• Audiences, Issues Converge at Annual Meeting
• Members Honored for Their Accomplishments and Service
• Course Materials and Keynote Webcasts
• 2009 ASCP Annual Meeting

A convergence of diverse member audiences and in-depth discussions of real-world issues were the highlights of the ASCP Annual Meeting held in Baltimore this October. This diverse audience of physicians, residents, and laboratory technologists enjoyed a rich program of educational sessions and networking events.

Opening Keynote speaker Susan Dentzer, a leading health policy analyst, addressed the current economic crisis and provided her take on the pros and cons of the healthcare reform proposals of the two presidential candidates.

The Scientific Keynote was presented by Robert R. Redfield, MD, a co-founder with Robert C. Gallo, MD, of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (following a last-minute cancellation by Dr. Gallo, who suffered a bout of typhoid fever during a recent trip to South Africa.) In his presentation, “HIV/AIDS: A Perspective on Lessons from the Past and Prospects for the Future,” he shared a hopeful vision of the future of the development of an effective AIDS vaccine.

Robert E. Petras, MD, FASCP, FACG presented the Arthur Purdy Stout Address, “Lower Intestinal Polyps I Have Known,” a wide-ranging overview of mucosal polyps affecting the lower intestines and invaluable insights about nomenclature controversies.

More than 100 educational sessions were offered in clinical and surgical pathology, cytopathology, and practice management. Residents Day events, which included a roundtable on preparing for the real world and laboratory management issues, were attended by more than 100 pathology residents. For the first time, a well-attended special session just for laboratory professionals on an Introduction to Lean Six Sigma was presented by a representative from Abbott Laboratories.

Barbara J. McKenna, MD, FASCP, the director of the surgical pathology fellowship program as well as an attending physician at the University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan was installed as the new ASCP President at the Annual Business Meeting.

David F. Keren, MD, FASCP, ASCP Past President, was honored with the 2008 ASCP Israel Davidsohn Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes an ASCP Fellow who has made a significant contribution to the Society by participating in a variety of roles throughout their careers.

Kent B. Lewandrowski, MD, FASCP, was awarded the 2008 ASCP Ward Burdick Award for Distinguished Service to Clinical Pathology, which recognized an ASCP member who has made a significant contribution to pathology through sustained service to the profession and ASCP.

Ishwarlal Jialal, MD, PhD, FASCP was the recipient of the 2008 Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research. This award recognized research who have made a significant contribution to molecular pathology, immunohematology, and immunopathology.

And, Russell K. Brynes, MD, FASCP received the 2008 ASCP H.P. Smith Award for Distinguished Pathology Educator, which is given to ASCP Fellow members who have had distinguished careers in pathology and laboratory medicine embracing education, research and administration, as well as service to organized pathology.

Eight ASCP members were honored with ASCP Mastership designations, which honor ASCP members who have made significant contributions to the field of pathology and laboratory medicine and to the ASCP. The 2008 Mastership recipients are:

Did you miss the 2008 ASCP Annual Meeting in Baltimore? You can download the keynote presentations to your computer or save the "audio-only" files to your iPod or MP3 player. Course Materials are also available for download.

• New ASCP President, Barbara J. McKenna, MD, FASCP spoke at the ASCP Annual Business Meeting and at the ASCP Annual Meeting Opening Ceremonies. Her talk asked the question, "What is the American Society for Clinical Pathology all about?" And she provided the answer: helping pathologists and laboratorians help patients. [Download Audio MP3 only] [Download Audio & PowerPoint]
• Susan Dentzer, one of the nation’s most respected health policy journalists, was this year’s Opening Keynote Presenter. She presented an analysis of the health care reform proposals of the presidential candidates. [Download Audio MP3 only] [Download Audio & PowerPoint]
• Robert R. Redfield, MD, of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine presented, “HIV/AIDS: A Perspective on Lessons from the Past and Prospects for the Future” on Friday, October 17, 2008. [Download Audio MP3 only] [Download Audio & PowerPoint]
• The Arthur Purdy Stout Society Address by Robert E. Petras, MD, FASCP, FACG, a leading expert in gastrointestinal pathology, covered the spectrum of mucosal polyps affecting the lower intestines. [Download Audio MP3 only] [Download Audio & Handout]

Instructions: To see the slides and audio, you must first download and save the zip file to your hard drive. Once the zip file is saved on your computer, you will be prompted to open the file or folder. Once extracted, you will see the PPS (power point slide show) file that can be launched by double clicking. If you do not already have Power Point, you can download the free Power Point Viewer here.