Victor M. De La Cruz

Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology (ABP), and Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist (Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia; Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami). 

I received my medical degree from Universidad de Caldas in 1974 (Manizales, Colombia); Pathologist with formal training in Anatomic Pathology Residency, Fellowship in Immunopathology / Transplant Pathology, and Fellowship in Cytopathology, all done at Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami, U.S.A.; also, formal training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology in Colombia (Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia).

I have been practicing Clinical and Surgical Pathology since 1981; in Colombia I worked for several private Pathology Laboratories; from 1995 to 2001, I worked as AP/CP Pathologist for the Fundacion Clinica Shaio (Cardiovascular Center, focused on cardiovascular care and high complexity pathologies in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care) in Bogota, Colombia. In this Institution I interpreted endomyocardial and cardiovascular specimen biopsies, cytology specimens, and performance of Plasma exchange and plateletpheresis procedures; also, as Member of the Transplant Committee for Heart and Kidney Transplant, I played an active role in the development of our guidelines for candidate consideration in medical, scientific, and ethical aspects related to heart and kidney transplant. 

In September 2001, I moved to Miami where I did Residency in Pathology (again), and fellowships in Cytopathology, and Transplant Pathology at Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami. 

In Miami, as Assistant Medical Director, at Transplant Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, from 2008 to 2010, I participated in the Histology Lab organization (histochemistry and Immunohistochemistry) in order to provide Pathology Services to patients and Research Laboratories at the University of Miami, as well as outside customers. 

In January 2011, I joined Saba University School of Medicine as Associate Professor of Pathology. At present I am working as Professor of Pathology and Chair of the Pathophysiology Department.

Most of my papers and articles are about the transplant of solid organs; they are published in different medical journals including Human Pathology, Transplantation, Clinical Transplant, Pediatric Transplantation, Arch of Pathol and Lab Med., Transplantation Proceedings, and others. I have presented medical talks about multivisceral transplant and other pathologies in International Symposiums in Bogota (Colombia), and Miami.

• Anatomic and clinical pathology
• Transplant pathology
• Cytopathology

• Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology (ABP)
• Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)

Professional and Honorary Organizations

• College of American Pathologists (CAP).(ID: 1054121), Memberaproxsince 2006 –
• Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology. Anatomic (ABP), (ID: 14-461),2014 –
• Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), (ID: 23025423),2014 –
• United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP): 2016 –
• American Medical Association (AMA), (ME:26406740021), Regular Member since 11/04
• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ID: 04089825) Regular Member since 2006
• Sociedad Colombiana dePatologiaClinica (Founding Member since 1981)
• Sociedad Colombiana dePatologia (Regular Member since 6/81)

Juried or Refereed Journal Articles or Exhibitions:

• Delacruz V, Takahashi H, Nishida S, Tzakis A, Ruiz P. Segmental xanthomatosis of the small intestine. A case report and review of the literature. Human Pathology. Jan 2009;40:139-142.
• Takahashi H, Kato T, Selvaggi G, Nishida S, Gaynor JJ, Delacruz V, Moon JI, Levi DM, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Subclinical Rejection in the initial postoperative period in Small Intestinal Transplantation: a Negative Influence on Graft Survival. Transplantation 2007;84(6):689-96. doi: 10.1097/01.tp.0000280541.83994.93.
• Takahashi H, Kato T, Mizutani K, Terasaki PI, Delacruz V, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Simultaneous Antibody-Mediated Rejection of Multiple Allografts in Modified Multivisceral Transplantation. Clinical Transplants 2006; 529-34.
• Takahashi H, Delacruz V, Sarwar S, Selvaggi G, Moon J, Nishida S, Weppler D, Levi D, Kato T, Tzakis A, Ruiz P. Contemporaneous chronic rejection of multiple allografts with principal pancreatic involvement in modified transplanmodified multivisceral transplantation Pediatr Transplantation 2007; 11: 448-52.
• Delacruz V, Jorda M, Gomez C, Benedetto P, Ganjei P. Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of angiosarcoma of the spleen: A case report report and review of the literature. Arch of Pathol and Lab Med. April 2005; 129:1054-1056.
• Garcia M, Delacruz V, Bagni A, Weppler D, Kato T, Tzakis A, Ruiz P. “Acute rejection grading scheme for human gastric allografts”. Human Pathology 2004 Mar; 35(3): 343-349.
• Delacruz V, Garcia M, Mittal N, Nishida S, Levi D, Selvaggi G, Madariaga J, Weppler D, Tzakis A, Ruiz P. “Immunoenzymatic and morphological detection of epithelial cell apoptotic stages in gastrointestinal allografts from multivisceral transplant patients”. Transplantation Proceedings. 2004 Mar; 36(2): 338-339.  Melgarejo I, Delacruz V, Roa C. Images in Cardiology, Diverticula of Mitral valve. Scientia Cardiologica 11 / 1999, Volume: 18, Pages: 40-41.
• Delacruz V, Arboleda F, Melgarejo I, Sandoval N. Diverticula of anterior mitral valve leaflet as a cause of subvalvular aortic stenosis. Revista Colombiana de Cardiologia Feb, 1998, Volume: 6, Pages: 141-143.
• Delacruz V. Rotavirus and Diarrhea in children. Medicina de Caldas. Jan, 1988, Volume: 5, Pages: 19-23
• Delacruz V, Quintana H, Skin melanomas, a review and reclassification of cases. Universitas Medica. March, 1979, Volume: 21, Pages: 10-27.

