ASCP 2019 Annual Meeting Promotes Education, Advancement and Discovery

Approximately 1,500 attendees came together from around the world to be inspired by distinguished keynote speakers and groundbreaking scientific discoveries at the ASCP 2019 Annual Meeting, Sept. 11-13, in Phoenix, Arizona. Through this exceptional event, attendees gained strategies to stay on the forefront of the profession, as well as laboratory stewardship techniques to improve outcomes and enhance patient care.

Attendees heard poignant and personal stories shared by distinguished speakers advocating for access to quality health care. Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, current president of the Union for International Cancer Control, gave an impassioned speech about her personal journey with her child's cancer and the important role that diagnostic medicine played in his treatment. She also talked about her role as Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Center for more than 10 years, during which time she transformed the institution to a high-quality cancer center with improving survival rates, especially for children. At the end of her presentation, HRH Princess Dina was presented the 2019 ASCP Patient Advocate Award in recognition of her work to reduce cancer in resource-limited countries around the world. Later, during the Grand Opening Reception, she toured the Exhibit Hall, greeting and engaging attendees in conversation.

During the Grand Opening Reception, for the first time, ASCP hosted a Fellowship Fair where more than 150 pathology residents, as well as medical students and fellows, learned about various fellowship opportunities that are available across the United States. Approximately 30 U.S. institutions, offering more than 200 fellowship positions, provided information about their respective programs.

One fourth-year medical student who wants to become a pathologist exclaimed, "This fair was an amazing experience! I made so many vital connections for me as I apply for residency." 

The Exhibit Hall also featured the 2019 Patient Symposium co-hosted by ASCP Patient Champions and the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Patients and the public were invited to the event, which featured educational sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities to empower patients to understand laboratory testing for chronic kidney disease, kidney cancer, diabetes and other kidney related diseases. ASCP Patient Champion Anthony Reed was presented the ASCP Patient Champion Award and thanked for his contributions to patient education on behalf of the Society.

The following day, at the beginning of the Scientific General Session, 2018-2019 ASCP President Melissa P. Upton, MD, FASCP, gave the President’s Address, offering highlights of the Society’s activities over the past year. She also spoke about the Society’s new initiative focusing on diversity and the empowerment of women and minorities in the laboratory. The Society is working to advance diversity, inclusion and empowerment of women and underrepresented minorities by developing related strategies in the areas of awareness, recruitment, talent development and the growth of inclusive and equitable workplaces.

She then introduced Michael Schubert, editor of The Pathologist magazine, who moderated a panel debate on test utilization management. Mr. Schubert convened six experts who shared their unique perspectives and approaches to controlling the costs of diagnostic testing while still providing high quality patient care.

“There is no universal right answer to how much testing is appropriate. Every institution has a different policy for when to implement certain tests. We hope this session will help attendees discover where that that balance lies and how we can establish best practices,” Schubert said.

Panelist Gary W. Procop, MD, MS, MASCP, added, “Being good stewards of financial resources remains important, especially in this era of decreasing reimbursements and capitation, and there are a number of other drivers for the increased interest in improving test utilization.”

In addition to Dr. Procop, panelists included

• Geoffrey S. Baird, MD, PhD, clinical pathologist and associate professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington;
• Adam L. Booth, MD, fourth-year resident of anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch–Galveston;
• John Eckman, PA(ASCP)^CM, chair of the Board of Trustees, American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants;
• Nicole Riddle, MD, FASCP, staff pathologist, Tampa General Hospital for Ruffolo, Hooper & Associates, and associate professor, associate residency program director, and research liaison, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine; and
• Ronald B. Schifman, MD, professor of pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and chief of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System.

“With the proliferation of molecular tests over the past decade and more and more patients seeking laboratory services, now more than ever pathologists and medical laboratory professionals must play a crucial supporting role for ordering clinicians in choosing the right test at the right time for the right patients,” said ASCP CEO E. Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)^CM.

In the Exhibit Hall, attendees connected with exhibitors and browsed the hundreds of posters. Nearby, ASCP Foundation donors enjoyed a special donors-only lounge.

During the meeting, ASCP hosted nearly 80 local high school students at NEXTPO, where they were immersed in real-life scientific experiments and learned about careers in the medical laboratory. Four academically-talented senior students were presented with ASCP Foundation STEM Student Scholarships.

On the last day of the meeting, Dr. Upton passed the mantle of leadership to 2019-2020 ASCP President Gene Siegal, MD, PhD, FASCP, noting that her experience as ASCP president has made a lasting impression on her life and service to the Society. Dr. Siegal shared kind words, saying Dr. Upton’s leadership would be “impossible to follow” and that her service and dedication provide an inspiration to all who meet her. A distinguished educator, Dr. Siegal is the Robert W. Mowry Endowed Professor of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and executive vice-chair of pathology at UAB Medicine.

Also on the final day of the meeting, the ASCP 2019 Annual Awards recognized exemplary members whose leadership has shaped the Society and the profession. The ASCP Leaders Celebration honored many of these individuals, as well as ASCP’s 2019 40 Under Forty Top Five honorees and poster presentation award winners.

In addition to providing attendees with practical knowledge to support them as they advance their labs and discover how to take a leading role on the clinical care team, the ASCP 2019 Annual Meeting highlighted the hard work and dedication of ASCP members. The 2020 Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, will expand upon this year’s opportunities and be even more exciting. Mark your calendar now for Sept. 9-11, 2020, and plan to attend the ASCP 2020 Annual Meeting in Austin!