PathAdvantage Journal

At PathAdvantage, advancing women’s health care remains our core objective. Key to achieving that? Emily Gaston M.D. and her passion and advocacy for women’s health.  

She is board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and specializes in gynecologic and obstetric pathology. She received her bachelor of science from the University of South Carolina in 2000, graduating magna cum laude with a major in biology. She then attended the University of South Carolina School of Medicine where she developed a keen interest in pathology and graduated with a doctor of medicine in 2006. Dr. Gaston then completed an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center from 2006 to 2010, where she was chief resident. Due to her continued interest in women’s health, she then pursued a fellowship in Gynecologic and Obstetric Pathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was an Assistant Faculty member. There she studied under Dr. Robert Kurman and Dr. Brigette Ronnett, both renowned authors of numerous textbooks on Gynecologic Pathology. Since then, Dr. Gaston worked at high-volume private practices, dedicating herself to the field of gynecologic and obstetric pathology. 

Our interview below gives a glimpse of Dr. Gaston’s impressive life behind the scenes, beyond her invaluable expertise behind the microscope. 

PathAdvantage: Where are you from? 

Emily Gaston, M.D.: I was born and raised in South Carolina. I moved to Dallas with my family in 2022 and I’ve worked at PathAdvantage ever since. 

PA: What inspired you to pursue this career? 

EG: I was inspired by a female pathologist that I met on my surgery rotation during medical school. I’ve always been interested  in women’s health and admire the women who came before me. We need more women in the medical field advocating for women.

PA: Did you always want to work in medicine?  

EG: In high school I initially wanted to become a professional artist. My mother, a nurse, encouraged me to explore the medical field by becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT/paramedic) and I did. I worked in emergency medical services as an EMT for six years before deciding to go to medical school. So ultimately I decided to pursue art as a hobby and medicine as a career. 

PA: What is your favorite aspect of being a pathologist? 

EG: Being a diagnostic detective and spending time on a challenging case. Pathologic diagnosis  isn’t always a straight-forward black and white process, and using all my knowledge and expertise to find the right diagnosis for  the patient is incredibly rewarding. 

PA: Hardest part?   

EG: Many jobs tend to have the same routine every day, which I wouldn’t enjoy. That’s why I like working at PathAdvantage- the challenging cases test my expertise. 

PA: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

EG: Honestly, my proudest accomplishment is my ongoing commitment to delivering excellent gynecologic pathology and putting patient care first. I treat each and every case as if it were from a family member of mine. I also try to stay up-to-date with the latest advances and discoveries in gynecologic pathology. Continuing medical education is essential in keeping me abreast of the latest developments in my field.  

PA: What is a book you think everyone should read?   

EG: Tara Westover’s memoir Educated. She discusses her isolated childhood with no education, and how her life changed when she developed a passion for learning. It’s all about courage and self-invention. I think everyone can learn something from it.

PA: What is an interesting fact about you?   

EG: I love traveling and learning foreign languages. 

PA: What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?  

EG: Gardening and enjoying the great outdoors.