Summer 2001

From the Editor's Desk President's Message Committee Reports Our Web Site In Memorium Comings and Goings SPP Fall Meeting Announcing the Fall 2001 Perinatal Symposium (Memphis) Ad Hoc Perinatal Section Symposium Other Upcoming Meetings New Positions Available   Deadline for Fall Newsletter - October 1, 2001 Please direct submissions to the Newsletter to Art Weinberg, Editor

Summer’s here and the living is easy: a little respite before teaching duties return in the fall. As you swing gently in your cool hammock beneath the shade of two leafy trees, sipping your favorite drink, think about the September meeting in Memphis. A reprise of the schedule for Memphis is included in this newsletter to shake you from your lethargy and remind you to register. And Ron Jaffe has some sobering thoughts that bear scrutiny and further discussion. Have a pleasant summer.

President's Message
Ron Jaffe

Don't Look Now, But No One's Following You ....

The Editorship of our journal, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology has changed hands and Miguel Reyes-Mugica has a firm grip on the baton. We wish him the best of good fortune in his new task, and some of us, at least, offer to help with the submission of articles from our institutions, with reviewing and with gratuitous advice.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to Denis Benjamin for keeping his sailor's grip on the tiller of the journal as it moved through the choppy waters of changing publisher. He can take satisfaction in knowing that he did a remarkably fine job with integrity, with skill and extraordinary diplomacy. We will also miss his pithy, often contrarian editorials that had such a clear punch line and dripped with droll humor. So much for the good news.

The bad news is that manuscript submissions to the journal have been shrinking alarmingly. The experts claim that it is a cyclical event, that we are all working harder and have less time for scholarly activity, and that pressure from Promotions Committees drives some to submit their best papers to journals with a higher impact factor. These are probably all valid reasons (except the last - where should pediatric pathology article be published other than in a pediatric pathology journal? - that would drive up the impact factor). The retiring Editor has told me that he also had difficulty with manuscript reviewers within the Society. There seem to be fewer and fewer experts around, and those few were often too busy to review for Pediatric and Developmental Pathology. More and more, Dr. Benjamin said, he had to go outside the Society to find competent and willing reviewers for pediatric and perinatal papers.

If you pick up a copy of the latest SPP Membership Directory, you will notice that a large number, maybe as many as a third of the members listed, are not active in the daily practice of pediatric pathology. Some have retired, others have moved on to fresh interests, and some of us are just getting older and slowing down. The pool of potential reviewers for the journal has shrunken. Dr. Greco informs me that not all of the Fellowship programs in the country are currently active, that the active ones are not all full, and that the full ones are, in places, occupied by people who do not intend to go into full time academic pediatric pathology. Pediatric Pathology, as even Chicken Little might have noticed, is in trouble.

Our freestanding children's institution in Pittsburgh, like others before in Detroit, Indianapolis, Stanford and elsewhere, has recently agreed to merge with large academic medical center. Pediatric Pathology is likely to be reduced from a full service activity with a range of pediatric-specific laboratories run by pediatric pathologists, to being merely a small part of someone else's large business. We will become too insignificant a part of the whole to be effective advocates for the uniquely pediatric aspects. This is one more way in which pediatric pathology, as a specialty, is being downgraded with disastrous consequences in those institutions.

So what is to be done? I have no prescription beyond the very obvious, that we enhance our standing at the political and corporate level so that medical administration sees pediatric pathology an essential component of pediatric care, and that we increase our visibility to those medical students and residents who might be attracted to the profession. Dr. Alba Greco, head of the Fellowship Committee, has planned a meeting of the Fellowship Directors at the SPP in Memphis this fall, to discuss some of these issues and to come up with recommendations for action. Those of you with suggestions and opinions are asked to direct them to her or to any of the Fellowship Directors. Time is not on our side.

Committee Reports

Fellowship Committee:
Alba Greco

Reminder: The Fellowship Committee is organizing a meeting of all the Directors of Pediatric Pathology Fellowship Programs on Sept 20, 2001, at 11 AM-1.00 PM, in Memphis. It will be held the day before the SPP Interim Meeting and at the same Hotel. A lunch break is planned, too. We hope to have a very productive meeting. For more information contact Alba Greco (mag10@nyu.edu).

