Amira Gohara, M.D., Festschrift Scientific Symposium
Join us Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and the Department of Pathology invite you to the Amira Gohara, M.D., Festschrift Scientific Symposium on Saturday Aug. 22, 2026 in Health Education Building Room 110 on Health Science Campus.
This special symposium will celebrate the extraordinary career and lasting contributions of Dr. Amira Gohara, whose more than 50 years of service have shaped generations of physicians, pathologists and educators through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, patient care and institutional leadership.
Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast provided. The program begins at 8 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
There are 8 hours of complimentary CME credit available.
We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP here by Aug. 7Add to your calendar
Schedule
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Health Education Building, Room HEB 110
Health Science Campus
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Check-In and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:08 a.m.
Welcome comments – Dr. Imran Ali, Dean of the COMLS
8:08 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Introductory comments – Dr. Paul Romanoski
Morning session 8:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Moderator: Dr. Paul Romanoski
- Dr. Dalia Ibrahim - From the Nile to the nephron: Mentorship, training, and legacy in renal pathology
- Dr. Meghan Kapp – My mentor as a kidney: Structure, function, and lifelong impact: Celebrating mentorship through the renal biopsy and beauty of renal physiology
- Dr. Deepak Malhotra – Uremic platelet dysfunction
Questions 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Break 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
- Dr. Eric Carlson – Undergraduate and graduate medical education in the 21st century: A changing paradigm and challenges within
- Dr. Joseph Shapiro – Na+ pump signaling in uremic cardiomyopathy
- Dr. Melissa Straub Hogan – The leader within
Questions 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Mahogany Ballroom
Delta Hotels Toledo
Afternoon session 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Moderator: Dr. Eric Carlson
- Dr. Sri Krishna Chaitanya – Implementing guideline-directed medical therapy in indigenous heart failure patients of North Dakota: Opportunities, challenges, and the role of physician leaders in closing the gap
- Dr. Tom Blomquist – Death investigation of elder neglect
- Dr. Michael Rees – We are all pink on the inside
Questions 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Break 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
- Dr. Dinkar Kaw – Pregnancy after renal transplantation
- Dr. Bahig Shehata – Diagnostic pathology from the Edwin Smith Papyrus to the molecular era: A pediatric pathology perspective
- Dr. James Willey – Standardization of genomic analysis to advance molecular diagnostics
Questions 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About the Festschrift
A Festschrift is one of academia’s highest honors, recognizing the impact of a distinguished scholar through scientific presentations and personal reflections from colleagues, former students and trainees. A Festschrift is a book honoring a respected academic person, and most frequently based on a Festschrift Scientific Symposium that is presented during the individual’s lifetime.
The term “Festschrift,” borrowed from German, is translated as a celebration publication or a celebratory piece of writing.
A Festschrift contains original contributions by the honored academic’s close colleagues, often including his or her former doctoral students. It may be published on the occasion of the honoree’s retirement, or another notable career anniversary, such as the honoree’s sixty-fifth or seventieth birthday. Many Festschriften also feature a tabula gratulatoria, an extended list of academic colleagues and friends who provide their written best wishes on their academic letterhead to the honoree. Many of these academic colleagues travel great distances to attend the Festschrift Scientific Symposium in recognition of the honored academic guest.
Make A Gift
To honor her legacy, we invite you to consider making a gift to support the Festschrift Symposium Fund. Contributions will help offset the costs associated with hosting this important academic celebration. Any funds remaining after symposium expenses will be used to establish a scholarship in Dr. Gohara’s honor, ensuring that her commitment to education, mentorship, and lifelong learning continues to inspire future generations of students and residents.
Your support would serve as a meaningful tribute to a physician, educator, mentor, and leader who has given so much to our institution, our profession, and the many individuals fortunate enough to learn from her.