Bone, Soft Tissue and Melanoma Pathology Faculty Alka Palekar, MD Anil Parwani, MD, PhD Uma N. M. Rao, MD Shadyside: (412) 623-2318 Karen Schoedel, MD Presbyterian: (412) 647-9575 Mission Statement The Bone Soft Tissue and Melanoma Center of Excellence is based at UPMC Shadyside Hospital and is committed to providing excellence in clinical service, education and research. This subspecialty area supports diagnostic services at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside and offers skilled interpretation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of bone, soft tissue and melanocytic lesions. The center collaborates extensively with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Some of the faculty (UR) also are major participants in national intergroup and interinstitutional studies. The educational efforts are supported by ample surgical case material and an active consultation service. The faculty led by (KS) are also actively involved in didactic teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. Clinical-pathologic conferences focused on orthopedic oncology and melanocytic neoplasms are held weekly at UPMC Shadyside. Residents and fellows are trained in the application and interpretation of appropriate histochemical, immunohistochemical, cytogenetic analysis and molecular techniques in the evaluation of bone, soft tissue and melanocytic tumors. Clinical and radiologic correlation skills are also a major focus. The research mission of the center has been focused not only on clinical-pathological correlative studies, but also on translational studies involving gene expression analysis of sarcomas and primary melanoma utilizing fresh and formalin fixed tissues. Resources for cDNA and tissue microarray analysis which may help identify potential tumor markers and future targets for therapy are available at UPMC Shadyside.