Publications Committee
Beverly Rogers

Publications Committee - Summer Newsletter

The editorial office for Pediatric and Developmental Pathology has moved and is in the capable hands of Dr. Miguel Reyes-Mugica and his assistant, Mrs. Gretchen Ferrante. The transition went smoothly, and we are thankful for all that participated. The Boards of PDP and Perspectives are being reconstituted, and we are grateful to Drs. Singer, Dimmick, and Reyes for lending their time and effort to carry the task forward. Now is the time to let the journal fly; to do this requires manuscript submissions. The following addresses should be helpful as you package that article up for submission.

Send manuscripts for publication in PDP to:

Miguel Reyes-Múgica, M.D.
Editor-in-Chief
Pediatric and Developmental Pathology
Department of Pathology
Yale University School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street, LB20
New Haven, CT 06520-8023
Tel: (203) 737-5383
Fax: (203) 785-5388
Email: peddev.path@yale.edu

Questions about the status of PDP manuscripts in review should be directed to Gretchen Ferrante:

Gretchen K. Ferrante
Managing Editor
Pediatric and Developmental Pathology
Department of Pathology
Yale University School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street P.O. Box 208023
New Haven, CT 06520
Tel. 203/737-5383
Fax. 203/737-5388
peddev.path@yale.edu

If you haven’t been to the Web Site recently (www.spponline.org) you are missing out on a lot. Announcements, updates, short course handouts, and, yes, this Newsletter are all there. Dr. Hal Pinar will bring you up to date on the latest in the Web Site elsewhere in this Newsletter. The bottom line - go see for yourself.

Membership Committee
Carlos Galliani

The Membership Committee urges all directors of Fellowship programs to consider subsidizing the subscription of their fellows as Junior Members of the Society. Beyond introducing your fellows to the Society, offering the subscription to Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, which is included with the membership, encourages contributions and participation. Thank you for giving this benefit serious consideration. We need your support.

Research Committee:
Raj Kapur

Bring Your Great Ideas To Fruition

Do you have a terrific idea for an SPP-funded endeavor that will promote the basic goals of the SPP? In March, Council voted to approve the creation of a mechanism whereby a portion of the income from our restricted reserves would be used for novel projects that further the mission of the Society (see Report from Council in last newsletter). The program will begin this year to sponsor one or more novel initiatives up to a total allocation of $10,000, if Council determines that sufficient moneys are available. Proposals will be relayed by SPP committee chairs and reviewed by Council at the Fall meeting in Memphis. If you have an idea that you would like to propose, contact an appropriate Committee member (a list appears on the Web site). This is a fantastic method to promote research, practice, training, or other aspects of Pediatric Pathology.

Nominating committee
Henry Krous, Chair, Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is soliciting nominations for the following offices:

President, 1-year term, 2003-2004

Secretary-Treasurer, 5-year term, 2003-2008

Councilor-at-Large (2 positions), 3-year term, 2002-2005

The committee is also soliciting names of individuals who are interested in serving on SPP committees, as positions become available. Names should be provided to me no later than September 1, 2001 since the committee's recommendations must be submitted to Council at the Fall 2001 meeting of the SPP.

Please remember that the success of our Society depends upon the diligence, commitment and hard work of the individuals who fill these positions, whether as officers or committee members.

Our Web Site
Hal Pinar, Web Site Editor

Our Web site is becoming more up to date, user friendly and useful. The content is current and new additions either have been implemented or are in the process of going on-line. Meeting information, abstract forms, job postings, short course handouts (with photos) are only some of the offerings. Our success depends on the efforts and contributions of our members. To accomplish our goals we need your help. Let me know:

1. If you are interested in serving on the SPP Web site Editorial Board
2. If you have any ideas about how to improve the Web site
3. If you see anything that needs to be changed or corrected.

My email is: hpinar@wihri.org

In Memoriam

Kevin John Winn, M.D.

