AIPNA Achievements
The association of Indian pathologists in North America (AIPNA) was established in 1995. The goals were knowledge transfer to India, standardization of laboratory services in India and networking with pathologists working in India. A visiting pathology fellowship was also instituted.
Knowledge Transfer to India
The main goal of "knowledge transfer" to India has been the greatest achievement of AIPNA with regular and at least three CME conferences held in India every year. These CMEs have been held continuously for the last 13 years. The CME activities held by Indian institutions depend on AIPNA for support as faculty which makes their CME courses a great success with 300-500+ attendees at every meeting and also attract attendees from neighboring countries.
CME Committee Reports:
1. International CME on Renal pathology was held March 14-16, 2005 at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. US coordinator - Dr. Surya Seshan, 300+ attendees. Speakers from USA were Drs. Surya Seshan, Vijay Joshi, Sharda Sabnis, Lorraine Racusen, and Satish Tikoo.
2. First AIPNA sponsored ASCP companion meeting entitled "New Frontiers in Pathology" was held on October 7, 2005 in Seattle, Washington. The title of the first session was "New Frontiers in Pathology Practices of Genito-Urinary Pathology". Coordinator/moderators were Dr. Jhala and Dr. Sabnis and speakers were Dr. Surya Seshan, Rajal Shah, Isabell Sesterhenn and Iva Wojcik, 30 attendees.
3. The AIPNA sponsored Annual Surgical Pathology and Cytology CME held January 26-28 in Kolkata, India was a tremendous
success. The conference was well attended with over 500 registrants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Australia. Speakers were mainly from USA (Drs. V. Joshi, Unni, Dayal,) and Dr Bakul Dalal from Canada and Drs. Rosai and Carcangiu from Italy. There was a brief meeting with the next CME organizers for the Pune conference in 2007 and Bangalore was decided as the venue for 2008 conference.
CAP laboratory inspection program in India
To date there are six clinical laboratories (three reference clinical laboratories and three research clinical laboratories) in India that are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Members of the fourth CAP inspection team shall leave for India by May 2006 to inspect the CAP laboratories that are due for their biennial inspections and to conduct CAP LAP Seminars. Hopefully, some of the pathologists and laboratory scientific staff who were trained at previous training seminars in India may be able to join the team as observers or inspectors. The Department of Pathology at St. John's Medical College is still in the process of preparing for the CAP inspection. And so are The Pathology Laboratory of Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai and a clinical laboratory in Chennai. More clinical laboratories in India are showing an interest in getting CAP accreditation. Our AIPNA advisory committee is available to provide guidance.
FUTURE PROGRAMS
AIPNA would very much like to expand its activities in India and many of its members at academic universities in the US would like to foster research activities in India. It is with this in mind that AIPNA wishes to collaborate with Dr.Deo.