Society for Pediatric Pathology - SPP Spring 2002 Newsletter

In the evolving world of genetically based diagnosis, some people view many of the traditional phenotypic observations as simply a primitive form of gene expression analysis.

First things first. On behalf of the entire Society, I wish to congratulate and thank Ron Jaffe for completing a very successful presidency. His implemented his goals through visionary leadership. His extension our Society’s expertise and good will to our less advantaged colleagues and his strong support of the birthing of the “perinatal group” are but two highlights of Ron’s remarkable presidential legacy.

Great appreciation from all of our membership is due to our immediate past council members as well as chairs and members of our committees for their diligence, time and contributions in support of the Society’s activities during the past year. Additionally, thanks in advance to the new members of each of these bodies for the efforts that I know will be forthcoming from them during the coming year. And not least, the success of the Spring meeting in Chicago confirmed the wisdom of cementing the Society’s relationship with the USCAP and its management staff.

What’s Next? Ron noted in the last newsletter that “A President of the Society, then, has limited opportunity for the grand and sweeping gesture. There may be time to pick a theme and to try and implement an enduring program.” Recognizing this limitation, it strikes me that the increasingly important overlap of pediatric and forensic pathology provides another opportunity for our Society. Given the significant differences in training requirements of these two disciplines, forensic pathologists experience considerable gaps in expertise in pediatric disorders, such as congenital heart disease or metabolic disorders. For example, pediatric cardiologists and surgeons may well desire that the medical examiner consult with a pediatric pathologist regarding interpretation of cardiac pathology and the consequences of surgical intervention. The opposite also occurs, but surely less commonly. Nevertheless, hospital-based pediatric pathologists must be aware of findings in surgicals and autopsies that may have forensic importance and, therefore, be reportable to the local medical examiner. In such instances, diagnosis and case disposition are likely to be more accurate when pediatric and forensic pathologists collaborate. Some of our members already find professional satisfaction from participation in medicolegal cases. But is our Society as a whole doing enough? Members of our Society possess the world’s greatest body of expertise and experience in diseases and disorders of the fetus, newborn, child, and placenta. We are in the best position to assist medical examiners in cases wherein such knowledge is advantageous to reaching an accurate diagnosis. Consequently, clinicians, families and the legal community are best served by our collaboration.

In the continuing spirit of Ron’s outreach goals, it is my hope that members of our Society will make themselves even more available to the forensic community. We have a professional responsibility to restore, sustain and enhance the lives of children. This includes our roles not only in the hospital, but also in the community at large. It is especially important that we reach into the medicolegal sphere where such relationships have not existed previously. It is my hope that those pediatric pathologists interested in forensic medicine will submit their abstracts and manuscripts to our Society meetings and to Pediatric and Developmental Pathology; that our members will actively participate in Child Death Review Teams; and that our members will accept invitations to present at scientific meetings sponsored by forensic societies, such as the National Association of Medical Examiners. It is also important that our members provide competent expert testimony in civil litigation and criminal prosecutions to offset irresponsible testimony from physicians seeking only remunerative gain. Finally, to gain some perspective of our members’ preparation and participation in medicolegal pediatric pathology, I am requesting that Society members complete and return the brief survey that is posted on the SPP website and was previously posted on the pedpath listserv. I will share the results with the Society at a future date.

President Jaffe called the business meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. in the Chicago VIII room of the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois.

President Jaffe acknowledged the loss of Dr. J. R. Schenken, Dr. M. R. Dische and Dr. P. O'Shea during the past year and a moment of silence was held.

President Jaffe reported that since the last business meeting, the following Council actions were performed:

President Jaffe thanked the outgoing chairs for their outstanding work: Beverly Rogers - Publications; Kathleen Patterson - Education; Glenn Dickey - Bylaws; Joel Haas - Finance; Derek deSa - Long Term Planning.

