RESEARCH COMMITTEE
David Parham, MD, Chairperson

Winner of the McAdams Study Stipend is Gary Mierau, PhD, The Children’s Hospital, Denver, CO. He will visit Dr. Jem Berry, Bristol, UK, to broaden investigations into diagnostic modalities in pediatric small cell tumors.

Young Investigator Award winner is Russell Broaddus, MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, for his proposal for “Specific cytokine-directed immunotherapy in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease”.

PRACTICE COMMITTEE
David Zwick, MD, Chair

The Practice Committee has revised the SPP Slide Survey. Beginning in 1998, subscribers may obtain up to 12 hours of CME credits for participating and submitting within a limited time frame their answers to several multiple-choice questions. Committee slides survey oversight, schedules and selection processes have been defined. Other modifications in the Slide Survey are intended to improve the educational quality and provide data from the participants' responses that will help target future educational activities of the Society. (Subscribers should note that the Slide Survey is not intended nor will it provide external proficiency monitoring for subscribers; subscribers’ responses are analyzed anonymously and only group responses reported to subscribers). Interested individuals may submit potential slide survey cases for Practice Committee consideration by contacting Robert Novak, SPP Slide Survey Coordinator, Department of Pathology, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308-1062, (330) 379-8725, FAX (330) 258-3226.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Virginia Baldwin, MD, Chair

New Members - Since the Interim Meeting in September 1997, the Society has accepted the applications of 25 new members, for a total of 580 members from 37 countries. Membership Application Process - This is functioning much more smoothly with the assistance of the staff at the Society Office.

Delinquent Members - As of January 1998, there were 24 members in arrears for their 1997 dues. Since the approval of the by-laws changes at the 1998 General Meeting in Boston, there is now a clearer process for dealing with delinquent embers, and delinquent members will not be permitted beyond one year of the membership arrears.

Membership Directory - All members should have a copy of the directory. It is each member’s responsibility to keep the Society Office notified of any changes in address in a timely fashion.

Recruiting - There is a new and most attractive Society brochure created by Beverly Rogers. We are looking into ways to getting that information out to those practicing pediatric pathology who may not be aware of our support and educational opportunities are available.

Proposed By-laws Changes - The proposed changes published in the last Newsletter were passed at the 1998 Annual General Meeting in Boston.

Representation of Membership Committee on Council - The Membership Committee is now directly represented and will look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship for the benefit of the Society.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Henry Krous, MD, Chair

Endorsement of the Finance Committee’s recommendation that a uniform fee be charged to organization with which the Society for Pediatric Pathology co-sponsors educational activities and who request CME accreditation through the auspices of the Society. The recommendation is a $500 base fee and $5 for each additional registrant over 100 for those organizations that request only documentation of attendance and $1,500 plus $15/registrant over 100 for those organizations requesting additional administrative services (certificates etc.).

Council endorses and encourages the participation of all accredited pediatric pathology fellowships in the National Resident Matching Program. Materials and copies of relevant correspondence were circulated to each director of an accredited pediatric pathology fellowship program. Dr. Krous is working with the program directors and Ms. Liz Lostumbo, National Resident Matching Program to finalize implementation of the matching process.

The Society continues to pursue a solution to standardization of Canadian and United States pediatric pathology training fellowships in order to achieve board certification in pediatric pathology by the American Board of Pathology. For additional information contact Joe Rutledge, M.D. and see his report in this Newsletter.

Educational innovations at the Boston meeting included the following. Non-SPP members were allowed to register for SPP Workshops on the day of the presentations at the same cost to SPP members, but without a meeting registration fee. The Farber Lecture and the President’s Inaugural address were videotaped and added to the Society archives.

AD-HOC FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Joe Rutledge, MD, Chairperson

The first goal of this ad-hoc committee is to insure Canadian programs will qualify candidates to sit for the specialty exam in pediatric pathology given exclusively by the American Board of Pathology. Drs. Jim Dimmick, Virginia Baldwin and Glenn Taylor are working with the Canadian governing boards to determine the position north of the parallel. Dr. Bill Bradford and Bill Donnelly will work on the USA side. We are optimistic that a mechanism exists to allow certification of our fine Canadian programs. Drs. Virginia Baldwin and Joe Rutledge will work with the American Board of Pathology.

