World Pathology Foundation

Minutes of the Meeting

The meeting was held in the Burgaz Hall, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Istanbul Turkey at 16:50 on Saturday, May 28, 2005.

Dr. Marc-A Viollier, who was unable to participate in this meeting, gave his Treasurer’s Report at an extraordinary meeting held at 11:30 – 12:00 on May 29, 2005 in the Burgaz Hall.

Attendance:

1. Apologies for absence

2. Review of previous meeting minutes

The minutes of Rio de Janeiro meeting held on November 4, 2004 were approved.

3. Selection of GSF in fiscal 2004

As per the President’s report of attachment A, there were no eligible candidates for Gordon Signy Fellowship (GSF). The 11 enquiries and 2 applications received during the year in question failed to satisfy the criteria for Fellowship consideration. There was considerable discussion on possible ways of recruiting trainees to apply for these awards. The following actions were agreed:

Action 1: Inform WHO regional offices, with a view to establish mutual cooperation to support the training of young pathologist in developing countries. Dr. Utz Merten will inform Dr. B. Murphy of the relevant WHO regional offices and Dr. B. Murphy will undertake the necessary communications.

Action 2: Update all information of GSF’s on the WASPaLM website, and make it clear that they are for the benefit of trainee pathologists in countries with limited resources.

Action 3: Advise all Constituent Societies of the availability of GSF’s and encourage them to publicize these Fellowships. When invoices for annual dues are sent to the Constituent Societies, a brief memo of GSF’s/WPF will be enclosed.

4. Reports from Officers

(A) Secretary: Dr. I Sakurabayashi reported the present status of applicants, awardees and their follow-up showing a copy of attachment B, C and D. All 4 awardees in fiscal year of 2000, 2001 and 2002 submitted their training reports and fulfilled their obligation to WPF, while 2 awardees are still in the training or have not yet returned to their home countries.

Thirty-five awardees from 21 countries in 1975-2004.

(B) Treasurer: Dr. M-A Viollier reported financial report as per attachments D, E and F at 11:30-12:00 on May 29, 2005 (Sunday) at the extraordinary WPF Meeting.

He gave details of the performance of WPF funds and reported that the Foundation had generated a small gain, in spite of the weakness of the stock markets, and after the payout of two fellowships of CHF 12,515. All members accepted and approved his hard efforts and its results with appreciation.

5. Election of Officers

Also are elected as co-opted members

It was confirmed that the offices of WPF President and Secretary remain unchanged till the next World Congress to be held in 2007.

6. Constitution and Bylaws

Members have recognized that the WPF constitution should be updated to ensure that the Constitution and Bylaws include any amendments that may have taken place since it was first established in 1971. It was reaffirmed that the WPF was originally registered with the Swiss Charity Authorities in 1972. Current Officers signatures have been verified and accepted by the Swiss Authorities. The WPF is legally and financially independent from WASPaLM.

Action agreed that the WPF President would compile the necessary documents to establish the current WPF constitutional framework clear. The updated version of the agreed constitution will then be cleared with the Swiss Authorities and copies made available to all relevant Officers

7. Other business: Operation of GSF

To make GSF more attractive and meet with the needs of qualified candidates, it is agreed, after intensive discussion, that the following 3 criteria for GSF may be flexible pending the status of fund available in the fiscal year and the quality of candidate. Board of Regent, however, should carefully decide an extent of flexibility to keep consistency of WPF operation.

1. Fellowship Grants: While awardees have so far not received more than US$5,000, this should be subject to review depending on circumstances.

2. Time of award: Although applications are assessed at the end of June for training in the next calendar year, in an exceptional case consideration may be fast-tracked during the year, subject to the agreement of the Board of Regents.

3. Remittance: This should be to a bank account opened by the awardees in their place of training. However, in case of real difficulty with this method payment it will be left to the discretion of the Treasurer.

8. Date and time of next meeting

July 28-29, 2006 at Chicago, U.S.A.

