At BALL DERMPATH, much of our staff has between 15-37 years of experience in dermatopathology, and many of us have worked together for over 10 years. Our team is highly trained, experienced, and dedicated to excellence in patient care and service. Some of our profiles:

Our Pathologists

Russell A. Ball, MD

Russell A. Ball, MD

Board Certified Dermatopathologist
Board Certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist
Dermatopathology Fellowship: Harvard University
Pathology Residency: Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Medical School: West Virginia University
Academic Appointments: Adjunct Professor, Duke University

Kelly L. West, MD, PhD

Kelly L. West, MD, PhD

Board Certified Dermatopathologist
Board Certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist
Dermatopathology Fellowship: Duke University
Pathology Residency: Duke University
Medical School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Academic Appointments: Adjunct Professor, Duke University

John L. Abernethy, MD, PhD

John L. Abernethy, MD, PhD

Board Certified Dermatopathologist
Board Certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist
Dermatopathology Fellowship: Wake Forest University Institute for Dermatopathology; A. Bernard Ackerman, MD, Director
Pathology Residency: Duke University
Medical School: Duke University

John L. Abernethy, MD, PhD

Ryan J. Carr, MD

Board Certified Dermatopathologist
Board Certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist
Dermatopathology Fellowship: The Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center
Pathology Residency: Yale School of Medicine
Medical School: The Ohio State University

Our Management Team

Brian Laughrun
Brian Laughrun
Practice Administrator

Brian, an Asheville, NC native, has 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to joining Ball Dermpath, he was the Southeast Director of Managed Care for one of the largest independent pathology laboratories in the U.S. Brian is a graduate from Appalachian State University with a B.S.B.A. degree in Healthcare Management, and is an active member in MGMA and NCMGM.