Other Works, Publications and Abstracts:

• Delacruz V, Goez-Gutierrez E, Rojas CP, Gomez C, Jorda M, Garcia M. Comparison of Malignancy Rates in Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration UsingThe Bethesda Category System in a Tertiary Care Center and a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Poster presentation at the USCAP 2016 Annual Meeting. Presented on March 14, 2016 in Seattle, Washington.
• Goez-Gutierrez E,Delacruz V, Rojas CP, Gomez C, Jorda M, Garcia M. Paris System for Reporting Urine Cytology, a First Approach. Poster presentation at the USCAP 2016 Annual Meeting. Presented on March 16, 2016 in Seattle, Washington.
• Takahashi H,Delacruz V,Kato T, Selvaggi G, Gaynor JI, Moon JI, Nishida S, Levi DM, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Pathological Characteristics of Subclinical Acute Rejection in Small Intestinal Transplantation. The Xth International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium 2007 Los Angeles, CA, USA (Poster presentation).
• Delacruz V,Romaguera R, Bruce J, Rodriguez M. Renal Dysplasia and / or Agenesis in Pediatric Autopsies from 1993 to 2003. Poster Presentation at the XI Latin-American Pediatric Pathology Congress, Cartagena, Colombia. Sep 22, 2004.
• Garcia M,Delacruz V,Ortiz R, Weppler D, Kato T, Tzakis A, Ruiz. “A stomach allograft grading scheme provides an accurate pathologic assessment of acute cellular rejection in patients with multivisceral transplant”. Poster Presentation at the XIX International Congress of the transplantation Society, Miami, August 2002.

Other Professional activities:

• Takahashi H, Kato T,Delacruz V,Nishida S, Selvaggi G, Hernandez E, Weppler D, Moon J, Levi DM, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Analysis of Acute and Chronic Rejection in Multiple Organ Allografts from Retransplantation and Autopsy Cases of Multivisceral Transplantation. The Xth International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium 2007 Los Angeles, CA, USA (Oral presentation), 9/07.
• Takahashi H, Kato T, Selvaggi G, Nishida S, Gaynor JI,Delacruz V,Moon JI, Levi DM, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Subclinical Acute Rejection in Small Intestinal Transplantation – A Negative Influence on Graft Survival. The Xth International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium 2007 Los Angeles, CA, USA (Oral presentation), 9/07.
• Takahashi H, Kato T, Selvaggi G, Nishida S,Delacruz V,Gaynor JI, Moon JI, Levi DM, Tzakis AG, Ruiz P. Subclinical Acute Rejection in Small Intestinal Transplantation. American Transplant Congress 2007 San Francisco, CA, USA (Oral presentation), 5/07.
• Delacruz V,Garcia M, Mittal N, Nishida S, Levi D, Nery J, Madariaga J. Weppler D, Tzakis A, Ruiz P. “Immunoenzymatic and morphologic detection of epithelial cell apoptotic stages in gastrointestinal allografts from multivisceral transplant patients”. Oral Presentation at the VIII International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium, Miami, 9/03.
• Delacruz V.Rotavirus and Diarrhea in children. Oral presentation at the I National Congress of Clinical Pathology, Bogota, Colombia, 12/82

