Dr. Constantine Kanakis is a distinguished physician-scientist, educator, and advocate whose career spans the full spectrum of laboratory medicine, academic leadership, and public health advocacy. After anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Loyola University, he completed subspecialty fellowship training in Transfusion Medicine at Northwestern University and is currently a Hematopathology fellow at the University of Chicago. He began his career as a certified medical laboratory scientist, gaining hands-on experience in diagnostic labs across several hospitals and specialties. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Science in medical laboratory sciences from Rush University with research in stem cell therapies. He later completed his MD at AUC School of Medicine, delivered the graduating address for his class, and was awarded the excellence in community and university service award. During his residency he served as both Chief Resident of Education and the inaugural Chief Resident of Quality. His clinical training includes focuses on pediatric pathology, forensic pathology, molecular diagnostics, and surgical pathology at leading institutions such as Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Mayo Clinic. He is board-certified in Clinical Pathology and soon to be boarded in both Transfusion Medicine and Hematopathology.

Dr. Kanakis holds multiple academic appointments, including adjunct faculty at Loyola University’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, where he teaches graduate-level courses in immunology, hematology, and transfusion medicine. He also serves as virtual faculty for online-based national curricula in laboratory medicine and clinical ethics. He has authored peer-reviewed publications in numerous journals, written chapters for textbooks, and is a voice for diagnostic stewardship, blood product utilization, disaster preparedness, and hematologic malignancies. He speaks at numerous pathology professional society and other conferences and has received numerous awards such as the ASCP’s Barney Resident Volunteer Service Award, the Society of ’67 Kinney Scholar Award, and was named to  the Pathologist magazine’s Global top 100 Power List three times! Beyond diagnostics, Dr. Kanakis is a passionate science communicator and medical journalist. He has contributed to ABC News on topics ranging from IVF ethics and infectious disease to health disparities and emerging therapies. His TEDx talks and public speaking engagements reflect his commitment to making complex medical information accessible and actionable for diverse audiences. He is currently the host of ASCP’s Online Monthly ePolicy News Update, their flagship Inside the Lab Podcast, and hosts a Q&A with Dr. K quiz show. 

Dr. Kanakis remains committed to organized medicine and public service. He serves on national advisory committees for local, state, and national societies. He is a subject matter expert consultant for local preparedness and response and co-chairs an educational committee on transfusion medicine and immunology. Dr. Kanakis is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and Alpha Epsilon Delta honor societies. His career focuses on the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, lifelong learning, and compassionate communication in advancing both individual patient care and the broader public good.