Meet Our Expert

The founding director of Beacon Pathology, Dr. Alireza (“Al”) Sepehr, is a double board-certified Harvard-trained dermatopathologist and anatomic pathologist. He was formerly an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and has been in practice since 2008. Dr. Sepehr is licensed to practice medicine in the states of MA, NH, RI, ME, CA, and FL.

After medical school, Dr. Sepehr completed two post-doctoral fellowships in molecular cancer epidemiology at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. He subsequently completed a residency (and Chief Residency) in pathology, and later a fellowship in Gastrointestinal-pathology, both at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He then finished a fellowship in dermatopathology at Harvard Dermatopathology Program and received an academic faculty position in the Department of Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School and remained on staff until 2013 when he moved to private practice.

His research expertise includes melanocytic neoplasms of the skin and molecular cancer epidemiology. Dr. Sepehr has more than 70 medical publications, including original articles, reviews, and book chapters. He has published in prestigious scientific journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, British Journal of Cancer, International Journal of Cancer, American Journal of Surgical Pathology, Oncogene, International Journal of Epidemiology, and Archives of Dermatology (JAMA Dermatology).

Dr. Sepehr is recognized as director and faculty of multiple international courses on melanocytic skin neoplasms and has given more than 40 lectures on cancer and dermatopathology across the world.

Scientific Publications
(Pubmed) by our Expert:

Imaging mass spectrometry assists in the classification of diagnostically challenging atypical Spitzoid neoplasms.

Lazova R, Seeley EH, Kutzner H, Scolyer RA, Scott G, Cerroni L, Fried I, Kozovska ME, Rosenberg AS, Prieto VG, Shehata BM, Durham MM, Henry G, Rodriguez-Peralto JL, Riveiro-Falkenbach E, Schaefer JT, Danialan R, Fraitag S, Vollenweider-Roten S, Sepehr A, Sangueza M, Hijazi N, Corredoira Y, Kowal R, Harris OM, Bravo F, Boyd AS, Gueorguieva R, Caprioli RM.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Dec;75(6):1176-1186.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.007. Epub 2016 Aug 5.

PMID: 27502312

Clinical utility of a blood-based BRAF(V600E) mutation assay in melanoma.

Panka DJ, Buchbinder E, Giobbie-Hurder A, Schalck AP, Montaser-Kouhsari L, Sepehr A, Lawrence DP, McDermott DF, Cohen R, Carlson A, Wargo JA, Merritt R, Seery VJ, Hodi FS, Gunturi A, Fredrick D, Atkins MB, Iafrate AJ, Flaherty KT, Mier JW, Sullivan RJ.

Mol Cancer Ther. 2014 Dec;13(12):3210-8. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-14-0349. Epub 2014 Oct 15.

PMID: 25319388

Rhabdomyosarcoma arising in a giant congenital melanocytic nevus.

Christman MP, Kerner JK, Cheng C, Piris A, Nepo AG, Sepehr A, Kroshinsky D.

Pediatr Dermatol. 2014 Sep-Oct;31(5):584-7. doi: 10.1111/pde.12359. Epub 2014 Jun 9.

PMID: 24913904

'Monster cell' melanoma with pulmonary metastasis and cyclin D1 amplification.

Hawryluk EB, Baran JL, Gerami P, Sepehr A.

J Cutan Pathol. 2013 Jan;40(1):61-5. doi: 10.1111/cup.12024.

PMID: 23278726

The gastro-esophageal malignancies in Northern Iran research project: impact on the health research and health care systems in Iran.

Sepanlou SG, Etemadi A, Kamangar F, Sepehr A, Pourshams A, Poustchi H, Islami F, Sadjadi A, Nasrollahzadeh D, Semnani S, Saidi F, Abnet CC, Ponder B, Pharoah PD, Day NE, Brennan P, Boffetta P, Dawsey SM, Malekzadeh R.

Arch Iran Med. 2013 Jan;16(1):46-53.

PMID: 23273237 Review.

Successful implementation of a longitudinal, integrated pathology curriculum during the third year of medical school.

Haspel RL, Bhargava P, Gilmore H, Kane S, Powers A, Sepehr A, Weinstein AR, Schwartzstein RM, Roberts DH.

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012 Nov;136(11):1430-6. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2011-0539-EP.

PMID: 23106589

Necrotizing Sweet syndrome: a new variant of neutrophilic dermatosis mimicking necrotizing fasciitis.

Kroshinsky D, Alloo A, Rothschild B, Cummins J, Tan J, Montecino R, Hoang MP, Duncan L, Mihm M, Sepehr A.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Nov;67(5):945-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.024. Epub 2012 Mar 24.