Attachment

(A) WPF President Report

(B) 2004 Applicants list; All were unqualifie

(C) Current state: 2003 GSF Awardees

(D) List of GSF Award Holders (1975-2004)

(E) Treasurer's Report per April 30,2005

(F) Treasurer's Report per December 31, 2004

(G) Report of the auditors 2004

Note: This is a draft minutes to be formally agreed in final form at the next meeting of the WPF in Chicago, USA to be held on July 28-29, 2006.

Attachment (A) WPF President Report (Spring 2005)

The Gordon Signy Fellowship Awards of 2003/04 were slow in implementation due to a combination of bureaucratic and personal problems. These have now been resolved and the three successful candidates are either participating in their chosen activity or, are about to start.

Despite the details of these awards and the necessary conditions for application published on the WASPaLM internet website and reinforced by the energetic and vigilant Mr. Kanda, this year – 2004/05 – has failed to produce any appropriate candidates. In an effort to reverse this lack of candidates I have written to many Pathology Departments in the third world but have only rarely received any acknowledgement. However, I am pleased to report that cooperation with the workshops organised by Dr. Robbie Bacchus, with the financial support of the WASPaLM, is proving to be a rewarding source of candidates wishing to capitalise on the instruction obtained from these superb activities. Following a workshop in Sri Lanka on the problems associated with organ transplant, a Fellowship was granted to one of the attendees to undertake further instruction in a transplantation centre in London enabling an organ transplant unit to be set up in Sri Lanka, where the problem of renal failure following snake-bites is a common occurrence.

Dr. Viollier, together with his excellent assistant, Ms. M. Luetzelschwab have maintained a careful watch on the financial assets of the World Pathology Foundation, and despite difficulties in the World Financial Markets, have maintained remarkable stability. For this the World Pathology Foundation is most appreciative, and I wish to ask Dr. Viollier to convey the Foundation’s profound gratitude to Ms. Luetzelschwab for her contribution.

At the last meeting there was concern expressed about the exact relationship that existed between the World Pathology Foundation and the WASPaLM. I should like to take this opportunity to shed light on this apprehension.

1) The World Pathology Foundation concept was first discussed in 1969 in Montreal, by the WASP (as it was then called). In 1970, in Atlanta, it was agreed that the World Pathology Foundation should be set up to further the advance of Pathology with funds obtained by donation rather than the very limited means that were available to WASP from the small annual subscriptions obtained from constituent societies.

2) In 1972 the World Pathology Foundation was chartered in Berne, Switzerland. Switzerland was chosen because “at that time its currency was historically the soundest in the world. For another, it permits full reinvestment of income without penalty, and lastly it does not tax retained income, thus permitting a small struggling foundation, such as ours, to grow in resources and effectiveness”.

An initial capital of 10,000 Swiss Francs was contributed by Canadian, Italian and U.S.A. sources with “generous help from the WASP treasury”, and a number of other members. Three trustees were named: the WASP President, Vice-President and Secretary, together with three other co-opted Officers who were either serving WASP in some capacity or had done so in the past. This membership chose its own President and the additional members who were not there as a result of the WASP constitution.

Later that year the Gordon Signy Fellowship was created in memory of Gordon Signy - who had worked diligently to establish WASP - to provide support for young pathologists who were invited to seek short periods in centres of excellence in order to establish on their return to their own countries, those skills acquired.

Originally, the funds of the World Pathology Foundation and the GS F’s were kept separate, but at some point in the late 70’s – early 80’s they were combined.

Since then the World Pathology Foundation Funds have been devoted to the provision of GSF’s, as, although the financial base has improved the source of additional funds has steadily dwindled. Grants have been obtained, more or less regularly, from the ASCP and the CAP of America, and the Auxiliary Board of American Pathologists has also given a donation, but the Auction at the biennial Gala Dinner has been the only additional source of income. Attempts to redress this difficulty have, so far, not been met.

Despite the greatly improved financial base of WASPaLM, largely due to the generosity of Japanese Industry, it is my contention that the World Pathology Foundation should remain financially independent from WASPaLM and continue to support individuals to improve the standard and range of their understanding of Pathology, albeit in close co-ordination with the Workshops referred to earlier.

It is imperative that the members of WASPalM give consideration to giving donations to the WPF in addition to their annual dues to the WASPaLM.

Dr. Barrie Murphy: President World Pathology Foundation

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