MINUTES OF THE RENAL PATHOLOGY SOCIETY BUSINESS MEETING

A business meeting of the Renal Pathology Society (RPS) was held on Sunday, March 12, 1995 following the RPS Companion Meeting at the USCAP meeting in Toronto.

Dr. Fred Silva, RPS President, called the meeting to order and determined that a quorum was present. Dr. Silva and several RPS members commented on the high quality of and good attendance at the preceding Companion Meeting, which was chaired by Dr. Charles Alpers and included presentations by Dr. Michael Kashgarian (Molecular Mechanisms of Acute Renal Failure), Dr. Allison Eddy (Mechanisms of Tubulointerstitial Injury and Fibrosis), Dr. Fred Silva (Cell Proliferation in the Kidney) and Dr. David Grignon (Classification of Epithelial Tumors of the Kidney).

Dr. Charles Jennette, Secretary-Treasurer, reported that the RPS account contains approximately $12,000. Anticipated expenditures in the near future are approximately $700 for the upcoming RPS Reception at 5:00 p.m., $500 for the RPS Young Investigator award which was awarded to Dr. Shane Meehan during the Companion Meeting, and expenses incurred for incorporation. The RPS has 114 regular and 8 emeritus members.

Dr. Silva initiated a discussion of possibly changing the time of the RPS Scientific Session during the NKF/ASN Meeting. Dr. Silva had discussed various options with officers of the ASN and NKF. Possibilities included continuing with the 7:15 am NKF session, applying for an afternoon joint ASN/NKF session or moving to an ASN evening session. Dr. Ramzi Cotran, RPS member and current ASN President, was invited by Dr. Silva to comment on this issue. He suggested that the declining attendance at the early morning NKF session was not primarily because of the time but was caused by a number of other factors, such as more renal pathology components in other NKF and ASN sessions (many of which are planned and presented by RPS members), more morning sessions for meeting participants to choose among, and failure of the RPS to design session content that differs substantially from the content of other sessions at the NKF/ASN meeting. Dr. Cotran suggested that the RPS session have a distinctly clinicopathologic focus. A general discussion of the issue followed. Dr. Robert Colvin suggested that someone should act as a "liaison" between the RPS, NKF and ASN so that the RPS session content does not overlap. This would require more advanced planning than in the past. Several members were concerned that if the session was moved to the afternoon this might only be a one time occurrence that would be disruptive in the long run. Dr. Michael Kashgarian stated that some nephrologists who attend the NKF stay for the RPS session but then leave before the ASN begins and therefore would not be able to attend the session if it were held later in the day. Dr. Seymour Rosen advised that the session remain at the same time. The discussion ended with most members appearing to favor leaving the session at the same time as in prior years.

Dr. Silva next discussed the issue of having coffee available for the NKF RPS session participants. He had discussed this issue with Ms. Donna Fingerhut of the NKF who indicated to Dr. Silva that inadequate numbers of RPS members registered for the NKF meeting to warrant the expense of providing coffee. She proposed two options: 1) no guard and coffee vendor, 2) a guard and free coffee. Several RPS members indicated that the NKF was underestimating the number of RPS members who register because many register for the entire NKF meeting rather than the RPS session alone. Dr. Cynthia Nast urged RPS members to indicate on their registration form that they plan to attend the RPS session. Dr. Kashgarian advocated more attendance by RPS members at the NKF meeting in general, not just the ASN meeting. Dr. Silva said that he would discuss the matter further with Ms. Fingerhut.

Dr. Silva announced the current committee members: Membership: Agnes Fogo (Chair), Stephen Bonsib, Allan Katz; Nominating & Awards: Michael Kashgarian (Chair), Melvin Schwartz, Victoriano Pardo; Education & Scientific: Arthur Cohen (Chair), Vivette D'Agati, Jean Olson; Training Programs: Cynthia Nast (Chair), Helmut Rennke, Tibor Nadasdy; Auditing: Charles Jennette (Chair), Guillermo Herrera, Dinyar Bhathena.

Dr. Agnes Fogo, Chair of the Membership committee reported that 4 membership applications had been received by the RPS and would be recommended to the Executive Committee for acceptance.

Dr. Kashgarian, Chair of the Nominating and Awards Committee, reported that Dr. Shane Meehan had been announced as the recipient of the first RPS Young Investigator Award during the RPS Companion Meeting. He requested that members send to him any suggestions for nominations for RPS Councillor and Vice President.

Dr. Arthur Cohen, Chair of the Education and Scientific Committee, reported that the topic under consideration for the RPS session at the next NKF meeting was "Hypertension and the Kidney". He solicited suggestions for speakers. Dr. Kashgarian proposed that RPS USCAP sessions should emphasize basic pathophysiology, whereas NKF sessions should focus more on pathology. Dr. Agnes Fogo advised keeping some pathology in the USCAP sessions.

Dr. Nast, Chair of the Training Programs Committee, reported that there were more advertisements for nephropathology fellowships in the ASN fellowship directory book than in the pathology training program book, and advocated that those with fellowships should submit descriptions to both resources. Dr. Fogo suggested that data be collected to assess where funds come from that support fellowships. Dr. Colvin raised the issue of having an RPS internet program, such as an on-line homepage or news group, that could contain RPS information and communications, including a list of fellowship programs. Dr. Silva invited Dr. Kim Solez, who manages the Nephrol homepage to comment. He stated that there are currently two on-line pages that deal with nephrology, Nephrol and Renalnet, which each allow access to the other. He suggested that the easiest option for the RPS would be to have a page on one of these systems. He offered to assist in adding such a page to Nephrol. Dr. Silva appointed Dr. Nast to head an ad hoc committee, composed of Drs. Nast, Solez, Jennette, Alpers, and Colvin, to pursue this possibility further and report back to him.

Dr. Silva asked if there was any more old or new business to discuss. Hearing none, the meeting was adjourned.

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At the Executive Committee Meeting, which followed the Business Meeting, the following new members were accepted: Dale A. Ellison, M.D., Mary E. Fidler, M.D., James M. Pullman, M.D., Harsharan Kaur Singh, M.D.