The Secretary-Treasurer reported on the membership status and the financial position of the Society. At year-end 2001, there were a total of 538 SPP members, with 380 regular, 37 junior, 48 affiliate, 1 honorary, 33 emeritus and 39 life members. As of January 1, 1998, all Society restricted and unrestricted funds were transferred into mutual fund holdings managed by Salomon Smith Barney. As of December 31, 2001 the SPP had total assets of $461,292, with $343,273 in restricted funds (Vawter, Lotte Strauss, Young Investigator), $107,246 in unrestricted general funds, $10,773 in the checking/savings account. The Fund for Endowment for Research in Pediatric Pathology (FERRP), also known as the Young Investigator Fund, value decreased in value from $180,016 in 2000 to the current value of $166,548; with the addition of $5300 in cash and $2155 in stock donations received. The Lotte Strauss Fund decreased in value from $180,933 in 2000 to the current value of $145,522. The Vawter Fund value was essentially unchanged from $31,478 in 2000 to the current value of $31,203; with additional funding received from the Vawter family. The financial status of the SPP at year-end 2001 revealed no deficit. The year 2002 budget, approved in September 2001, is a projected deficit budget. The transition to the new management office at the USCAP office is proceeding well and should be completed by February 28, 2002.

Archives Committee - Dr. Jaffe reported that twelve boxes of archival boxes were removed from the Degnon office and will be reviewed by Dr. Thomas Stocker.

Distinction and Awards Committee - Dr. Goldstein reported that the Lotte Strauss, Neustein and Vawter awards would be given tomorrow morning.

Bylaws Committee - Dr. Sander reported for the Bylaws committee. The proposed Bylaws changes have been previously distributed and published in the SPP newsletter. Dr. Sander read the bylaws changes. The bylaws changes were approved.

Education Committee - Dr. Teot reported for the Education Committee. The Society for Pediatric Pathology received 4 year ACCME accreditation following the last off-site visit in September 2001. There were some deficiencies noted, which are being addressed. The areas of deficiencies include disclosure declaration; needs assessment; management office support. A progress report is due November 2002.

Fellowship Committee - Dr. Greco reported for the Fellowship Committee. A summary of the fellowship survey will be posted on the SPP website. This summary was initially prepared in Memphis and completed at this meeting.

Finance Committee - Dr. Haas reported for the Finance Committee that the Society is doing well.

Long-term planning Committee - Dr. deSa reported that the fall long-term planning committee meeting minutes were published in Fall 2001 newsletter.

Practice Committee - Dr Jevon reported that a position paper in regards to perinatal and pediatric autopsy consent is nearly completed. The SPP slide survey has declining enrollment and various ideas to address this are being discussed. A pathologist staffing and activities survey has been devised and there was an appeal to members to complete this survey.

Publications Committee - Dr. Rogers reported for the Publications committee. The web page, newsletter, PDP journal and Perspectives are all doing well. Please keep submitting articles to the Journal.

Regular:
	Sandy S. Wu	Robyn Mantilia
	Dale Ellison	Robert E. Ruiz
	Michael Goldfischer	Sarah Keating
	Scott V. Smith	Hong (Holly) Zhou
	David S. Brink	Monique de Paepe
	Randall Hayden	Vania Nose
	Ajit J. Alles

Affiliate:
	R. Anthony Risdon	Consolato Sergi
	Ryuji Fukuzawa

Junior:
	Eric Albright	Lucile B. Tennant
	Andrew C. Hoot	Lili Miles
	Diane Molina

Nominating Committee - Dr. Krous reported for the Nominating Committee. The slate of nominees is:

President-elect: Derek deSa (2003)
Secretary-Treasurer: Deborah Perry
Secretary-Treasurer, elect: Halit Pinar (2003)
Council: Cynthia Kaplan & Elizabeth Perlman

There was a call for nominations from the floor. There were no additional nominations.

New Business: As a part of the SPP Outreach initiative started by Dr. Jaffe, Dr. Rudo Makunike from Zimbabwe gave a presentation outlining some of the ways in which the SPP could help African countries. After sincerely thanking Dr. Jaffe and the SPP, Dr. Makunike showed many beautiful pictures taken in Zimbabwe. She noted that Zimbabwe is a developing country, which has gone from the traditional healer, practiced in a hut to a female histopathologist practicing in a fairly modern setting. She outlined areas in which the SPP can help:

Dr. Makunike commented on the challenges of HIV/AIDS in Africa, with increased workload and changing pathology diagnoses. She invited all members to come to Zimbabwe for scientific and/or vacation reasons.

Dr. Jaffe thanked Dr. Makunike for her excellent presentation and noted that Dr. Benjamin and the ad hoc committee on international outreach, with the Liaison committee will coordinate the efforts of the Society.

