Born in Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Folds earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed postdoctoral training in immunology at Case Western Reserve University before joining the faculty at the UNC School of Medicine in 1969. Early in his career at UNC, he held appointments in the departments of Bacteriology and Immunology, and in 1975 held leadership positions as Director of Diagnostic Immunology Program and Associate Director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories.  Throughout his tenure at UNC, he became a key figure in the field of immunology and pathology.

In 1995, Dr. Folds was appointed Director of the McLendon Clinical Laboratories at UNC Hospitals during a significant period of growth and modernization for the department. Building on a strong foundation established by earlier departmental leaders, he helped strengthen the integration of clinical laboratory services with academic research and education. His leadership emphasized diagnostic excellence, innovation in laboratory medicine, and a commitment to advancing patient care through science.

As a full professor in the School of Medicine, Dr. Folds was internationally recognized for his work in clinical immunology. He authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and books, served on national boards and professional committees, and was widely respected for his scientific rigor and thoughtful leadership. In recognition of his contributions to the field, he received the Abbott Laboratories Award in Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology in 2000.

Dr. Folds’s impact on UNC was further honored in 2009 with the establishment of the James D. Folds Distinguished Professorship. This endowed professorship reflects his lifelong dedication to laboratory medicine and supports continued excellence in clinical microbiology research, education, and service at UNC.

“Dr. Folds’ impact on patient care is still felt today.  As Director of McLendon Clinical Labs, he was responsible for recruiting Dr. John Schmitz (Immunogenetics) and Dr. Melissa Miller (Medical Microbiology), two of our department’s most productive clinical faculty, to UNC. Dr. Miller is honored to hold the distinguished professorship endowed in his name,” said Dr. Russell Broaddus, Chair of the department.

Dr. Folds’s legacy lives on through the department he helped shape, the professorship that bears his name, and the many individuals whose careers he influenced. His contributions to pathology, laboratory medicine, and the UNC community will continue to have a lasting impact for generations to come.

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To view our history of annual reports, visit our Annual Reports page.

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Dr. Fischer earned his MD from the University of Texas Medical Scientist Training program and his PhD at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He completed his residency in Anatomic Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by a Dermatopathology Fellowship at Harvard-Mass General Brigham. 

Welcome Dr. Fischer!

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Dr. Katkhuda earned her MD degree from the University of Aleppo in the Syrian Arab Republic. She completed her residency at the University of Chicago in Illinois and previously worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Senior Research Scientist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas before completing an elective Pathology rotation at John Hopkins University in Maryland.

Welcome Dr. Katkhuda!

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Dr. Gray earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Duke University, where her dissertation focused on genomic and epigenomic features of alpha satellite DNA and its role in human centromere function. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology, with a specialization in Biotechnology, at the University of Florida.

Before beginning her fellowship, Dr. Gray served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Genetics at UNC, where she contributed to large-scale genomic research through the Clinical Genome Resource Consortium (ClinGen) and NCGENES 2 study. She has extensive experience in variant interpretation, molecular diagnostics, and mentoring trainees in genetics and genomics.

Welcome Shannon!

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Dr. Dafalla earned her medical degree from the University of Khartoum in Sudan and went on to complete her residency in Pathology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she also served as Chief Resident. She then completed a fellowship in Hematopathology at UNC before starting her current fellowship in Molecular Pathology.

Her previous experience includes work as a Pathology Assistant with siParadigm Diagnostic Informatics in New Jersey, research at Duke University Medical Center, and clinical practice as a General Practitioner in Abu Dhabi and Sudan. Dr. Dafalla is board-certified by the American Board of Pathology and brings a wealth of clinical, research, and teaching experience to her role at UNC.

Welcome Randa!

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• Jessica LaVergne, MD – Hematopathology
  • Residency: AP/CP, the University of Buffalo
• Masoud Edalati, MD – Hematopathology
  • Residency: CP, Temple University
• Sarah Davis, MD, PhD – Molecular Genetic Pathology
  • Residency: AP/CP, Yale New Haven

This year marked our first participation in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

The interview process was led by Program Directors Dr. Stephanie Mathews (Hematopathology),Dr. Karen Weck (Molecular Genetic Pathology), and Program Coordinator Janice Badstein, drawing on prior experience from residency interviews. Evaluations began in December, with interviews held from January through February.

Special thanks to Dr. Jonathan Galeotti, who interviewed every candidate and supported both programs extensively. We also appreciate the efforts of all faculty and fellows who contributed their time:

Hematopathology Interviewers: Drs. Mathews, Williams, Keene, Maracaja, Fedoriw, Dent, Galeotti, and fellow Dr. Jianmin Han
Molecular Genetic Pathology Interviewers: Drs. Weck, Booker, Galeotti, Ramkissoon, and fellows Drs. Randa Dafalla and Shannon Gray

We look forward to welcoming Drs. Edalati, LaVergne, and Davis to our department on July 1 and a special thank you to everyone who made this match season a success.

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Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from Barton College and completed her PA and MHS degrees at Eastern Virginia University in 2020. Before joining the DPLM, she worked as a Pathologists’ Assistant with the Pathology Sciences Medical Group in Norfolk, VA.

Welcome Lauren!

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Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree from Boston College and completed her PA and MHS degrees from Duke University in 2024. Before joining the DPLM, she worked as a Pathologists’ Assistant at Greensboro Pathology Associates.

Welcome Stephanie! 

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