The American Board of Pathology has postponed a decision on the 5th year of pathology training. When that decision is made, the SPP may have an opportunity to seek an increase of required fellowship training from one to two years. The Board will, however, likely follow the ACGME lead on length of fellowships. According to those working on residency and fellowship funding and who have the inside line on the philosophical decisions on fellowships, it will be an uphill battle to get official sanction of 2 years required. Each of us should think about what is necessary training for the practice of pediatric pathology. I propose that we have some time at the next two meetings to discuss the realities of fellowship length.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
Beverly B. Rogers, MD, Chair

Two issues of the new SPP sanctioned journal, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology has now been published. There is overwhelming approval for the new format and type font used. The current allotment of pages by Springer has resulted in publication of fewer pages than previously and Dr. Denis Benjamin and Mr. George Degnon are addressing this. The change to Springer has also allowed for an increase in the number of color pages in each issue. Springer will apply to the National Library of Medicine for indexing after the fourth issue and we anticipate a favorable response.

The subscription base for the new journal is approximately 800 subscriptions. The majority are from the US from SPP members, who receive it as part of the society dues. The Pediatric Pathology Society has also included the journal as part of their dues, and they make up 137 of the subscriptions from overseas. There are only 18 institutional subscriptions; there were more than 100 institutional subscriptions to the previous journal. This is due in part to a timing issue for renewals. Every SPP member is encouraged to speak with his/her library concerning a change in subscription. A letter will be forthcoming from Dr. Rogers that can be forwarded to each library. Mr. Degnon will talk to Springer about sending advertisements and letters to institutions that subscribed to the former journal.

With the combined format for the Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology and Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, there is need to eliminate overlap between the two editorial boards. The “Process for Nomination of Editors” and “Guidelines for the Selection of Members of the Board of Editors” will be revised to reflect this. It was suggested that the combined editorial board be composed of 50 individuals, 2/3 for Pediatric and Developmental Pathology and 1/3 for Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology. Currently there is a vacancy as an associate editor with the resignation of Dr. Cheryl Coffin; a replacement to be chosen by Dr. Denis Benjamin. Also Dr. Jem Berry has been named the associate editor for Europe.

The Pediatric Pathology Society has given their complete sponsorship to the new journal, Pediatric and Developmental Pathology. This is reflected in their including the subscription as part of their membership dues and appointment of Dr. Jem Berry as European associate editor. The committee supports the principle to provide revenue to the PPS in return for their support. Mr. George Degnon will work out the specific arrangements with approval by the Publications Committee and Executive Committee of the SPP.

There are plans for publication of a separate bound issue of Perspectives of Pediatric Pathology compiled from the Perspectives articles published during the year in Pediatric and Developmental Pathology. The issue will also include a “Founder Series” article.

Dr. Paul Dickman was officially chosen as editor of the Website and is working on various ways to expand the Website.

Inter

TORONTO, CANADA
September 18 and 19, 1998
Glenn Taylor, MD

SYMPOSIUM, NEW HORIZONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGY - Director, Dr. Robert Freedom, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Regulations of the Extracellular Matrix in the Pathobiology of Pulmonary Vascular Disease - Dr. Marlene Rabinovitch, University of Toronto

Host-Pathogen Interactions in Viral Myocarditis - Dr. Perer Lui, University of Toronto

Approach to the Pathologic Diagnosis of Pediatric Cardiomyopathy - Dr. Glenn Taylor, University of Toronto

Prospects for Cardiac Xenotransplantation - Dr. Lori West, University of Toronto

New Technology for Cardiovascular Bioprosthesis - Dr. Greg Wilson, University of Toronto

The IPPG met Friday evening, preceding the SPP meeting in Boston. Three short presentations by Drs. Carolyn Salafia, Edwina Popek and Jorge Las Heras were made on relevant placental topics.

A short business meeting followed. The major discussion revolved around whether to form a formal organization, and if so, what should be our mission. There was considerable difference of opinion on both of these issues. It was decided that there were advantages to a formal organization and we would pursue the details. This discussion took the form of an election of sorts, where Dr. Jorge Las Heras was unanimously elected as President and Dr. Edwina Popek, Secretary. Drs. Cynthia Kaplan, Robert Bendon and Ona Faye-Peterson were chosen as representatives from various regions of the US.

