3 Questions with Elizabeth Kertowidjojo, MD, PhD, MPH

Born and raised in Indonesia, Elizabeth Kertowidjojo, MD, PhD, MPH, came to the United States during the 1998 Indonesian riots and went on to earn both her MD and PhD from New York Medical College. She completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Stony Brook Medicine, where she also earned a master’s degree in public health, followed by fellowship training in Oncologic Surgical Pathology and Gynecologic Pathology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Kertowidjojo is board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and practices as a surgical pathologist specializing in gynecologic pathology. She is an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Chicago, where she also serves as Program Director of the Pathology Residency Program.

Here, Dr. Kertowidjojo shares her insights on mentorship, challenging cases, and more.

Have you had any mentors or role models who have influenced your career choice? If so, how have they impacted your journey? 

I am fortunate to have come across a number of incredible mentors throughout my journey. From my high school biology teacher, Ms. Farokhi, to my senior colleagues still guiding me now, many have encouraged, counseled, and supported me. The list is too long for this venue (I’ll save it for my Oscar speech), but I would like to mention one mentor in particular.

I first met Dr. Carmen Tornos during my residency and can only describe her as a force. She is an accomplished pathologist, a wonderful mother, an excellent teacher – essentially who I want to be when I grow up. Her dedication to patient care and continued learning shaped who I am as a pathologist while her practical advice shaped my career. She has been and still is an aspirational role model for me.

I think most of us would agree that we are, in part, the product of the people we encounter along the way. Who among us have not thought “what would my mentor do?” when we face a difficult case? In turn, many of us have influenced others, sometimes unknowingly. Having seen firsthand how mentorship has impacted my journey, I sincerely hope I can also help others grow.

What aspects of pathology and laboratory medicine do you find most intriguing and fulfilling? How do these align with your personal and professional interests? 

Much of pathology is a quest for answers. Curiosity has always been a preeminent motivator for me, which makes pathology the perfect fit. While every case is an intriguing puzzle, being able to provide patients and clinicians with answers is the most fulfilling part of the job. Pathology is foundational in healthcare, which means we often form the network between departments. Being able to collaborate with such a diverse group of colleagues is invigorating. It is both personally and professionally gratifying to form partnerships and learn from one another.

Pathology can involve challenging cases and emotionally charged situations. How do you handle the emotional aspects of your work, such as delivering difficult diagnoses or dealing with patient outcomes? 

It’s easy to underestimate the emotional investment pathologists put into their work because many of us do not interact with patients directly. As a surgical pathologist, I try to see the person behind the slides. I am very much conscious that the words I type into a report can have a tremendous impact on someone’s life. I think most of us can recall cases that made an emotional impact – an unexpected cancer diagnosis in a young medical student, a pediatric autopsy I had to perform while I was pregnant, opening a patient’s chart to enter a long-sought diagnosis only to find a message that the patient is deceased. The field is rife with death and human suffering. I try to keep in mind that our job is to provide answers, even if those answers may not be favorable. These answers may help save lives or, in the worst circumstances, provide closure.