In Memoriam: Former ABPath Trustee and President Deborah E. Powell, MD

16:37 07 November in Board of Trustees by Bonnie Woodworth

Deborah E. Powell, MD

1939 – 2025

November 7, 2025 – The American Board of Pathology (ABPath) is very saddened to hear about the loss of Dr. Deborah E. Powell, former Trustee and President of the ABPath, who passed away on October 30th, 2025, at the age of 85.

Dr. Powell served as an ABPath Trustee from 1995 to 2006 and held several leadership positions, including Treasurer (2001–2002), Vice President (2003), and President (2004). During her tenure, she brought to the Board her deep expertise in medical education and thoughtful leadership, helping to inform ABPath’s efforts to uphold excellence in board certification. She remained a respected voice and supporter of ABPath, returning on occasion to share her insight on competency-based medical education and its role in shaping the future of physician training.

A pioneering medical educator and visionary leader, Dr. Powell was known nationally for her transformative impact on medical education. She served as Dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School from 2002 to 2009. During that time she introduced the Flexible MD Program, allowing students to individualize the pace of their medical training, and launched the Education in Pediatrics Across the Continuum (EPAC) initiative, a project she considered her proudest professional achievement and a national model for competency-based education. Her academic career also included leadership roles at the University of Kentucky, where she chaired the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and at the University of Kansas, where she served as Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs.

Dr. Powell’s influence extended across the profession through her service to major national organizations, including the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and received numerous honors recognizing her vision, mentorship, and lifelong commitment to advancing medical education and patient care.

Remembered for her intellect, warmth, and integrity, Dr. Powell was both an inspiring leader and a generous mentor. She will be long remembered for the leadership, humanity, and forward-thinking spirit she brought to pathology and medical education.

We extend our condolences to Dr. Powell’s family, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of working with her.