All of our pathologists are board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology by The American Board of Pathology (ABP), and are Fellows of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). All of our pathologists belong to the Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS) and the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society (CPMS).
Our pathologists have over 100 years of combined experience in the practice of anatomic and clinical pathology. Each pathologist is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. They have memberships in The Louisiana State Medical Society and Calcasieu Parish Medical Society, as well as many other national and state professional organizations.
Our pathologists are on staff at West Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital (WCCH), Beauregard Memorial Hospital, and Jennings American Legion Hospital.
Drs. VanHoose, Rumsey, Townsend and Eapen have specialized training in Fine Needle Aspiration biopsies, a quick, painless outpatient procedure for rapid diagnosis of palpable masses. They also have received training and are certified in ThinPrep pap smear interpretation, the most recent development in women’s health care.
Our pathologists stay up to date with the latest developments in their field by earning Continuing Medical Education credits in excess of those required by state law. They serve our local hospitals on committees and boards designed to improve the quality of health care delivery in Southwest Louisiana. In the recent past, Drs. Stevens, Townsend, and Rumsey have served as Medical Staff President at Christus St. Patrick Hospital. Dr. Stevens has been President of the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society.
Our CEO, Dr. John VanHoose graduated medical school from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1989, and completed his residency and Cytopathology subspecialty training at Virginia Commonwealth University (Medical College of Virginia) in 1994. He joined The Pathology laboratory in 1994, and has been its Chief Executive since 1996. He has served as Medical Staff President at Christus St. Patrick Hospital (three times), West Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital, and is currently serving his second term as Chief of Staff at Lake Area Medical Center (LAMC). He is also on the LAMC Board of Trustees. He participates in many hospital committees including Medical Executive and Peer Review, among others. Dr. VanHoose has also served as President of the Louisiana Pathology Society and the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society (CPMS). He is currently on the board for CPMS, and serves as the District VII representative for the LSMS Council on Legislation and LAMPAC.
Dr. Lehrue Stevens (Emeritus) , a distinguished pathologist, educator, and community leader, founded The Pathology Laboratory over 50 years ago. He graduated from Louisiana State University, and completed his residency at Los Angeles County Hospital and the LSU School of Medicine, Charity Hospital in New Orleans. As the Director and CEO of The Pathology Laboratory for more than two decades, Dr. Stevens left an indelible mark on our institution. His legacy continues to inspire, and his presence is deeply missed by all who knew him.
Dr. Gault Townsend (Emeritus) is a graduate of Lousiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He did an internship in internal medicine and residency in pathology at LSU School of Medicine, Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He specializes in cytopathology and is a certified Medical Review Officer.
Dr. Robert Rumsey completed his pathology residency at the Medical College of Virginia after receiving his degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. He has been with The Pathology Laboratory since 1996. He is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, while specializing in Cytopathology. Dr. Rumsey is also a certified Medical Review Officer. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Louisiana State Medical Society and Calcasieu Parish Medical Society.
Dr. Paula Eapen received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport. She completed her Anatomic/Clinical Pathology residency and Cytopathology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Shortly after completing her Cytopathology fellowship, she attended the University of Virginia where she completed her second fellowship in Dermatopathology under the directorship of Dr. James Patterson. She is board certified in Anatomic/Cllinical Pathology and Dermatopathology. Dr. Eapen is a member of the American Society of Dermatopathology, Louisiana State Medical Society, and Calcasieu Parish Medical Society. The Pathology Laboratory welcomed Dr. Eapen in 2001.
Regina Burton, MD received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. She went on to complete her Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. She has also completed two additional fellowships in Cytopathology and Gastrointestinal/Surgical Pathology. Dr. Burton is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Dr. Burton also participates in hospital committees including Medical Executive, Performance Improvement, Peer Review, Infection Control, Strategy, and Blood Management. The Pathology Laboratory welcomed Dr. Burton in 2009.
Thad Primeaux, MD received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Louisiana – Lafayette. He received his medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport. After graduation, he continued his medical training by completing an Anatomic/Clinical Pathology residency, as well as a one year Surgical/GI Pathology fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport. Additionally, Dr. Primeaux completed a one-year Hematopathology fellowship at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Primeaux is board certified in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology and Hematopathology by the American Board of Pathology.
Brandi Kelly, MD received her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge in May 2000. She then returned to her hometown of Bossier City to begin her medical education. She graduated from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport with her Medical Doctorate in May 2005. She completed an Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency in 2009 and a Cytopathology fellowship in 2010, both at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. She is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology as well as Cytopathology. She recently became a certified Medical Review Officer. She is married to Dr. Thad Primeaux and they have 2 children. Dr. Kelly has been with the Pathology Laboratory since 2011.
Sara Samadzadeh, MD received her medical degree from Kermanshah University of Medical Science in Kermanshah, Iran in 2008 . Following graduation, she worked as a general practitioner in Iran for five years. In 2014, she moved to the United States, with the hopes of building a better future. In California, she did volunteer work, including working on research projects for LA Biomed and Harbor UCLA, as well as working as a medical assistant, until matching in pathology. She completed her residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California. This was followed by a Breast & Gynecology surgical pathology fellowship at UC Davis in Sacramento, and then a Cytology fellowship at LSU Shreveport. Dr. Samadzadeh brings a new area of sub-specialization expertise to our group with her fellowship training in breast and GYN pathology. The Pathology Laboratory welcomed Dr. Samadzadeh in 2023.
Ami Bhalodia, MD received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Ecology from University of California, Irvine. After medical school she completed her postgraduate training at LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport from 2004-2010. She is a board certified Anatomical and Clinical Pathologist, with additional training and board certification in Cytopathology and a fellowship in Medical Renal-Genitourinary Pathology. She is an active member of the Digital Pathology Society and serves on their Education Committee to enhance resident and fellow training through webinars and content papers. The Pathology Laboratory welcomed Dr. Bhalodia in 2023.
Daniel Lalich, MD earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in Genetics/Organismal Biology and Exercise Science. After completing his undergraduate education, he pursued his medical degree and completed his postgraduate training at Ross University from 2007 to 2012. Dr. Lalich is a board-certified Anatomical and Clinical Pathologist, with additional certification in Cytopathology. The Pathology Laboratory welcomed Dr. Lalich in 2024.
