- Home
- Member Resources
- Awards
- 2019 Meritorious Service Awards Honorees
- 2019 CAP Outstanding Communicator Award
The CAP Outstanding Communicator Award honors William L. Kuehn, PhD, and recognizes outstanding communication contributions strengthening the image of pathology.
Caroline Leilani Valdes, MD, FCAP
The College of American Pathologists honors Caroline Leilani Valdes, MD, FCAP, with the 2019 CAP Outstanding Communicator Award to recognize her tireless efforts on behalf of the CAP and pathologists everywhere to present a positive portrayal of the pathologist and the specialty of pathology through various communication channels.
She has served in an abundance of roles at the CAP to advocate for the specialty. She is chair of the Professional and Community Engagement Committee and has served on other member groups, including the Public Affairs Committee, Economic Affairs Committee, Federal and State Affairs Committee, and the CAP Nominating Committee, as well as in the House of Delegates.
Dr. Valdes often is the face of advocacy within the CAP, sharing communications about webinars and the CAP’s Policy Meeting. An active member of the Engaged Leaders Network, her contributions include writing letters to the editor and being interviewed by the local news channel during our 2016 annual meeting. Additionally, in her home state of Texas, Dr. Valdes is highly involved with the Texas Society of Pathologists, serving currently as treasurer and chairing its Communications Committee.
Dr. Valdes is actively engaged with promoting patient health in her local community and at a national level. She sponsors the “Walk with a Doc” program and has appeared in print and on news programs to educate patients about the flu, vaccinations, colon cancer, skin cancer prevention, and a myriad of other topics. She was honored with a Health Hero Award by the Texas Medical Association for her commitment to improving the health of her community.
Dr. Valdes is a practicing pathologist with Regional Pathology Associates and is serving as chief of the medical staff at Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas.