Meet Our Core Team
Providing you the best doctors for the best service
Transcendent Pathology’s physician scientists deliver over 150 years of combined experience in clinical, research, and academic arenas, giving your team the leverage they need when executing translational science projects.
Gerelyn A. Henry, BS, DVM, MBA, DACFE, DACVP
Dr. Gerelyn A. Henry is the Founder and CEO of Transcendent Pathology. Dr. Henry is a residency- and fellowship-trained veterinary physician scientist, medical executive, translational medicine professional, and is a diplomate of the American College Veterinary Pathology. Dr. Henry has a Global Executive MBA from the University of Virginia, and is the former Deputy Director of the Tulane-Xavier Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, and Immunohistochemistry Section Chief of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Henry has deep experience in developmental and reproductive toxicologic pathology and human carcinogenesis. She has worked in pre-clinical safety assessment on numerous projects in the public and private sectors for small and large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Dr. Henry is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Missouri, and Alabama; and is a USDA Accredited Veterinarian, II. Dr. Henry has an energetic bedside manner and is passionate about educating clients on the clinical significance of pathology testing, and translating research findings and information into valuable use in patients.
Athema L. Etzioni, BS, MS, DVM, DACVP
Dr. Athema L. Etzioni is Vice President and Managing Director of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Dr. Etzioni is a Board-certified, residency-trained Veterinary Clinical Pathologist with a Master’s degree in Pathology from Purdue University, and is a diplomate of the American College Veterinary Pathology. Dr. Etzioni offers considerable expertise to our clients in all aspects of hematology, clinical chemistry, cytology and body fluid analysis, and brings her extensive clinical experience to bear when evaluating clinical pathology data from various cases or species-specific research studies. In addition, she has worked in academia, research, government, corporate and private sectors of veterinary medicine. Dr. Etzioni has experience as a collaborative partner with researchers, assisting in clinical pathology studies and interpreting data endpoints. She also has experience in histochemistry, and anatomic pathology research. Dr. Etzioni is licensed to practice veterinary medicine, and is an USDA Accredited Veterinarian, II. She has interests in all aspects of diagnostic clinical pathology and clinical veterinary medicine, and has an engaging and charismatic manner when working with clients.
Crystal M. Briscoe, BS, DVM, DACVP, LTC, Ret.
Dr. Crystal M. Briscoe, DACVP is a Senior Veterinary Pathologist with leadership and medical experience in military, commercial, veterinary, and government sectors, and is a diplomate of the American College Veterinary Pathology. After completing her residency at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington D. C., she was appointed as Chief of Necropsy Services and Ultrastructural Pathology at U.S. Army, Walter Reed Army Institute Of Research. Dr. Briscoe is the former Branch Chief of Comparative Pathology of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood, Maryland; and former Director of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Clinical Investigation and Research Department (Laboratory Resources) for the US Army, Pentagon (with duty at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia). Dr. Briscoe has experience with acute, sub-chronic, and chronic toxicological studies for trials conducted in conjunction with the National Toxicology Program, and a variety of pharmaceutical industrial clients. Her expertise includes infectious disease pathology, diagnostic anatomical pathology, cytology, laboratory animal medicine, and toxicological pathology (including carcinogenicity studies). Dr. Briscoe is licensed to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in Virginia.
The Best Team To Support Your Endeavors!
Ms. Christina Wingate
Ms. Christina Wingate is the Director of Communications and Marketing. Ms. Wingate earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications (journalism) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is an expert writer and has experience in communicating health care-based projects and documentation. Ms. Wingate is an educator and brings a wealth experiences to clients through communication and public relations. She loves animals and people and is passionate about providing care for them using best practices and empathy.
Mrs. Ava L'Herisse
Mrs. L'Herisse is our Senior Business Support Specialist. She has many years of experience in office support operations and accounts payable. Mrs. L'Herisse assists with general business functions, planning, strategy, business development, and real estate. She enjoys working with animals and people, and has an infectious ability to help others smile!
Our doctors offer valuable experience to clients and patients. We are creating the future of diagnostic medicine.
Eusebio Pires, BS, MS, MBA, PhD
Dr. Eusebio S. Pires is the Managing Director of Translational Science Applications and Projects for Transcendent Pathology. He is an award-winning Senior Research Scientist, with a dynamic, independent and multi-disciplinary research portfolio, focusing on methodological development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for treatment of cancers. He holds a PhD in Applied Biology, specializing in reproductive immunology, all from the University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India, and subsequently was an NIH Fogarty International Center Fellow at the University of Virginia. Dr. Pires is well versed with basic cell and reproductive biology, reproductive immunology and cancer translational medicine. At the University of Virginia School of Medicine, his team partnered and collaborated with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop and characterize targeted therapies, biological therapeutics, and bioengineered medical devices. Dr. Pires is an innovator and has expertise in multiple contemporary molecular biological and imaging technologies, and is a certified Executive Coach.
Tulasi P. Ponnapakkam, BS, MS, PhD
Dr. Tulasi Ponnapakkam is the Managing Director of Toxicology. Dr. Ponnapakkam is an expert toxicologist, accomplished scientist, and inventor who earned her Ph.D. in Zoology, with a concentration in physiology and toxicology. She holds three US patents designed for innovative therapies aimed at treating metastatic breast cancer, postmenopausal osteoporosis, and alopecia areata. Dr. Ponnapakkam has served as principal or co-investigator in several basic science, clinical trials, and clinical research projects. Her skills include designing and conducting clinical trials, leading research studies, developing proof of concept studies, and performing statistical computations. She is adept at IRB, HIPPA, GCP, and IACUC regulatory methodologies, and scientific protocol development. Dr. Ponnapakkam is highly skilled at working with a variety of in vitro and in vivo scientific and animal model systems, including piscine and crustacean aquatic species. She is proficient with cell and tissue culture systems, biochemical assays, immunoassays, and ELISA techniques. Dr. Ponnapakkam is an accomplished educator, helping to develop and mentor the next generation of physicians, pharmacists, and scientists. Dr. Ponnapakkam brings her charismatic bench side manner and a wealth of experiences in translational, preclinical, and clinical sciences to clients to support a variety of research projects.
Monty Banerjee, BS, MS, DVM, PhD
Dr. Monty Banerjee is a Senior Veterinary Pathologist with deep experience with industrial, commercial, academic, and government pathology. Dr. Banerjee earned his PhD from Albany Medical College in Experimental Pathology and Molecular Biology, and completed post-doctoral fellowship training at the University of California at Davis CVM, and Michigan State University. Dr. Banerjee conducts preclinical translational research and diagnostic pathology studies. His areas of concentration are in cytology, histopathology, gross pathology, immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization and TUNEL assays. Dr. Banerjee conducts pathological analysis of all species of animals, birds and wildlife. He develops laboratory QA/QC protocols and standard operating procedures, and has extensive experience leading bacteriology, virology, serology and toxicology teams.
Marcus B. Iszard, BS, MS, PhD
Dr. Marcus B. Iszard is an expert Pharmacologist and Toxicologist and is a Fellow of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. He has extensive experience with basic and applied pharmacology research, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic/patient clinical assessment and quality teaching presentations. He provides consulting and investigation services for law enforcement agencies and private/corporate law firms for criminal or civil legal matters. His professional experience is based primarily in matters involving medical pharmacology and toxicology as a drug, poison pharmaceutical expert. Dr. Iszard has extensive knowledge in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. This experience allows high-level interpretation of dose-response relationships, volume of distribution models, biotransformation of xenobiotics and drug disposition.