World Association of Societies of (Anatomic and Clinical) Pathology (1)

World Association of Societies of (Anatomic and Clinical) Pathology (WASP)

1. History of the World Association

Since the alteration of the Rules of the ISCP was approved in 1969 during the 7th International Congress of Clinical Pathology, the organizational name was changed to the World Association of (Anatomic and Clinical) Pathology Societies (WAPS). Since the President McMenemey was absent because of his illness, Dr. Peter IA Hendry of Australia had a great responsibility as the Acting President of chairing the ISCP business meetings in Montreal during the seventh International Congress. Then, Dr. Andujar was elected the first President of the World Association.

In 1972, the World Association was renamed to the World Association of Societies of (Anatomic and Clinical)Pathology, abbreviated as WASP which has been widely accepted throughout the world up to now. Not surprizing, the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) requested the WASP to remove the term "Anatomic Pathology" from the name of the WASP. Eventually the WASP Bureau accepted to write (Anatomic and Clinical) in smaller letters.

In 1973, the WASP Constitution and Bylaws was amended, and the Councilors to be changed to the Delegates representing individual constituent society who constitute the House of Delegates.

The WASP Ladies Auxiliary was established to support the WASP activities, and the first President of the Auxiliary was the late Senator Betty Andujar of USA, and later its Rules has been refined by Mrs. Betty Lou Hutchens of USA.

Figure 2 shows the retired past-presidents of the WASP photographed during the 16th World Congress in Vancouver in 1991. Unfortunately Dr. Bruno Della Vida of Italy died during his presidential term, and Dr. Hubert Sissons of UK replaced the presidency. In addition to these retired past-presidents, attended to this Sao Paulo Congress are Dr. Hans Reinauer (Germany) as the immediate Past President and Dr. William B Zeiler (USA) as the President.

Figure 2

The WASP logo was made in 1970, designed by Dr. Andujar, as seen now in all the WASP publications. In 1990, Dr. Peter B Herdson (Australia) made the WASP badges, brooches, neck-ties, cufflinks and also the WASP Past President's badges.

The Presidential Collar was designed and made by Dr. Peter B Herdson first in 1991 with the courtesy of the Shino-Test Company of Japan. This Collar did beautifully fit to Dr. Tyra T Hutchens who was the first WASP President officially wore it. However, the golden president's name plates did not match to the Collar, and it had to be redesigned to the Presidential Chain in 1993, designed by myself and made in Japan ( Figure 3).

Figure 3

The 8th World Congress of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology/ Laboratory Medicine was held in Munich, 1972, immediately following the Olympic Games. Thereafter, the world triennial congresses were held in Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, and Jerusalem. In 1982, the Constitution and Bylaws were amended to have the world congress biennially because the International Academy of Pathology and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry held their triennial international congresses at the same year as the WASP. Additionally the year of 1983 happened to be the time when the Japan Society would hold the 30th Memorial National Meeting. Thus，the 12th World Congress was decided to be held in Tokyo 2 years after the previous Congress held in Israel. Since then, the world congresses have been held biennially; the 13th Congress in Brighton, UK in 1985, the 14th in Washington, DC, USA in 1987, the 15th in Florence, Italy in 1989, the 16th in Vancouver, Canada in 1991, the 17th in Acapulco, Mexico in 1993, and the 18th in Auckland, New Zealand in 1995. The 50th Anniversary of the World Association was planned to be inaugurated in Paris where the ISCP was founded, and this decision was made by the WASP Bureau and the House of Delegates way back in 1989 in order for the French colleagues to have a sufficient time to prepare for the 50th Anniversary. However, it was unfortunate that the Congress at Versailles, France had poor attendance. In 1999, the 20th World Congress of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, well prepared by the Brazilian colleagues under the Presidency of Dr. Evaldo Melo ( Figure 4).

Figure 4