Past ASCP President Steven H. Kroft, MD, MASCP, Selected as New Editor-In-Chief of AJCP n

Steven H. Kroft, MD, MASCP, Past President of ASCP, has been selected as the new Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. He will take the helm as Michael L. Wilson, MD, FASCP, steps down after six years in that position.

“Our selection committee for the new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology faced a daunting task: filling the big shoes of departing EIC Mike Wilson and choosing between several outstanding candidates,” said Henry M. Rinder, MD, FASCP, chair of the selection committee. “We could not be more pleased that Steve Kroft has accepted the EIC position and its professional challenge. Under Steve’s strategic oversight, we are confident that the Journal will continue to advance its critical role in education and patient care.”

On Monday, Dr. Kroft said he is honored to take the helm of AJCP, ASCP's flagship journal and the world¹s oldest medical journal dedicated to the field of pathology and laboratory medicine.

“AJCP has an illustrious history as the premier journal for practical research articles for our entire discipline—both anatomic and clinical pathology,” Dr. Kroft said. “By taking on this role, I am well aware that I am following in the footsteps of giants in our profession. And while I intend to honor AJCP's rich traditions, I also recognize that we live in an era of immense change:  how we practice, how we create knowledge, and how we consume information.

“My intention is to continue moving AJCP forward into the future to meet the needs of our authors, our readers, and our patients,” he continued. “As the go-to journal for excellent, practical scientific articles in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine, AJCP will help advance the patient-centric and humanitarian priorities that are expressions of ASCP's mission and values.”

As the 2013-2014 ASCP President, Dr. Kroft is familiar to many AJCP readers and ASCP members already. He received a bachelor of science in cognitive science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago. Dr. Kroft completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Northwestern University, including a credentialing year in hematopathology, followed by a hematopathology fellowship at the University of Michigan.

After eight years on faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern, Dr. Kroft moved to the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2005, where he is currently professor of pathology, executive vice chair, and director of clinical pathology and hematopathology. He has served on the peer review board of AJCP since 2002 and previously served as associate editor of several journals, including ASCP’s Lab Medicine, the International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, and Cytometry Part B (Clinical Cytometry).

Over the years, Dr. Kroft has served ASCP in a number of important roles in addition to his stint at Lab Medicine. These include serving as founding chair of the ASCP Commission on Continuing Profession Development (CCPD); chair of the ASCP Commission on Assessment; member of the ASCP Task Forces on Communication, Transition, Connectivity, and Governance (II); member of the ASCP Commission on Science, Technology, and Public Policy; chair of the ASCP National Pathology Quality Registry Steering Committee; member of the ASCP Effective Test Utilization Committee; member of the Critical Values Development Board; member of the Diagnostics and Technology Steering Committee, Partners for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa; and past Board of Directors member and Executive Committee member of ASCP.

“Dr. Kroft’s published research, education, executive experience, and capable work in the trenches for many diverse activities within ASCP position him well to serve as Editor of AJCP,” said Joshua Weikersheimer, PhD, Director of ASCP Scientific Publications.