Report on WASPaLM Workshop
Christian Medical College (CMC)
Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India
3rd – 5th December 2003

The second WASPaLM Workshop was conducted at the medical school complex of CMC in collaboration with the Department of Pathology (CMC) and the Indian College of Pathologists. CMC is a 2000 bed tertiary care hospital facility recognised both for the quality of its work in the provision of health care services and for its educational activities. It was founded in 1900 by Dr Ida Scudder one of the first women graduates of the Cornell Medical College as a one bed clinic and a roadside clinic and dispensary. This was her response to a dramatic experience of suffering Indian women. While on a visit to her missionary American parents in Vellore, the young Ida was asked for help for three women from different families who were experiencing difficult childbirth. Tradition and custom prevented her father who was a doctor to attend these women who unfortunately died, and Ida decided then to become a doctor. Her legacy permeates every activity now at CMC.

The programme for this workshop was determined by consultation with colleagues in India and deemed clinically relevant to their needs. Among the topics were aspects of salivary gland tumours including FNA cyctology, complexity of myoepithelial cells, endocervical glandular lesions immunocytochemistry of uterine neoplasms and valvovaginal masenchynal lesions. The second day was devoted to various aspects of lung pathology including interstitial lung diseases, lymphoproliferative disorders, pleural and pulmonary tumours. The final day’s focus was on renal and transplant biopsies, and histopathological aspects of kidney diseases. Also included were sessions on quality assurance and low cost telepathology. Slide seminars were conducted on clinical cases which were precirculated for review by the participants. Facilities for a dawn review of slides and computer images were made available for the 70 participants. A limit on participation was imposed because of space constraints for housing microscopes and computers.

The participants were from various regions of India and it was amazing to learn of the very long journeys many had undertaken to attend the workshop. I was equally impressed by their eagerness and enthusiasm to question and learn during the discussions. Gratitude was expressed by the local organisers and coordinators for WASPaLM’s sponsorship of this educational event. I have already received several requests to repeat this exercise in other regions of the Indian subcontinent.

This workshop could not have been undertaken without the superb support of Dr Susy Kurian – Head of Department of Pathology CMC Vellore and Dr I C Jhala Indian College of Pathologists. I wish to acknowledge with thanks the provision of a suitable venue and infrastructure for this workshop.

I also wish to thank members of the Faculty comprising

For their time, experience and expertise shared during this workshop.

Robby Bacchus
Secretariat for Pathology Education in the Developing World

11th December 2003

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