistry Fellow and Research Associate, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA is among 40 high-achieving pathologists, pathology residents, and medical laboratory professionals under age 40 who have just been named to the prestigious 2019 ASCP 40 Under Forty list.

ASCP’s 40 Under Forty program shines the spotlight on 40 highly accomplished pathologists, pathology residents and laboratory professionals under age 40 who have already made significant contributions to the profession and stand out as leaders who will help shape the future of pathology and laboratory medicine on behalf of patients. The 40 Under Forty designation has made a powerful impact on its honorees, ranging from recognition by others in their home institutions and in the laboratory professions to media attention.

In an email interaction with Barak Bulletin, Mustafa Barbhuiya said, “I am thrilled and humbled by this recognition. I would like to use this opportunity to strengthen my expertise and vision of service through the profession of laboratory medicine. The nomination will provide me the perfect buffer zone of networks to achieve this goal. I also start volunteer for the Center for Global Health in its ‘Partners for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa’ program of ASCP. I will be able to contribute through my expertise in cancer biomarkers in a more efficient way as I am nominated.”

While he is a non-residing Indian living in the United States he is still very much connected with the Northeast and is working for its benefit, “Very recently, I founded a non-profit organisation in Guwahati named Foundation for Advancement of Essential Diagnostics to promote and work on the enrichment of ‘World Health Organization’s Essential Diagnostic List’ for Assam and NE India. I would like to expand this work throughout South East Asia. Nomination to this award and the prestige associated, the networking capacity that I garner from it simply makes it a baby step forward to achieve this,” Barbhuiya added.

He believes it is very important to recognise the chronic disease conditions of overtly migratory human population in next few decades. “The genetic component of those migrating population, their adaptability to new environment and challenges of chronic disease conditions need an enormous amount of contribution from pathology- the science of medicine. I do want to be part of the solution in tackling those issues. Today it boosts my morale to spend more nights on reading and understanding global public health laboratory systems and polity to make the planet a much better place to live for tomorrow,” Barbhuiya added.

Before starting his laboratory medicine career, Mustafa earned a Doctorate in Biochemistry (2013) from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India and subsequently completed postdoctoral studies (2013-2018) from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. He is broadly trained in molecular pathology, clinical biochemistry, medical laboratory sciences, cancer epidemiology, cancer biomarkers, next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry. He is also ASCP Board certified in Molecular Biology and Medical Laboratory Sciences. He won several awards and published 22 peer reviewed research articles and presented in 31 conferences (9 talks and 22 posters).

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is a professional association based in Chicago, Illinois encompassing 130,000 pathologists and laboratory professionals. Founded in 1922, the ASCP provides programs in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists and lab professionals. In addition, the ASCP publishes numerous textbooks, newsletters, and other manuals, and publishes two industry journals: American Journal of Clinical Pathology and LabMedicine.