Dr. Beverly Rogers invited all members to the SPP interim meeting in Dallas, Texas, Sept. 27-29, 2002, for barbecue, fun, and armadillo races.

Dr. David Witte reminded all members that the SPP interim meeting in 2003 will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 18, 2003, in conjunction with the tall stacks weekend.

Outgoing councilor, Dr. Glenn Taylor, escorted incoming President, Dr. Henry Krous to the podium. Dr. Krous thanked Dr. Jaffe for all of his hard work for the Society and presented him with a carved plaque.

At the SPP’s annual meeting in Chicago, four individuals were recognized for meritorious scientific efforts. The Lotte Strauss Prize, which is awarded annually to the author of the best paper published on a subject germane to pediatric pathology in the preceding year by an individual 40 years of age or younger, was awarded to Dr. Jean-Christophe Fournet. Dr. Fournet, formerly at Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris, is currently an Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal and staff Pediatric Pathologist at Hopital Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec. He received the Strauss Prize as first author of the paper: Unbalanced Expression of 11p15 Imprinted Genes in Focal Forms of Congenital Hyperinsulinism. Association with a Reduction to Homozygosity of a Mutation in ABCC8 or KCNJ11, published in the American Journal of Pathology, 2001; 158:2177. His co-authors were Drs. Mayaud, de Lonlay, Gross-Morand, Verkarre, Castanet, Devillers, Rahier, Brunelle, Robert, Nihoul-Fekete, Saudubray and Junien. Dr. Fournet receives a $1000 (U.S.) honorarium, and an expense paid trip to the Society’s interim meeting in September in Dallas, where he will present his research to those in attendance. Congratulations to Dr. Fournet and his co-workers. We are looking forward to his lecture.

The Gordon F. Vawter Pathologist in Training Award was awarded to Mr. Torin D. Shear, a medical student at University of Missouri, for work done as a summer extern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His abstract was titled: Pathologic Classification and p53 Expression in Wilms Tumor: A Preliminary Study. Mr. Shear’s co-authors were Drs. Dome, Billups and Hill. Congratulations to Mr. Shear, who should understand that in accepting this award the Society expects that he will eventually become a pathologist in training, preferably pursuing a career in pediatric pathology.

The Harry B. Neustein Award for use of new or novel technology was presented to Drs. Kenichi Harada and Anirban Maitra. Dr. Harada is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Dr. Maitra, formerly a resident and pediatric pathology fellow at UT Southwestern, is completing a GI pathology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Their paper was titled Promoter Methylation of CASPASE-8 and RASSF1A is a Common Event in Solid Tumors of Children. Other co-authors were Drs. Toyooka, Mastrangelo, Timmons, Tomlinson and Gazdar. Congratulations to Drs. Harada, Maitra and their co-authors. Dr. Maitra has now swept the SPP’s awards having previously received the Vawter and Strauss awards, the first individual to achieve such distinction.

A summary of the Survey of the Pediatric Pathology Fellowship Programs will be posted on the SPP website. Paul Dickman, a member of the Fellowship Committee, conducted the survey. Comments are welcome.

The list of Pediatric Pathology Fellowships posted on the SPP website is being updated. Please inform Alba Greco or Halit Pinar if the information about your program is not accurate and of any changes or update that you want make.

The journal has a new look from her new editor, sporting a color photograph on the front page and three new sections. The new sections include: PDP Insights (short editorial pieces about articles in the issue), Context articles (still to come - editorial commentaries addressing one of the featured articles), and a CPC, which will be coordinated by a pediatrician. Lisa DeLizio is the new editorial assistant, having taken over the office recently from the previous editorial assistant. Ms. DeLizio brings years of experience to the journal, having been the managing editor for Pediatric Research for several years. I believe you will begin to see the touch of our new editor and managing editor as we progress throughout the exciting new year. Some really exceptional news is that the number of submissions to the journal has increased and the all-important Impact Factor has doubled. This means that our Impact Factor is now 0.723, which is quite respectable for a journal that is only 4 years old. It will only increase, which will make our journal even more attractive to prospective contributors. You need to send articles to this journal. And may I suggest that when you write an article, regardless of where you submit it, it would helpful if you cited relevant articles from PDP. This is how the Impact Factor is determined. We have a lot of energy behind this important project, so let’s keep it going. Dr. Reyes-Múgica thanks all of the reviewers for their unheralded time. He is always looking for additional committed individuals who are willing to provide well-researched reviews in a timely manner. If he asks you for the names of good reviewers, please reply thoughtfully. I would like to thank Dr. Reyes-Múgica for the time, energy, and diplomatic talent he has brought to the very tough job of editor-in-chief. I have great confidence that the journal will flourish under his direction and we will be in for some really good times to come.