Kevin Winn passed away on May 21 as the result of pancreatic cancer. Kevin was born in Boston in 1944, attended Notre Dame University and received his medical degree from Tufts University in 1970. He completed his residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins and served in the US Army at Walter Reid Army Institute from 1975-1978. Kevin spent his entire career working in pediatric pathology and was Chief of Pathology at Egleston Children's Hospital for 15 years. He was an enthusiastic teacher and was highly respected by his colleagues. He enjoyed sailing, woodworking, and most importantly, spending time with his wife, Carolyn Watson Winn, and his children, Brian, Brittany, and Michael, and his granddaughter. He will be missed.

Comings and Goings

Jim Dimmick has moved from the headship at the department at Children’s and Women’s Hospital to be head of the university department of pathology and laboratory medicine, effective Jan 2001. Jim also writes that the University of British Columbia recently bestowed an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Dave Hardwick (SPP President - 1979) for his many and varied academic contributions to the university and the academic medical centre. He has officially retired but you would not know it as he continues as a special advisor to the Dean and sits on several boards.

Mark Luquette has relocated to his wife's home town of Pittsburgh, PA to assume the role of Director of Developmental & Perinatal Pathology at Magee Women’s Hospital effective July 1. He will be looking for an associate at the Assistant Professor level. His new demographics are:

Email: mark@embryodoc.org
Web site: www.embryodoc.org (has hospital address)
Home: 223 Grandview Dr., Coraopolis, PA 15108
Home Ph: 412-331-5767
Cell Ph: 412-897-4061
Work Ph: 412-641-1331, Secretary: 412-641-4801 (Susan)

Dr. Jorge Las Heras missed the cut off date for the directory. His demographics are:

University of Chile
Independencia 1027
Santiago, Chili
Ph:(56-2) 737-6655 or 777-5359
FAX:(56-2) 777-4890
E-mail: jlashera@machi.med.uchile.cl

SPP Fall Meeting

Thursday, September 20

Committee Meetings

Reception and Registration

Friday, September 21

Saturday, September 22

Sunday, September 23

Ad Hoc Perinatal Section Symposium - Perinatal Asphyxia

Please click for the Registration Form.

Announcing the Fall 2001 Perinatal Symposium (Memphis)

As determined through discussion and votes by some 30 attendees at the education workshop of the Ad hoc Perinatal Section in Vancouver, the 2001 topic is “Mechanisms and Chronology of Acute ‘Perinatal Asphyxia”. The pathology of perinatal asphyxia is one of the most challenging and active areas of study and medicolegal activity in perinatal medicine today. Thus, we are fortunate to have secured leading experts in the fields of perinatology, pediatric neurology, and neuro- and placental pathology to deliver a multidisciplinary presentation of this complex topic. Please note the agenda below. The symposium will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2001, from 8:00 am -12:30 pm, and will be preceded by a continental breakfast. The new Sunday time slot will allow participants to maximize the financial discounts afforded by a Saturday night stay and avoid potential scheduling conflicts with SPP Committee meetings and the Fall program set up by our colleagues at St. Jude’s. Please note that completion of a separate registration form is required, with checks ($80.00 symposium fee) made payable to the SPP. Registration materials must be sent to the SPP office in McLean, VA. Attendance by obstetricians, pediatricians, and pediatric radiologists is encouraged. All participants will be eligible to receive 4.5 hours of Category I CME credit.

As a final note: A business meeting of the Perinatal Section, open to all interested SPP members, is envisioned for Saturday, September 22, 2001. Hopefully, we will meet from 4:00 - 6:00 pm and at the Peabody Hotel (room TBA) and still make the evening’s events! The agenda will include discussion of the Fall 2002 Symposium (Developmental Biology of the Placenta) and current and future section projects and symposia.

Questions? Contact Ona Faye-Petersen, MD: 

onamrie@path.uab.edu
or (205) 975-8880

Ad Hoc Perinatal Section Symposium

Society for Pediatric Pathology
The Peabody Hotel
Memphis, Tennessee
Sunday, September 23, 2001

Other Upcoming Meetings

For more information about other meetings of interest, please visit our Meetings/Events page.

New Positions Available

The most current information about positions that are available can be found on our Positions page.