President's Welcome Message
Welcome to the new PPS!. Since my last welcome letter the PPS has changed significantly. In 2010 the PPS became an independent society once again! We have eliminated a prior deficit and now have a small surplus. We also have a new website with online payment capability. Under the direction of Kevin Leslie, the membership has approved revised bylaws, we have incorporated as a new nonprofit organization in the state of Arizona, and have filed for status as a 501c3 organization with the IRS.
The PPS companion society meeting, March 20 at the 2010 USCAP was a great success. The program titled Molecular Pathology included presentations by Dr. Sanja Dacic (Molecular Update in Mesotheliomas), Dr. Alain Borczuk (Molecular Support for the Current Histologic Classification of Lung Carcinoma) and Dr. Lucian Chirieac (Molecular Diagnosis of Lung Cancer). Drs. Phil Cagle and Teri Franks served as moderators for the session.
At the 2010 PPS business meeting, Dr. Allen was elected to the position of Secretary of the PPS. Dr. Sanja Dacic has graciously accepted the position of program committee chair. As per the revised bylaws, Dr. Elisabeth Brambilla will transition to president at the 2011 PPS biennial meeting in New York City. Transition of other officers and council members will also occur at this time.
Planning for the seventh biennial meeting of the Pulmonary Pathology Society is complete. The meeting will take place August 18-20, 2011 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. W. Travis will be giving a keynote address titled The ATS/ERS Classification of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia: An Update. Some of the other exciting presentations include Clinically occult Interstitial fibrosis in long term smokers – classification and potential significance by Dr. A.Katzenstein, The genomics of lung cancer – gene expression profiling and classification by Dr. A. Borczuk, The pathology of pulmonary vascular disorders in children by Dr. Helmut Popper and many more. Please click here for the complete program (pdf) Thanks to the co-directors of the PPS biennial meeting program including Drs. William Travis, Phil Cagle, Kevin Leslie, Elisabeth Brambilla, Timothy Allen, Mary Beth Beasley and Helmut Popper. Planning for the 2013 meeting is currently underway with the expected venue in Europe.
A large thanks also to all members of the PPS Council who include: Andrew Churg and Aliya Husain from North America; Keith Kerr and Elisabeth Brambilla from Europe; Belinda Clarke from Australia, and Vera Capelozzi from South Americ. I would also like to thank the Chair and members of the Program Committee (Timothy Allen-chair, Kelly Butnor, Teri Franks, Richard Attanoos, Sanja Dacic and Junya Fukuoka) and Awards Committee (Mary Beth Beasley-chair, Vera Capelozzi, Douglas Flieder, Francoise Galateau-Salle, Tashiaki Kawai, Andras Khoor, Tom Sporn). We also thank Vera Capelozzi for her efforts at the upcoming 2010 IAP meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
We are looking forward to the next year which promises to bring additional challenges and opportunities for our society as we continue to grow. Thanks to all members who make this society great - a collection of pathologists with a shared interest in advancing the field of Pulmonary Pathology!
With best regards,
Donald G. Guinee, Jr., MD
President, Pulmonary Pathology Society