After action items; Edwina to find out what is necessary to form a new organization under the auspices of the USCAP and a future meeting of Officers and representatives to discuss the formation and mission of the IPPG. We also plan a brief meeting preceding the interim meeting in Toronto.

The time has come to create a more formal organization. The advantages are those already apparent to the SPP. However, we have a different clientele. We need to interact with other organizations with our own identity as perinatal pathologists. We need our own program.

I propose the following:

1. That we organize with by laws as a separate organization, the North American Perinatal Pathology Secretary (NAPPS). This is not to exclude members from anywhere in the world, but merely to distinguish our section of the International Placental Pathology Group.
2. That we have the first meeting of NAPPS to precede the SPP interim meeting in Toronto, September 17, 1998. I also propose that we coordinate the NAPPS meeting with the IPPG meeting.
3. That we announce the group and its meeting widely. There will be an annual meeting of NAPPS.
4. NAPPS will have open membership.
5. The Mid America Placental Study Group will remain unchanged. The advantages of MAPS are those of a small group. The disadvantage is that I must arbitrarily exclude some people to remainsmall. MAPS members, I hope, will support the new group. Formation of NAPPS does not preclude local subgroups such as MAPS from having meeting. MAPS will continue to receive the QA slides. NAPPS members may obtain the slides at cost.
6. An announcement per se will not create a new group. Its existence depends on perinatal pathologists seeing this group as in their best interest. The corollary is that they will then commit to doing the work to run the organization. We will need very early to address many of the same concerns as the SPP such as 1) electronic media 2) education and meeting planning 3) Newsletter 4) practice including the slide program and the nosology and 5) interface with other organization, including the new International Placental Pathology Group. However, our first efforts have to be organizational including, by laws, membership, dues, and nominations. I propose a temporary steering committee to boot strap the organization. They are Kurt Benirschke, Ray Redline, Trevor MacPherson, Cindy Kaplan, and Steve Lewis.

The Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Institute for Pediatric Medical Education will jointly sponsor a four day seminar on forensic issues related to the pediatric patient. Codirected by Drs. Henry Krous, Tracey Corey Handy and Roger Byard, the course will be held from November 15-18, 1998 at The Catamaran Resort Hotel on Mission Beach in San Diego.

The seminar will consist of presentations on a broad spectrum of topics of concern not only to the members of medical examiners office and child protection teams, but also to the hospital based physician who is called upon to deal with a sometimes “unexpected” pediatric forensic issue. Case studies by faculty will actively involve participants in discussions on the practical approach to diagnosis, scene investigation, and court room testimony. The faculty will consist of forensic pathologists, pediatric pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, attorneys, and police investigators. Faculty members include W.F. Balistreri, J. Buchino, R. W. Byard, H. Elias, R. Firstman, T.C. Handy, R.L. Hanzlick, K. Hymel, P. Kleinman, H.F. Krous, J. Talan and J. Woods. Topics include postmortem examination, scene investigation, SIDS, head trauma, postmortem chemistry, sexual abuse, neonatacide, accidental death, blunt chest and abdominal trauma, natural causes of sudden death and Munchausen by proxy, among others. A model for establishing a pediatric forensic program will also be presented. Participants will receive a syllabus of approximately 350 pages including conference presentations and case studies.

The Institute for Pediatric Medical Education and the Society for Pediatric Pathology, both nonprofit organizations, jointly sponsor “Pediatric Forensics Issues”. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians accredits the Society for Pediatric Pathology. The Society for Pediatric Pathology certifies that this CME activity meets the criteria for 29 hours of category 1 credit for The Physicians’ Recognition Award of the American Medical Association.

A special tuition rate is available for members of the SPP. For further information, contact the Institute for Pediatric Medical Education, 6604 Landon Lane, Bethesda, MD 20187. Telephone & FAX: (301) 229-8338. Information is also available on the SPP website at http://path.upmc.edu/spp/ (Webmaster's note: The current website is http://www.spponline.org/.)

The VIII Latin American Conference on Pediatric Pathology will be held in Panama, November 15-20, 1998. It will be a conjoined conference with the Central American Meetings of Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery and Neonatology. Scientific program is still tentative.