Drs. Dimmick and Singer have obtained articles for the year 2002, which will continue the topic of embryogenesis. Look for articles on renal tract malformations, the enteric nervous system, molecular embryogenesis of the heart, and embryogenesis of the central nervous system. In conjunction with Dr. Collins, they will be compiling a bound volume related to GI pathology.

The website is as you see it - timely, informative, and well constructed. The relationship between our editor, Hal Pinar, and webmaster, Ricky Lark, is fluid and the groundwork is set to make the website even more useful. Dr. Pinar is discussing online abstract submissions with Jim Crimmins of our central office.

I would like to end with a note of appreciation for two people. The first is Pat O’Shea, who is no longer with us in body but always in spirit. Pat had already begun work to take over the Publications Committee and was working on information for the spring Committee meeting until immediately prior to her untimely death. She has been a good friend, and a colleague whom I have respected for many years. The new Chair of the Publications Committee will be Steve Qualman beginning at the fall meeting, 2002. Dr. Qualman brings years of experience to the Publications Committee, initially as a member of the Committee and then as a participant in a small working group about issues related to the journal. I appreciate the job he is about to do.

At the Annual Meeting in Chicago the Practice Committee considered a position paper regarding consent for the perinatal and pediatric autopsy. The paper addresses the manner in which consent is obtained, consent to the extent/limits of the examination, subsequent tissue retention, and its use for research purposes. Council has agreed to consider this paper following amendments to the draft.

Enrollment in the Pediatric Pathology case study survey has declined greatly. The committee reviewed factors that may be contributory, especially the results of the slide survey evaluations. It was decided to investigate the possibility of developing the survey into a proficiency test. Groups of previous cases will be available on a disc; old cases will be accessible through the SPP website for educational purposes.

The Practice Committee has completed a pilot survey of the staffing and activities of pediatric pathologists practicing in a small group of freestanding children's hospitals. A less extensive questionnaire is now available. Representatives from those institutions who wish to contribute to the survey should contact Dr. Gareth Jevon at gjevon@cw.bc.ca <mailto:gjevon@cw.bc.ca> who will distribute the document via e-mail. Members are encouraged to participate in this benchmarking activity as individuals, as well, especially those pediatric pathologists who provide expertise in mixed practices or adult oriented groups/hospitals. This simplified survey is patterned after one conducted by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

Members wishing to comment further on any of the above matters should contact any committee member, or e-mail comments to Ted Pysher at pctpyshe@ihc.com.

The Education Committee and the entire Society owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kathleen Patterson for ably chairing the committee for the last three years and for her tenure as a committee member and twice-chair of the Workshop/Symposium subcommittee in the years proceeding her term as chair. Kathy has updated and greatly expanded the Education Committee manual originally written by Henry Krous, and she is promising one last version before turning over the reins. Without this document to preserve past records and guide our operations and procedures, the members of the committee could not function as well as they do. Her efforts on behalf of Society are greatly appreciated, and were recognized by Dr. Jaffe who presented her with a Distinguished Colleague award at the spring meeting.

CME subcommittee:
The Society’s eligibility to grant CME credit rests on maintaining its accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Lisa Teot, our CME Coordinator, who contributed many, many hours (not to mention headaches and nervous tension) preparing for our ACCME survey last fall is to be congratulated for our receiving Full Accreditation for a four year term. The requirements to maintain accreditation for our educational activities have become ever more complex and burdensome, and Lisa has done a tremendous job in pulling together all of the diverse documentation necessary, as well as trying to streamline our procedures for maintaining accreditation in the future. We should all be grateful to Lisa for agreeing to continue to serve in this capacity for the duration of the next inspection cycle. Thanks to those other committee members who served as CME monitors for educational programs over the past year.

