University of Massachusets Athletics
Former Rower Profiled By UMass Alumni Association
October 17, 2005 | Rowing
Oct. 17, 2005
Amherst, Mass. - UMass Amherst Alumni Association Profile
Katie A. Flickinger '98 College of Natural Resources & the Environment
I am currently the supervisor of the autopsy department at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. In addition to managing the department, I help teach autopsy pathology to medical students and pathology residents who are rotating through the service. I'm also responsible for maintaining and updating a large archive of teaching materials that we use at the medical school, which can be really interesting because there is a lot of history here. It's really a great job and no two days are ever the same; I'm always learning something new!
I got here in a sort of roundabout and unplanned way. When I first graduated from UMass Amherst, I moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Smithsonian Institution at the National Zoo, doing research in animal nutrition. I was there for about a year and a half, working on a couple of different projects. One of the projects was a mineral appetite study in pygmy marmosets, and during the course of the study, one of the marmosets died. It was then that I discovered that the Zoo had its own pathology department. I started going to the weekly "Path Rounds," during which the veterinary pathologists would discuss their findings. I found it very interesting how pathology seemed to incorporate so many topics that I had already studied, including anatomy, nutrition, genetics, biochemistry, and so on, to find an answer to a problem. I really liked the nature of the problem-solving involved: drawing on all available resources to answer a question, and then trying to apply those answers to hopefully improve animal health in the future. So I decided to go to graduate school for pathology, although it ended up being human pathology. It was a bit of a transition, from animals to people, but many of the same principles applied. During my year of clinical rotations, I spent a couple of months each at several different hospitals, as well as at the state Medical Examiner's Office. I had done one of my rotations at Hopkins, and they encouraged me to apply for a job upon graduation. I've been here at Hopkins ever since, first in surgical pathology and now in autopsy pathology.
In addition to my "real" job, I have also been the assistant rowing coach at Loyola College in Maryland for the past six years. I get up in the morning at 5 am and coach before work, and travel to regattas on weekends. I've really enjoyed it, as a way to give back to the sport, stay involved, and keep in touch with many of my former teammates who also coach at other colleges and universities.
What was your major at UMass Amherst?
Veterinary and Animal Sciences Biology
Why did you choose to pursue your degree at UMass Amherst?
I really liked the Veterinary/Animal Sciences Program, and when I visited campus for the first time (I'm from Pennsylvania), I had this gut feeling that it was the place for me. It felt like home, and I never regretted the decision to go to UMass Amherst. I love western Massachusetts.
What was your favorite class at UMass Amherst?
It's funny, but the ones I remember the best were the ones I didn't like. I won't name names though. I really did enjoy all of the animal science classes and especially working at Hadley Farm.
Were you involved in any student organizations or sports teams while at UMass Amherst?
I rowed on the women's crew team throughout college and was co-captain my senior year.
Who would you most like to thank from your days at UMass Amherst?
My coach, Jim Dietz, and all of my teammates; they are great people and they really inspired me every day. Also, Dr. Jeffery Erickson in the veterinary and animal science department was both a wonderful professor and a great advisor.
How has your UMass Amherst experience helped you in your chosen career path?
Although I'm definitely not doing what I imagined I'd be doing, I think I learned a lot about hard work and dedication on the crew team, which has been invaluable (it also helps me to not mind getting up at 5 am every day!). I really feel that I got a very good education at UMass Amherst, and it has served me well.
Do you currently have any affiliations with UMass Amherst?
I am a member of the Alumni Association.
Are you involved in any community service activities?
Through my work at Hopkins, I got involved this past summer with a program that mentors Baltimore City high school students who are interested in careers in medicine, specifically pathology. I did a couple of presentations for them and also was a judge for their research project proposals. It was really fun and I plan to continue working with the program.
As far as other non-service activities, I row for a community program and swim on a masters swim team.
Tell us a little bit about your family.
I am single and live in Baltimore with my dog Joey. My younger sister and parents still live in Pennsylvania and my twin sister lives in Boston.
Did you earn any advanced degrees from other institutions?
Yes, a master's degree in anatomic pathology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
