Dr. Deborah Perry honored by College of American Pathologists for dedication to pathology

Deborah Perry, MD, FCAP, a pathologist at Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital, has been recognized by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) with the 2024 CAP Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to the field of pathology and her service in local and national organizations.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the CAP service award, as it is a recognition from my valued peers and colleagues,” Perry said. “It is rewarding to know that I help care for patients every day. Even though I rarely directly meet them, I take pride in knowing that what I do matters to them and those who directly care for them.”

Since 1989, Dr. Perry has practiced hematopathology and pediatric pathology at Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women’s Hospital and Children’s Nebraska. She served as the laboratory medical director at these institutions and held positions on their respective boards of directors. She has also served as a consultant and laboratory medical director for three rural hospitals in Nebraska and Iowa. 

Dr. Perry is also the medical director for the medical laboratory scientist (MLS) program at Methodist Hospital, and she is a volunteer faculty member at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Creighton University.

Over the last 15 years, Dr. Perry has been actively involved in the CAP. She has contributed significantly to various CAP committees, conducted domestic and international laboratory inspections, and served as an instructor for the CAP’s Laboratory Medical Direction Program. 

In 2013, Dr. Perry was honored with the CAP Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of her exceptional teaching abilities.

“My hope is that more light continues to be shed on how vital pathologists are to a health care team,” Perry said. “For inpatients, outpatients and clinic patients – whether it's a clinical lab result, a biopsy or resection specimen for screening or diagnosis – what we do directly impacts their care.”