Abstract subcommittee:
Cynthia Kaplan completed her term on the committee as the Abstract subcommittee chairperson, and I would thank Cindy for her contributions. At the spring meeting, 37 of 52 submitted abstracts were accepted for presentation. The number of abstracts was down slightly from last spring. Please consider submitting your abstracts to us and encourage your colleagues and trainees to do so as well. Web-based abstract submission through USCAP was implemented for the spring meeting with great success. This enhanced the speed and accuracy of processing and transmitting the material to reviewers, publishers, etc. On-line submission will be used for the fall meeting as well, and we anticipate further benefits by automating this process.

Workshop/Symposium subcommittee:
Edith Schmidt, the subcommittee chair, put together an excellent educational program for this spring meeting, and she also completes her term as soon as all of the evaluations are tabulated and provided to the CME committee! Thank you Ede for your service. I would also like to thank Hannah Kinney for assembling an excellent panel for the symposium in Chicago: Topics in Pediatric Neuropathology: New Directions, and also Drs. Husain, Parizhskaya and Liapis, whose workshops were presented for the third and final time at the recent meeting. Next year’s spring meeting symposium, on Mitochondrial Diseases moderated by David Witte was approved.

Two new workshops were approved to begin in 2003: a Dermatopathology workshop presented by Dr. Aliya Husain, from Loyola University and a vascular tumors and malformations workshop by Dr. Harry Kozakewich, from Boston Children’s Hospital.

Extramural subcommittee:
The extramural subcommittee’s role is to focus attention on the SPP’s educational interactions with other scientific groups and societies. Discussion regarding using the SPP meeting as a venue for Children’s Oncology Group (COG) pathology education was favorable, in view of their decision to discontinue pathology symposia at the COG meetings because of poor attendance by pathologists. At least one workshop to relevant COG pathology topics will be offered, and other opportunities may also be developed. Suggestions in this regard are still welcome. The committee also reviewed and forwarded to Council a proposal for an SPP sponsored, stand alone Placental and Perinatal Pathology course, which we hope to develop further over the coming months.

Interim meetings:
The final program for the fall 2002 Dallas interim meeting and perinatal symposium were approved, as well as initial proposals for 2003 in Cincinnati, 2004 in Little Rock, and 2005, in Paris France as a joint meeting with the European Pediatric Pathology Society. An ad hoc liaison planning committee has been appointed for this meeting, and as soon as dates are finalized we’ll let everyone know so you can reserve them on your calendar!

Sarah Johnson-Welch left the University of Oklahoma April 1 to join the pediatric pathology group at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and Southwestern Medical School.

Dr Hannes Vogel assumed the position Director of Neuropathology at Stanford University on April 6. His replacement as Director of Pediatric and Molecular Neuropathology at Texas Children’s Hospital is Adekunle Adesina, currently Associate Professor of Pathology and Chief of Neuropathology at the University of Oklahoma. Joining him is Meena Bhattacharjee, currently Director of Neuropathology at Tulane.

James Versalovic, MD, PhD, returned to TCH in December to direct molecular microbiology and Jun Teruya, MD, DSc, also arrived in December to direct Baylor's coagulation laboratory and the therapeutic pheresis service and blood bank at TCH.

Edith Hawkins will retire at the end of June after 25 years of outstanding accomplishment at Texas Childrens Hospital, the Southwest Pediatric Nephrology Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group. Dr. Hawkins has also made many important contributions to the SPP over the years. She will be much missed.

Background: The Society for Pediatric Pathology established the Resident's Case Presentation Award to encourage residents to consider careers in pediatric pathology.

Goal: To identify interested candidates and involve them in the interim meeting and publications of the SPP.

Eligibility: Any resident in an ACGME-approved Anatomic or Clinical Pathology program may apply.

Application: Submit a single-page Case Report related to the theme, "Unique Aspects of Pediatric Pathology". Aside from the length, the format of the Case Report is left to the discretion of the author. However, it must describe a surgical or clinical pathology case and indicate how some aspect of the particular case highlights a difference between pediatric pathology and other subspecialities.

Selection Process: Complete applications must be received no later than June 1, 2002. Awardees will be notified by July 1, 2002.

Application: Completed applications should be sent to Raj P. Kapur, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of the Research Committee, Department of Pathology - Box 359300 CH37, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98105.