About the Department of Pathology

The pathologists at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway are board-certified specialists in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Anatomic Pathology consists of the evaluation of tissue biopsies and specimens.

We provide diagnostic and prognostic information in a high-quality, cost-effective and timely manner. We provide a wide range of expertise in Surgical Pathology and Cytology.

Clinical Pathology includes the evaluation of samples in clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and blood and tissue banking. We are experienced at serving the needs of our community at the hospital in both inpatient and outpatient settings. We take pride in the professional quality of our work, our reputation for excellence, and our close collaboration with the physicians and staff at RWJ Rahway.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement:
The Pathologists at RWJ Rahway are highly committed to participating in internal and external quality assurance and quality improvement programs. We continuously strive to exceed the expectations of our referring physicians and patients. Our quality assurance programs include:

  • College of American Pathologists Surgical Pathology Performance Improvement Program
  • College of American Pathologists Non-Gynecological Cytopathology Performance Improvement Program
  • College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Pathology Performance Improvement Program
  • College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program
  • College of American Pathologists Proficiency Testing Program
  • State of New Jersey Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program
  • Department Members are Certified Inspectors for the College of American Pathologists
  • Internal case review conferences
  • Internal journal article review
  • Attendance at continuing medical education programs in anatomic and clinical pathology
  • Participation in institutional multispecialty conferences including Tumor Board and Radiology-Pathology Conference

Barry Benisch, MD Bary Benisch
Dr. Benisch is Chairman of Pathology at RWJ Rahway, where he has more than 35 years of experience as a Surgical Pathologist. Dr. Benisch received his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College and his medical degree from the State University of New York College of Medicine at Buffalo. He trained in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where he served as Chief Resident. He has been an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine since 1974.

Dr. Benisch has served in many leadership positions at RWJ Rahway, including President of the medical staff. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Dr. Benisch is the author of over 50 scientific articles in various medical journals.
Michael Gistrak, MD
Michael Gistrak, MD
Dr. Gistrak is Vice Chairman of the Department of Pathology at RWJ Rahway, where he has served as a pathologist since 1996. Dr. Gistrak received his undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude from Brown University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He trained in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, followed by a fellowship in Oncologic Pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he was the recipient of an American Cancer Society training grant.

Dr. Gistrak has held several leadership positions at RWJ Rahway, including Chairman of the Tissue Committee, the Blood Transfusion Committee, and the Health Information Management Committee. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). He also serves as a Certified Laboratory Inspector on behalf of CAP. Dr. Gistrak holds a faculty appointment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He currently serves as the Vice President of the New Jersey Society of Pathologists, and is the President-elect of the Society for the 2013-2014 term.
Michelle Ye, MD
Michelle Ye, MD
Dr. Ye received her training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. Following her residency, she particiapted in a fellowship in Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. She has experience in all areas of surgical pathology and cytopathology.

At RWJ Rahway she serves on the Infectious Disease Control and Blood Bank and Transfusion committees. She is the author of more than 20 publications in the medical literature.

Dr. Ye is board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and a fellow of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). She serves as an inspector of hospital laboratories in various states on behalf of CAP and holds a faculty appointment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Scott Merlin, MD
Dr. Merlin received his undergraduate and master's degrees from McGill University in Montreal and his Medical Degree from Technion University American Program in Haifa, Israel. He trained in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, and completed a year of fellowship training Oncologic Pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

At RWJ Rahway, Dr. Merlin serves as a member of the Tissue Committee. He is also on the RWJ Rahway Foundation Vice Chairman's Committee.

Dr. Merlin is a skilled surgical pathologist with particular interest in oncologic pathology, gastrointestinal pathology and breast pathology. Dr. Merlin is an author of several publications in anatomic pathology including review articles in breast and urologic pathology. He has been a presenter at U.S. and Canadian Academy of Pathology meetings. He serves as a laboratory inspector for the College of American Pathologists. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.