ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN PATHOLOGISTS IN NORTH AMERICA (AIPNA) Historical Perspectives   Notes from Vijay Joshi, MD: From my perspective I can tell you that I started toying with the idea of putting together an informal group of Indo-American academic pathologists with the main objectives of: a) development of scientific collaborative projects thru social and professional interaction at the IAP ( currently USCAP ) annual meeting and b) organization of an annual CME course on surg path in India. Thru my personal contacts I put together a group of 14 pathologists and had our first meeting at the IAP annual conference in Toronto in 1985.Thereafter we contiued to meet at the IAP meeting for dinner at an Indian restaurant but the group ( called Friends of India ) did not become a formally organized association simply because I and my friends were too busy with the academic activities. However I did succeed in putting together a CME program under sponsorship of AAPI and MCI ( Med Council of India ) in 1986 in Madras Med Coll. The faculty members were myself,Dr Sharada Sabnis of AFIP and Dr Saroja Bharati. Then Megha came along and at the IAP meeting in Toronto in 1995 ( 10 years after the seeds were sown ) succeeded in foundig a formal organization - AIPNA. I have been primarily involved in the CME activities under the sponsorship of AIPNA,AAPI, MCI and Indian College of Pathologists.We have held 5 consecutive CME courses since 1996 in Mysore,Hubli,Lucknow, Delhi, Hyderabad . The next one is in Chandigarh and the one in 2002 is in Trivandrum. These courses have been highly successful , are attended by 300 to 500 pathologist and trainees from all parts of the country and have been formalized with the publication of the proceedings in the form of a book given to all the registrants at the time of the CME. Over 25 different Indo-American Academic Pathologists and Native American Pathologists have contributed to the courses as faculty members. Notes from Pradeep Sethi, MD, President 1999-2000: Regarding highlights of my one year tenure. I can send you a detailed description, if I get time. Point wise they are: 1.) Launching and managing the web site. Which in turn; a) Opened a means of open communications between members, colleagues from North America, India and other continents. b) Kept in touch with the membership through regular e-mail updates. c) Increased the membership of the association. d) Gave AIPNA a worldwide presence 2.) Opening a channel of communication with IAPM, IAP India division and other pathology bodies in India (thanks to the efforts of Nirag Jhala). 3.) Becoming a component member of AAPI. 4.) Generated two white papers which will serve AIPNA well (provided they are implemented or worked on!). 5.) Arranged a dinner meeting at the 2000 Annual GBM so that members can spend more time with each other, given the fact that members get to meet each other but once in a year. This, last but not the least, according to some, is not of any significance. But to me, if the membership does not get to know each other, they are going to be but strangers and feel they do not belong, even when AIPNA is 50 years old! (I suspect a lot of members felt this way with the USCAPs, CAPs, ASCPs and other national/international organizations. Hence the reason for wanting to have AIPNA. HOME AIPNA Site Administrator : Khush Mittal, MD Please send all your questions, comments, and publishing contents to the Site Administrator