Rodolfo Laucirica, MD (2009, 2010)
Background
Dr. Rodolfo Laucirica was born on August 8, 1957 in Havana, Cuba. He
immigrated to the United States with his parents, who were escaping communist
Cuba, in 1960. They settled in Miami, Florida. Dr. Laucirica received his
elementary and secondary education in Miami and attended The University of
South Florida in Tampa.
He married Irma Bermudez in July, 1984. They have two children, Daniel and
Andres.
Medical Education & Practice
After graduating with honors from the University of South Florida with a
bachelor’s degree in biology, Dr. Laucirica went to the Universidad Centro de
Estudios Technicos in the Dominican Republic. He received his MD degree in
1983. After medical school, he was awarded a two-year research fellowship from
the Department of Urology at Tulane University School of Medicine. He studied
the role and pathogenesis of p-fimbriated E. coli in urinary tract
infections. This work ignited Dr. Laucirica’s interest in pathology.
In 1985, Dr. Laucirica began his residency in anatomic and clinical
pathology at East Tennessee State James H. Quillen College of Medicine in
Johnson City. He completed his fifth year of residency at Vanderbilt University
Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and became certified by the American
Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology. He eventually became
certified in the sub-specialty of cytopathology.
After his residency, Dr. Laucirica moved to Houston, Texas to complete a
one-year fellowship in cytopathology at Baylor College of Medicine under the
supervision of Dr. Ibrahim Ramzy. In July, 1991 Dr. Laucirica joined the
faculty of Baylor College of Medicine as an assistant professor. He also did
clinical work at the Methodist Hospital.
In January, 2001, Dr. Laucirica moved to Ben Taub General Hospital to assume
the role of director of anatomic pathology and eventually became director of
cytology. He also served as a consultant for the private practice division of
the Baylor Department of Pathology. In 2005, Dr. Laucirica became director of
cytology and director of the cytopathology fellowship at Baylor. Currently, Dr.
Laucirica is professor of pathology and immunology at Baylor College of
Medicine.
Dr. Laucirica was awarded the best faculty educator in anatomic pathology by
the pathology residents and fellows at Baylor College of Medicine.
Additionally, in 2012, Dr. Laucirica received the Fulbright & Jaworsk LLP
Faculty Excellence Award for his educational accomplishments and mentoring of
medical students and pathology residents and fellows.
Among his work in organized medicine, Dr. Laucirica has served as president
of the Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists, and in several roles for the
College of American Pathologists, including as a member of the
Immunohistochemistry Resource Committee, the Cytopathology Resource Committee,
Strategy Management Committee, and House of Delegates Steering Committee. He is
also an inspector for the Laboratory Accreditation Program.
Texas Society of Pathologists
Dr. Laucirica has served as chair of the Residents and Fellows Seminar and
Membership Committees for the TSP.
He was president of the TSP in 2009 and 2010.
Notable Publication(s)
Dr. Laucirica is on the editorial board of three journals in surgical and
cytopathology. He has authored or co-authored 80 journal articles, 22 book
chapters, and 44 abstracts.
Mann, S., Laucirica, R., Carlson, N., Younes, P. S., Ali, N., Younes, A.,
... & Younes, M. (2001). Estrogen receptor beta expression in invasive
breast cancer. Human pathology, 32(1), 113-118.
Arpino, G., Laucirica, R., & Elledge, R. M.
(2005). Premalignant and in situ breast disease: biology and clinical
implications. Annals of Internal Medicine, 143(6), 446-457.