MINUTES OF THE RENAL PATHOLOGY SOCIETY BUSINESS MEETING

The Renal Pathology Society (RPS) held a business meeting on Sunday evening, March 2, 1997 during the annual meeting of the USCAP in Orlando, Florida

Dr. Cohen called the meeting to order. Approximately 50 members were in attendance.

Dr. Cohen lauded the Companion Meeting, remarking on the excellence of the science and the presenters. The topic was New Approaches to Renal Biopsy Diagnosis and Prognosis moderated by Agnes Fogo with presentations by Cynthia Nast (Fine Needle Aspiration in Diagnosis of Renal Diseases), Richard Tracy (Renal Vasculopathies of Essential Hypertension - New Insights and Challenges), Lorraine Racusen, (Molecular Markers in Acute Renal Failure) and Wayne Hancock (New approaches in Renal Pathology: Transcription Factors, Functional Surface Molecules and Cytokine Products in Imflammatory and Immunologic Injuries). He commended the Education and Scientific Committee for their work organizing the session. He noted, also, that the Young Investigator Award had been presented during the morning session to Dr. Jorge Isaac for his work "In vitro AL-Amyloid Formation by Human Mesangial cells is Attenuated by Chloroquine" done in the laboratory of Guillermo Herrera

Dr. Cohen accepted the minutes of the prior meeting as circulated and called on the Secretary-Treasurer and Committee Chairs for reports.

Dr. Jennette, Secretary-Treasurer and Chair of the Auditing Committee reported on the financial status. He said that a portion of the RPS funds had been placed in a money market account. Income since the last meeting, in addition to dues, included generous gifts from Barnert Hospital and Staff to establish the Jacob Churg Award. Expenditures since the previous meeting, included the payment for the RPS functions at the NKF/ASN Meeting, the Young Investigator Award, and payment to the accountant for work on the application for tax exempt status. Application for tax exempt status has been submitted to the IRS.

Dr. Allen Katz, Chair of the Membership Committee, reported that 4 candidates for membership would be recommended to the Board of Directors for acceptance. He noted that 3 of the 4 are from outside North America in answer to a question about the efforts of the Society to actively recruit internationally.

Dr. D’Agati, Chair of the Nominating and Awards Committee, encouraged members to actively encourage submission of abstracts by their junior staff for the Young Investigator Award. It was noted that presenting the Award at the public sessions rather than at the business meetings may improve awareness of the Award.

Dr. Cynthia Nast, Chair of the Education and Scientific Meetings Committee, praised the work of the previous committee reported that the Committee was organizing a scientific session dealing with chronic rejection including pathogenesis and pathology at the Scientific Session at the ASN in 1997.

Dr. Herrera, Chair of the Training Programs Committee, reported that the committee has undertaken collection of data on currently available training programs to update the information that was collected previously. Each of the programs listed before was contacted and, in addition, a mailing to the entire membership is being contemplated. He suggested that the formulation of guidelines for training programs would be desirable.

Dr. Samy Iskandar, Chair of the Communications and Publications Committee, reported a method for "group" e-mail communications had been tested with good response. Further refinements are planned and all members are encouraged to keep Dr. Jennette apprised of the their e-mail addresses as they change or are obtained. This can be accomplished by sending e-mail to Dr Jennette (jcj@med.unc.edu) with a cc: to Dr. Iskandar (iskandar@bgsm.edu) or by noting any changes on forms to be returned to RPS.

Dr. Robert Colvin, Chair of the Research Committee, reported that the committee had been discussing both the composition of the research groups and projects (democratic with a project leader, open to all members, inexpensive but worthwhile). Topics being considered include, what is an adequate biopsy, CPCs of rare cases, practice guidelines, consensus conferences. Communication with members about the formation of study groups and within the groups when formed was discussed. Dr. Seshen raised issue of members who do not have e-mail access and it in the disscusion , Dr Jennette reported that although almost all the members present at the meeting have e-mail, approximately 45% of the members have no e-mail or have not supplied one. Dr. Fogo urged that additional methods be used to keep all members fully informed of Society activities.

Dr. Cohen reported that a Scientific Session would be held at the ASN early in the morning on Sunday November 2. He praised Bill Bennett for his efforts on behalf of the Society. Drs. Nast and Fogo strongly recommended that the Society sponsor coffee and bagels prior to the session. In the ensuing discussion, Dr. Silva noted that even though it didn’t seem like much to offer, it would be very expensive to provide. Dr. Colvin moved to expend up to $1000 but Dr. Cohen and others said they would seek outside funding. Returning to the future of the joint session at the ASN meeting, Dr. Kashgarian urged a proactive stance at and with the ASN including joint sponsorship of other activities. Dr. Cotran stressed the importance of maintaining flexibility.

Dr Cohen called on Dr. Fogo, who is on the ASN Council, to report on a course she is developing for the next ASN meeting. The course will provide hands on experience in looking at renal biopsies similar to the Specialty Conferences at the USCAP with microscopes set up for nephrologists to interact with nephropathologists prior to the didactic session. She urged RPS members to sign up for blocks of time so that the rooms would be sure to have experts on hand during specified hours. The course has the enthusiastic support of the ASN and RPS support will be critical to its success. Dr Cotran reminded that it would be important to be sure announcement was made in the ASN May mailing so that it would be well publicized.

Dr. Kim Solez was recognized to report on a collaborative telemedicine project he is working on and to solicit the involvement of the RPS. He proposed the Society join with the ISN and NKF in testing a system developed at the AFIP to send images and have online conferences using the established Internet links. He noted the innovative protocols devised at the AFIP transmit an image of the whole slide so the viewing pathologist can select areas for closer inspection rather than relying only preselected views. He believes that many members may have the equipment available to participate already, and for others, only a relatively small expenditure would be needed. Dr. Colvin enthusiastically endorsed the proposal. Dr Cohen gave permission to the committee to pursue the project.

The Business Meeting was adjourned and the members were invited to continue the RPS reception.

At the Executive Board Meeting the following new members were accepted: Leif Bostad, MD, (Norway), Anthony E. Seymour , MD (Australia) , Tetsuo Shimamura, MD, PhD, (USA), Erik Heyerdahl Strom, MD (Norway).