Participation during 2017 and 2018 in the following studies (microscopic review of slides, interpretations, grading, and scoring lesions):

• Banff Working Group Project: Diagnosis, treatments and outcomes for Antibody-mediated Rejection in Liver Allografts. Participation and collaboration during 2017 and 2018 with the Banff Working Group Project. The institutions participating in this project are University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), and the University of Miami. In the Transplant Laboratory, Department of Surgery, of University of Miami we reviewed cases of liver biopsy with positive Donor Specific Antibodies (DSA) from January 2014, to July 2018. We found 5 patients that fulfill the criteria for Antibody Mediated Rejection (AMR) and two that might be “Indeterminate”. Dr. Heather Stevenson (University of Texas Medical Branch. Galveston, Texas) has 5 cases, and Dr. Demetris 5 cases in Pittsburgh. REFERENCE: 2016 Comprehensive Update of the Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology: Introduction of Antibody-Mediated Rejection. American Journal of Transplantation 2016; 16: 2816–2835. Wiley Periodicals Inc.
• Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice (microscopic evaluation).Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Levy, PhD, Department of Microbiology, University of Miami.
• Bromodomain inhibitor toxicity in mice: Organs (liver, colon, kidney, and bone marrow) from mice on Bromodomain inhibitor treatment were microscopically examined. Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Levy, PhD, Department of Microbiology, University of Miami.
• Changes in colon and liver of mice with bone marrow transplant on GVHD treatment. Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Levy, PhD, Department of Microbiology, University of Miami.
• At Transplant Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Miami (2017-2018). I conducted the validation and establishment of cytology study in urine and body fluids. The testing I found after vigorous search for least costly and timely manner was a manual monolayer technique. This technique provides benefits in smaller scenarios with low specimen volume. After implementing Standard of procedure (SOP), we validated the test with split urine from “Integrated Pathology Services” laboratory located in Puerto Rico and compared their interpretations with ours.

Teaching

• Faculty at Universidad Metropolitana in Barranquilla, Colombia. I had active role teaching Pathology to Medical students (1/84 – 12/84).
• As an Associate Professor and Course Director of Pathology at Saba, I had an active role in teaching and conducting the Pathology Course to medical students at Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Netherlands-Antilles (1/11 – 6/15).

University Committee and Administrative Responsibilities:

• Assistant Medical Director. AP/CP Pathologist, Centro de Medicina Diagnóstica SIPLAS (Former Laboratory Gutierrez-Velez, Private Medical Laboratory), Bogota, Colombia (7/81 – 10/83).
• Medical Director. AP/CP Pathologist, Laboratory Delacruz-Fucinos (Private Medical Laboratory), Barranquilla, Colombia (1/84 – 7/95). I was responsible for the overall operation and administration of the laboratory, including the employment of competent qualified personnel; ensure the laboratory develops and uses a quality system approach to laboratory testing that provides accurate and reliable patient test results, and a quality assessment.
• Member of Transplant Committee for Heart and Kidney Transplant. Fundacion Clinica Shaio (Cardiovascular Center), Bogota, Colombia (8/95 – 8/01). Active role in the development of our guidelines for candidate consideration in medical, scientific, and ethical aspects related to heart and kidney transplant.
• Assistant Medical Director, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (10/08 – 1/10). Histology Lab organization (histochemistry and Immunohistochemistry) in order to provide Pathology Services to patients and Research Laboratories at the University of Miami, as well as outside customers.
• Supervisor activity: Supervising the Preventive Maintenance for histology laboratory on daily and monthly basis (directly monitor the condition and performance of equipment during normal operation to ensure laboratory is performing at the level it should be). Day to day technical oversight of the histotechnologist in basic histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and grossing of surgical specimens. Transplant Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (9/2016 – 1/2019).

Community Activities

• General Practitioner (Rural Practice), Fundacion, Magdalena, Colombia. I practiced medicine in medically underserved areas of rural Fundacion, Magdalena, Colombia (1/75 – 12/75).
• Practiced as Medical Examiner performing autopsies and medical examinations in rural areas of Fundacion, Magdalena, Colombia (6/75 – 12/75).