PMID: 22445215

"Nevus/melanocytoma/melanoma": that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Sepehr A, Tahan SR.

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012 Feb;136(2):135; author reply 136-7. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2011-0148-LE.

PMID: 22288955 No abstract available.

Two distinct viral infections complicating pemphigus foliaceus.

Gee SN, Velez NF, Sepehr A, Burgin S.

Dermatol Online J. 2012 Jan 15;18(1):3.

PMID: 22301040

Is opium a real risk factor for esophageal cancer or just a methodological artifact? Hospital and neighborhood controls in case-control studies.

Shakeri R, Kamangar F, Nasrollahzadeh D, Nouraie M, Khademi H, Etemadi A, Islami F, Marjani H, Fahimi S, Sepehr A, Rahmati A, Abnet CC, Dawsey SM, Brennan P, Boffetta P, Malekzadeh R, Majdzadeh R.

PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e32711. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032711. Epub 2012 Mar 1.

PMID: 22396792

Spitz nevi and other Spitzoid lesions part II. Natural history and management.

Luo S, Sepehr A, Tsao H.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Dec;65(6):1087-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.06.045.

PMID: 22082839

Spitz nevi and other Spitzoid lesions part I. Background and diagnoses.

Luo S, Sepehr A, Tsao H.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Dec;65(6):1073-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.04.040.

PMID: 22082838

Obstructive and inflammatory gastric heterotopic pancreatic tissue.

Almashat S, Sepehr A.

Arch Iran Med. 2011 Sep;14(5):357-8.

PMID: 21888463

Granulomatous pigmented purpura: report of a case and review of the literature.

Kaplan J, Burgin S, Sepehr A.

J Cutan Pathol. 2011 Dec;38(12):984-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2011.01744.x. Epub 2011 Jul 14.

PMID: 21752054 Review.

Long-term outcome of Spitz-type melanocytic tumors.

Sepehr A, Chao E, Trefrey B, Blackford A, Duncan LM, Flotte TJ, Sober A, Mihm MC Jr, Tsao H.

Arch Dermatol. 2011 Oct;147(10):1173-9. doi: 10.1001/archdermatol.2011.170. Epub 2011 Jun 16.

PMID: 21680758

Unilateral nevoid telangiectasia syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Wenson SF, Jan F, Sepehr A.

Dermatol Online J. 2011 May 15;17(5):2.

PMID: 21635824 Review.

Histopathologic manifestations of systemic diseases: the example of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Sepehr A, Wenson S, Tahan SR.

J Cutan Pathol. 2010 Apr;37 Suppl 1:112-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2010.01510.x.

PMID: 20482683 Review. No abstract available.

Socio-economic status and oesophageal cancer: results from a population-based case-control study in a high-risk area.

Islami F, Kamangar F, Nasrollahzadeh D, Aghcheli K, Sotoudeh M, Abedi-Ardekani B, Merat S, Nasseri-Moghaddam S, Semnani S, Sepehr A, Wakefield J, Møller H, Abnet CC, Dawsey SM, Boffetta P, Malekzadeh R.

Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Aug;38(4):978-88. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyp195. Epub 2009 May 4.

PMID: 19416955

Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 5-2009. A 47-year-old woman with a rash and numbness and pain in the legs.

Kroshinsky D, Stone JH, Bloch DB, Sepehr A.

N Engl J Med. 2009 Feb 12;360(7):711-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcpc0807822.

PMID: 19213685 No abstract available.

IgG4+ to IgG+ plasma cells ratio of ampulla can help differentiate autoimmune pancreatitis from other "mass forming" pancreatic lesions.

Sepehr A, Mino-Kenudson M, Ogawa F, Brugge WR, Deshpande V, Lauwers GY.

Am J Surg Pathol. 2008 Dec;32(12):1770-9. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318185490a.

PMID: 18779730

Gastrointestinal evidence of autoimmune pancreatitis: a rare manifestation.

Sepehr A, Lauwers GY.

Histopathology. 2008 Sep;53(3):358-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2008.03080.x. Epub 2008 Jul 16.

PMID: 18643854 No abstract available.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a liver transplant recipient.

Saidi RF, Sepehr A, Cosimi AB, Hertl M.

Transplantation. 2008 May 15;85(9):1363. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e31816c7e2f.

PMID: 18475199 No abstract available.

Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 30-2007. A newborn girl with skin lesions.

Avram MM, Gobel V, Sepehr A.

N Engl J Med. 2007 Sep 27;357(13):1327-35. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcpc079025.

PMID: 17898103 No abstract available.

