MINUTES OF THE RENAL PATHOLOGY SOCIETY BUSINESS MEETING

The Renal Pathology Society (RPS) held a business meeting on Monday evening, October 15, 2001 during the annual meeting of the ASN at the San Francisco Marriott, San Francisco, CA.

The meeting was called to order by Dr. Melvin Schwartz, RPS President. Approximately 40 members were in attendance.

 

    1. Secretary report (G.A. Herrera)
    1. Solid financial shape
    2. Changes in addresses, emails, etc. to be submitted to Secretary-Treasurer in writing (1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130) or by email (gherre@lsuhsc.edu) to avoid confusion.
    2. Membership Committee (A. Magil)
    1. 3 new members (Sandrine Florquin, MD, Ashwini R. Chavan, MD, Amira Mehio, MD) were approved. 1 member was changed to Emeritus status (Curtis Wilson).
    3. Research Committee (J. Pullman)
    1. Biopsy adequacy survey analyzed data and poster with information presented at the ASN
    2. Working on position paper to represent the voice of the RPS-preliminary draft will be ready by February 1, 2002 and will be e-mailed to members. Paper to be submitted to AJKD in March.
    3. Information gathered can help in establishing practice guidelines, minimum criteria for biopsy adequacy, standardizing renal biopsy reports, create database for collaborative research and provide clinicians with template as to what they should expect.
    4. Training Committee (L. Racusen)BR>
    1. Summarized discussion that ensued at the BOD meeting
    2. Encouraged membership to think about issues
    3. Informed membership about proposed discussion on pros and cons about certification to be held at the USCAP meeting in the spring and encouraged members to submit points for discussion to her ahead of time
    5. President message (M. Schwartz)
    1. Dr. Schwartz thanked all those who helped him during his presidency.
    2. Presented to Michael Eikmans the Young Investigator Award
    3. Encouraged all members to submit candidates for Young Investigator and Churg Awards
    6. New issues
    1. Controls for immunofluorescence on renal biopsies

      2. A discussion ensued regarding what constitutes adequate controls for IF in renal biopsies and the conclusion was reached that the RPS should create a position paper on this subject to help members that may run into problems when their laboratories are inspected.

      RPS President will circulate a statement pertaining to this issue to the membership for discussion.

    2. Initiative to reevaluate lupus nephritis classification (A. Fogo)

      3. Fogo inquired as to the status of this issue and reemphasized the importance of creating a group that would include adequate RPS representation.

      M. Schwartz indicated that an organizational meeting was to take place during the ASN meeting to create the panel of experts to work on new lupus nephritis classification. More information to be provided later.