The RPS Business meeting was held on Sunday at 6pm during the USCAP annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia.
The meeting was called in order by President Jan Bruijn.
Forty four members were in attendance.
- President’s report. Dr. Bruijn discussed issues addressed at the Board of Directors meeting and called upon the committee chairs to briefly present their reports.
- Dr. Seshan explained the mission of the International committee as outlined in her report below.
- Dr. Racusen on behalf of the nominations and awards committee announced the 2006 winners: Dr Rennke for the Churg award and Dr Killing for the Young investigator award. She also announced Dr. Piken’s election to RPS councilor. On the Pirani travel award the committee recommends a maximum of $1,500 for travel support (may be partial) for a young investigator to an international meeting (with more than 20% attendees from another country or countries) and/or to bring a speaker to an RPS conference/symposium. It was noted that for the award to be sustained, RPS members may increase the corpus of the award by sending checks to RPS secretary Dr. Liapis. RPS members discussed which meeting may be appropriate for Pirani supported travel and agreed that it should be RPS sponsored event in the USA or another country. Dr Kashgarian indicated that the European Society of Pathology meeting would be appropriate and all members present approved. A maximum of 2 awards per year was proposed.
- Finance committee chair Dr. Luan Truong presented the current balance standing at $42,989.85. He briefed the membership of thoughts about increasing the annual fee and potential sources to increase income but there was no consensus at this time (see detailed account of the committees work and proposals under committees’ reports below).
- Ian Roberts presented the theme of the 2006 satellite meeting at the IAP in Montreal. The program focuses on the classification of glomerular disease and the ISN/RPS new classification of lupus nephritis. The next satellite meeting will be held during the European congress of Pathology in Istanbul in 2007 (see attached report). Other potential RPS sponsored events include the 2007 ISN meeting in Brazil, however no program or contact with the ISN program committee have been made so far.
Ian proposed that RPS may consider reimbursing in part any RPS member traveling to present (American / European or other) to present at RPS sponsored events. This was endorsed by Charles Jennette. There was no decision as to how many/year we can reimburse or for how much.
- Dr. Picken welcomed 13 new members to RPS that bring the total to 341current members (see attached list).
- Dr. Meleg-Smith announced that the RPS website was recently restructured enhancing both the esthetics and function.
- Program committee chair Dr. Alpers outlined a list of possible topics for USCAP 2007 to include animal models of renal fibrosis, glomerular injury, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. For ASN 2007 the committee has just started thinking of possible topics. He reminded the membership that any proposals go through the ASN big committee for approval. Dr. Alpers encouraged junior members to be involved and all RPS members to send him suggestions.
- Dr. Cook on behalf of the research committee briefed the RPS members on the IgA nephropathy study. ~300 cases will be reviewed by study participants. The scoring results of the first circulation of slides were discussed during the group’s meeting on the 11th of February 2006, in Atlanta. New projects are considered to include classification of diabetic nephropathy, thin membrane disease urine cytology for BK nephropathy and research into the provisions of renal pathology services in developing countries. Another topic of potential interest is Fibrillary glomerulopathy.
- On KUFA funding it was reminded that members are encouraged to apply.
- Dr. Fogo informed the members that $10,000 were awarded through COMGAN to two south American centers of excellence, one in Chile and one in Brazil. Funding may be extended for a second year. On renal pathology training Dr. Fogo ws charged by the presidenton how to evaluate proficiency in renal pathology and proposed a quality assurance slide-based proficiency testing that may be available through the RPS website and she asked for RPS membership input on developing such a program.
- Dr. Bruijn opened the discussion on plans for an RPS journal and presented potential avenues to explore. These include, ASCP, Ultrastructural Pathology, ISUP (urology) joined journal and or a KUFA funded initiative. Dr. Bonsib said that 1,000 readers have to be there for a journal to start and the text has to be specified. ISUP had a journal active for 10 years but only 200 members. They are considering the idea of combining with RPS. KUFA may also be interested to underwrite some of the process. Dr. Haas asked what the impetus for this journal will be and whether the existing journals are not catering to RPS members. Dr. Rosen suggested that a major journal like AJSP may be preferable instead of teaming with ISUP. Dr. Kashgarian commented that we may approach the current editorial board (Dr. Cohen is a member) of Nature Clinical Nephrology. The president asked Dr. Bonsib to chair a committee to examine issues related to an RPS journal.
- Dr. Bonsib announced that the BOD decided that 2007 will be the year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of RPS. He will work on the program to include testimonials and he will ask for volunteers in deciding the site (likely during USCAP) and final program.
- The issue of medical un-billable edits was brought up as is currently shaping up to allow for 4 only antigens maximum. Dr. Bonsib stated that he has taken the initiative to represent the RPS to the CAP on this issue and that he has prepared a document supported by many BOD members to address specifically the impact of such potential practices to renal pathology. Many members including Dr. Walker, Seshan and Kashgarian felt that if passed this bill will lead to medical malpractice for renal pathologists and discussed the need to demonstrate how if a renal pathologist only had 4 stains available, this would impact clinical practice. USCAP will collate data to demonstrate impact and needs to be flooded by cases. Comments should be forwarded to USCAP by March 20th. Dr. Picken suggested asking the ASN leadership to support the RPS on this issue and Dr. Alpers seconded her proposal.
- Dr. Cohen announced the sudden death of a good Russian friend and colleague, Dr. Alexei Sukanoff who died in a car accident. He was a positive force in Russian nephrology and his unexpected passing brought sorrow to all those who had the opportunity to work with him.
- Dr. Jennette brought up issues raised by the ASN directors of programs regarding RPS services in various sites. These issues are: Are services provided by qualified pathologists? Is there need for improvement? Does the RPS membership want to pursue this? Dr. Cohen replied that 40-60% of renal biopsy reading is not by RPS members. He stated that there is indeed a problem with renal pathology interpretation. Dr. Kashgarian suggested that we proceed with a market analysis to evaluate provisions of renal pathology services. A questioner may be sent to nephrologists; of $80,000 renal biopsies only 40,000 could be tracked down to a renal pathologist. It is a worthwhile issue to pursue with nephrologists. Dr. Jennette is mandated to do this and Dr. Racusen stated that Dr. Jennette and she were asked to prepare a draft. The questions are: Who does the evaluation, what is the background and how and whom we ask to evaluate. For example, do we ask for satisfaction of service? This does not appear an appropriate question. Dr. Haas asked how representative is the ASN in the world of practicing. Should the renal physicians of America be surveyed as well?
- Other issues assigned to the education committee such as questions for pathology board-recertification were not discussed in lieu of time. The report by Dr. Patrick Walker is attached.
The meeting was adjourned at 7pm
Minutes updated 12-8-06
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