Octavia M. Peck-palmer PhD

Dr. Peck Palmer has expertise in laboratory management, method validation, laboratory testing, and result interpretation. She actively engages in test consultation with physicians and healthcare professionals to enhance patient care. She teaches several Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Statistical courses for residents, fellows, medical students and graduate students. She was instrumental in transitioning the laboratory from stand-alone 'dry chemistry methods' to full automation 'wet chemistry' methods in 2009. In 2013, she played a large role in the physical relocation of the Presbyterian Automated Testing Laboratory and new instrument/assay validation. Currently, her research program is funded by a NIH KL2 grant that is focused on understanding the role that single-nucleotide polymorphisms in zinc proteins play in mediating racial differences in the susceptibility to community-acquired pneumonia and risk of severe sepsis.

Dr. Peck Palmer has expertise in laboratory management, laboratory automation, method validation, laboratory testing, and result interpretation. She conducts quality improvement studies with AP/CP residents that are focused on enhancing test accuracy, patient and staff safety, and cost savings. Her newest area of clinical research is examining the role of Laboratory Medicine in reducing health disparities.