Faculty Spotlight: Michael Diamond

After completing an undergraduate biology degree in his hometown Toronto’s York University, Dr. Diamond moved to Haifa, Israel to attend Technion medical school. Following his graduation from there, he completed a residency at Rutgers Health/Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in NJ, USA. One of the greatest achievements of his career thus far was receiving the Nancy J. Waldron Award for Professionalism; Dr. Diamond was honoured to be the first-ever pathology resident in the program to receive this distinction. He believes in always providing the best patient care that he possibly can, and he strives to bring that spirit of empathy and care to all his interactions. Dr. Diamond recently completed a general pathology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, with a tailored focus on breast and gynecological pathology. Now, he lives in Hamilton with his lovely wife and daughter, hoping to honour the memories of his grandparents through his chosen profession and community.

Q. What is your specialty and why did you choose it?

A. “I chose pathology because it is a field that allows me to help patients behind the scenes and is a field that lends itself to a life of profound intellectual growth at the forefront of medicine.”

Q. What is your favorite aspect of your position?

A. “The fact that I am practicing gynecological and breast pathology at Juravinski Hospital and McMaster University brings me a deep-seated feeling of gratitude that I cannot fully express. My grandmother, Elizabeth, a survivor of Auschwitz and an extraordinary and altruistic human being, was treated at Juravinski Hospital (known as Nora-Frances Henderson Hospital at the time) for ovarian cancer. In her final days, I wished there was some way that I could help people like her, suffering from cancer. I never would have imagined that I would be back at the very same hospital, helping diagnose patients with cancer, some with ovarian cancer, on a regular basis. This motivates me further to help my patients not only for the sake of patient care but as a tribute to my beloved grandmother, who taught me the importance of caring about others unconditionally.”