Primary infection with cytomegalovirus in ulcerative colitis.

Martin SI, Sepehr A, Fishman JA.

Dig Dis Sci. 2006 Dec;51(12):2184-7. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9474-9. Epub 2006 Nov 22.

PMID: 17120145 No abstract available.

An 87-year-old woman with respiratory distress and alveolar hemorrhage after transfusion.

Darabi K, Abdel-Wahab O, Stowell C, Sepehr A.

Chest. 2006 Nov;130(5):1612-6. doi: 10.1378/chest.130.5.1612.

PMID: 17099045 No abstract available.

Endoscopic mucosal resection: an improved diagnostic procedure for early gastroesophageal epithelial neoplasms.

Hull MJ, Mino-Kenudson M, Nishioka NS, Ban S, Sepehr A, Puricelli W, Nakatsuka L, Ota S, Shimizu M, Brugge WR, Lauwers GY.

Am J Surg Pathol. 2006 Jan;30(1):114-8. doi: 10.1097/01.pas.0000180438.56528.a0.

PMID: 16330950

Poor oral health as a risk factor for esophageal squamous dysplasia in northeastern Iran.

Sepehr A, Kamangar F, Fahimi S, Saidi F, Abnet CC, Dawsey SM.

Anticancer Res. 2005 Jan-Feb;25(1B):543-6.

PMID: 15816626

Genetic polymorphisms in three Iranian populations with different risks of esophageal cancer, an ecologic comparison.

Sepehr A, Kamangar F, Abnet CC, Fahimi S, Pourshams A, Poustchi H, Zeinali S, Sotoudeh M, Islami F, Nasrollahzadeh D, Malekzadeh R, Taylor PR, Dawsey SM.

Cancer Lett. 2004 Sep 30;213(2):195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2004.05.017.

PMID: 15327835

Cancer occurrence in Ardabil: results of a population-based cancer registry from Iran.

Sadjadi A, Malekzadeh R, Derakhshan MH, Sepehr A, Nouraie M, Sotoudeh M, Yazdanbod A, Shokoohi B, Mashayekhi A, Arshi S, Majidpour A, Babaei M, Mosavi A, Mohagheghi MA, Alimohammadian M.

Int J Cancer. 2003 Oct 20;107(1):113-8. doi: 10.1002/ijc.11359.

PMID: 12925965

Endoscopic esophageal cancer survey in the western part of the Caspian Littoral.

Saidi F, Malekzadeh R, Sotoudeh M, Derakhshan MH, Farahvash MJ, Yazdanbod A, Merat Sh, Mikaeli J, Sotoudehmanesh R, Nasseri-Moghadam S, Majidpour A, Arshi S, Abedi-Ardakani B, Yoonessi A, Sadr F, Sepehr A, Fleischer D, Fahimi S.

Dis Esophagus. 2002;15(3):214-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1442-2050.2002.00250.x.

PMID: 12444993

Distinct pattern of TP53 mutations in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in Iran.

Sepehr A, Tanière P, Martel-Planche G, Zia’ee AA, Rastgar-Jazii F, Yazdanbod M, Etemad-Moghadam G, Kamangar F, Saidi F, Hainaut P.

Oncogene. 2001 Nov 1;20(50):7368-74. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204912.

PMID: 11704866

Oesophageal cancer among the Turkomans of northeast Iran.

Saidi F, Sepehr A, Fahimi S, Farahvash MJ, Salehian P, Esmailzadeh A, Keshoofy M, Pirmoazen N, Yazdanbod M, Roshan MK.

Br J Cancer. 2000 Nov;83(9):1249-54. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1414.

PMID: 11027442

Esophageal exfoliative cytology samplers. A comparison of three types.

Sepehr A, Razavi P, Saidi F, Salehian P, Rahmani M, Shamshiri A.

Acta Cytol. 2000 Sep-Oct;44(5):797-804. doi: 10.1159/000328564.

PMID: 11015982 Clinical Trial.

Terbinafine-induced acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) responsive to high dose intravenous corticosteroid.

Ibrahimi OA, Gunawardane N, Sepehr A, Reynolds RV.

Dermatol Online J. 2009 Sep 15;15(9):8.

PMID: 19930995

Laboratory Certification

Beacon Pathology has held a fully compliant CLIA Certification from CMS, and also a Clinical Laboratory License from Massachusetts, since 2013.

Medical Licensure

Our dermatopathologist holds full medical licensure in the states of MA, NH, RI, ME, WV, FL, and CA.

Compliance

We are a HIPAA compliant laboratory, and our policies and procedures are fully aligned with the State and Federal regulations and guidelines.