Requirements for Submission of Abstracts (form enclosed in Newsletter).

1. Abstract deadline, received by July 31, 1998
2. The abstract can be written in Spanish, Portuguese or English
3. Use an electric typewriter or laser printer. Do not erase.
4. Use the form included with this Newsletter. Fill the space, but do not go outside of the lines.
5. The title of the work should be in capital letters, followed by the names of the authors, institution, city and country in lower case.
6. Be specific in describing the subject of the study, materials and methods, results and conclusions.
7. The abstracts will be printed in a book of abstracts just as they are received.
8. Please check your presentation choice, poster or podium.

Registration for the IAP meeting deadlines:

• Registration for the Scientific meeting at the reduced price (2 700 FF) is only available until 1st of June. If you have not received yet the second announcement with the registration form, abstract form, etc ask immediately to the Congress organizer Convergences by e-mail or to their Website (look on last SPP Newsletter for these references).
• Abstract deadline is April 15th, although it is possible that, due to delay in sending the Abstracts form to participants, 4 to 5 days more may be added to the deadline by Congress organizers.
• Pediatric Pathologists Dinner is scheduled on Thursday October 22nd. It is still time to register. We do not foresee a formal dinner, but a friendly dinner in a good restaurant, with good wines (price /person: 280 FF, all drinks included). Unhappily, dinner has to be paid in advance. The easiest way is to ask your bank to give you a check to Alcyan-Boccon-Gibod in French Francs, drawn on a French Bank (they all have representatives in France), and then to send the check by mail to me with your registration form. It will not be possible to take new registrations for the dinner after May 20th. So, please, hurry. If you have lost your registration form, ask for one by fax at 33 1 44 73 62 82.

Reminders

• A list of hotels has been provided with last issue of SPP News letter. A vast choice is also given in the Second Announcement Booklet, available from Convergences.
• Pediatric Pathology is present everyday on the Scientific Program.
• International Pediatric Pathology Association (IPPA) Symposium “ Cholestasis in Children “ takes place on Wednesday 21st, am.
• IPPA General Business Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday 21st 4:30 pm, after the Symposium on “ Pulmonary Pathology in Children”. Remember all Pathologists belonging to SPP belong to IPPA and should attend the IPPA Business Meeting as well as members of PPS, ANZ Pediatric Pathology Society, Japanese Pediatric Pathology Society, SLAPPE.
• Next Editorial Board for Pediatric and Developmental Pathology will take place in Nice, on Tuesday October 20th, at noon, in a typical restaurant.

Search for Director
Department of Pathology Children's Hospital Oakland, California

Children’s Hospital Oakland is initiating a search for Director of the Department of Pathology. Academic appointments are available through the University of California. The facility is a 205-bed, freestanding pediatric hospital in Oakland, California, with a large primary care population and a dominant position in specialty referrals in Northern California and Nevada (70% market share). The hospital includes 23 pediatric intensive care unit beds, 47 neonatal intensive care unit beds, 25 oncology beds, 17 rehabilitation beds, and 93 medical-surgical beds, including 22 leased beds off-site. The hospital occupancy is 72%. Recently, there were 102,257 annual outpatient visits, 50,354 emergency department visits, 4,509 inpatient surgeries and 2,230 outpatient surgeries.

The Children’s hospital is a regional pediatric trauma center, receiving patients from all of Northern California. It provides a major teaching program in pediatrics and pediatric specialties, and has trained more than 50% of community-based pediatricians in Northern California. In addition, the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute ranks among the top three pediatric institutions in NIH grant funding.

The Pathology Department provides surgical pathology, autopsy and clinical laboratory services to Children’s Hospital Oakland. The Pathology Department examines approximately 2,500 surgical specimens annually, 390 non-gynecologic cytologic specimens, and performs 35 autopsies per year. The Clinical Laboratory provides hematology, chemistry, coagulation, immunology, flow cytometry and microbiology, and includes a high-volume sophisticated blood bank. Approximately 200,000 tests are performed annually. An approved fellowship program in Pediatric Pathology is not active at the present time.

The applicant must be Board-certified in anatomic and pediatric pathology, have a minimum of five years experience in the practice of pediatric pathology, and must be eligible for or possess a current California medical license.

