Meet Dr. Varsha Manucha
I am a proud graduate of an all-female medical school in New Delhi, India, where I not only gained a solid foundation in medicine, but also learned the importance of identity and community. My passion for pathology was ignited during the 3rd year of medical school when I got introduced to the 4th edition of Robbins' Pathologic Basis of Disease, which fueled my curiosity to understand the "how" and "why" of diseases. This led me to pursue residencies in Pathology in Delhi and Anatomic Pathology in Boston, as well as fellowships in Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology in Baltimore, USA.
Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to academic medicine. I served as a residency program director and director of the Cytopathology division at Temple University in Philadelphia before transitioning to the Department of Pathology at UMMC in Mississippi in 2015. During my tenure at UMMC, I had the honor of leading the division of Surgical pathology until 2022, and currently, I am entrusted with the leadership of the division of Cytopathology. I am a morphology enthusiast with a special interest in Genitourinary Pathology, Head and Neck Pathology, and Gynecologic Pathology.
At UMMC, I am grateful to work alongside highly skilled and compassionate surgeons and oncologists, and I find great satisfaction in making diagnoses from tiny specimens, "saving life one cell at a time" through cytopathology. I enjoy interacting with patients when I perform fine needle aspiration on mass lesions, an outpatient procedure that enables a pathologist to provide a preliminary diagnosis within minutes.
In addition to my clinical work, I am passionate about teaching and shaping the physicians of tomorrow. I enjoy interacting with medical students and residents, and I believe in a "patient-centric" approach to pathology, where understanding the patient behind the slides is paramount.
The close-knit working relationship with my clinical colleagues, the diverse range of pathology cases, and the unique challenges of practicing in the only academic center in the state of Mississippi are aspects of my work that I cherish.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy acrylic painting, learning new skills, spending time in nature, and cherishing the company of close friends and family. I am currently exploring meditation and delving into philosophy to expand my understanding of the world and its complexities.