For additional information, contact: James Feusner, MD, Chairman, Pathology Search Committee, Children’s Hospital Oakland, 747 Fifty-Second Street, Oakland, CA 94609; (510) 428-3689; Fax (510) 601-3916 or Roger A. Williams, MD, Director, Pathology Department, Children’s Hospital, 747 Fifty-Second Street, Oakland, CA 94609; (510) 428-3530; Fax (510) 601-3915

Staff Pediatric Pathologist
The Montreal Children's Hospital

The Montreal Children’s Hospital and McGill University Department of Pathology solicit applications for a Staff Position in Pediatric Pathology for the Montreal Children’s Hospital located in the heart of downtown Montreal. The Montreal Children’s Hospital provides pediatric services to a significant portion of the Montreal community and surrounding communities and is now an integral part of the McGill University Health Centre. It has strong patient care and academic programs. The Pathology Department currently processes annually approximately 5,000 surgical cases and 60 autopsies. The competitive applicant will have strong diagnostic skills in pediatric pathology. Expertise would be particularly appreciated in the areas of neuropathology and gastrointestinal and liver pathology. Candidates should be certified by the Royal College of Canada, and/or the College des Medicins de Quebec in Anatomic Pathology and eligible for license in the Province of Quebec. Participation in teaching and clinical research activities is expected, and ability to develop an independent research program would be a distinct asset. This candidate will be appointed to the rank of at least Assistant Professor.

The environment in the department of Pathology, at McGill University and in Montreal are most conducive to career development, numerous cultural and recreational activities, and a rich personal and family life.

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. McGill University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified men and women, including but not limited to visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.

Please send a letter of application, a recent curriculum vitae and the names and coordinates of at least 3 referees by May 1, 1998, to: Dr. Rene P. Michel, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Lyman Duff Medical Sciences Bldg.,3775 University Street, Room B15, Montreal, QC, CANADA, H3A 2B4; (514) 398-7192, ext 7194; Fax: (514) 398-7446; e-mail: michel@pathology.lan.mcgill.ca

On-Year Residency in Pediatric Pathology
Children's Hospital of Buffalo

Applications are being accepted for a one-year Residency in Pediatric Pathology at the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York.

The requirements of the program are an MD degree and three to four years of training in anatomic or anatomic and clinical pathology. The applicant must be licensable in New York State.

Applicants will have exposure to pediatric anatomic and clinical pathology, placentology, perinatal and gynecologic pathology. Responsibilities will include service, teaching and clinical research.

The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is the only freestanding Children’s Hospital in New York State. The hospital also has an OB/GYN service associated with the institution. It is unique in that apart from being a children’s hospital, it is also the regional center for high-risk pregnancies. There are 313 beds of which 174 are pediatric, 54 intensive care nursery, 18 intensive care and 67 maternal beds. The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae and the names of three references to: John E. Fisher, MD, Head, Department of Pathology, The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, 219 Bryant Street, Buffalo, New York 14222

Pediatric Pathology Fellowship Program
San Antonio, Texas

The Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital is offering a 1-2 year Fellowship in Pediatric Pathology. The fellowship in AP/CP, encompasses surgical, bone marrow, autopsy, cytologic and FNAB aspects of Pediatric Pathology and ample access to flow cytometry laboratories is included. These and all chapters of a modern clinical laboratory are housed at the Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital. The program also includes cytogenetics in the Santa Rosa Northwest Laboratory, and forensic pediatric pathology in near-by Medical Examiner’s Office. The fellowship is affiliated with the University of Texas Medical School, Department of Pathology and keeps a working relationship with the local Military hospitals. Clinical and research activities are encouraged and are available a the Children’s Hospital or at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital is the primary tertiary pediatric care center for South Texas. The program is comprehensive. For 1997 it included the following volumes for anatomic pathology:

Surgicals 2414 (plus)
Placentas 2,434
Autopsy 40 (plus)
ME cases 7
Cytopath 300
Bone Marrow 213

Send a current curriculum vitae to Victor A. Saldivar, MD, Program Director, Department of Pathology, Santa Rosa Children’s hospital, 519 W. Houston, San Antonio, TX 78207. (210) 704-3565.