Prof. Theo van der Kwast delivering his lecture

The Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Pathology - Indian Division was held on 21st November 2004 at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and was well attended by large number of delegates from all over India. The Meeting began with a short Inaugural function at which the Chief Guest was Dr. Deobagkar, who inaugurated the Meeting by lighting the traditional lamp in the distinguished presence of Lt. General J. R. Bhardwaj (Director General Armed Forces Medical Services), Dr. Anita Borges (President IAP-ID), Dr. Francisco Couto (Secretary & Treasurer IAP-ID) and Col. S. Satyanarayana (Joint Organizing Secretary). The Proceedings Booklet of the Meeting was released by Lt. Gen. J. R. Bhardwaj.

The Scientific Programme followed immediately after the Inaugural function with the Guest lecture delivered by Prof. Theo van der Kwast, Professor of Pathology & Laboratoty Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Dr. van der Kwast delivered an interesting lecture on "Making the most of Papillary Urothelial Lesions". The IAP-ID expresses its gratitude and thanks to Prof. van der Kwast.

Following the Guest Lecture was the excellent Slide Seminar on "Splenic Pathology" ably moderated by Dr. K. Gayathri (Hyderabad). The various cases were beautifully presented and discussed by Dr. K. Gayathri and her other panelists Dr. Anuradha Murthy (Mumbai), Lt. Ge. J. R. Bhardwaj (New Delhi), Col. S. K. Nema (Pune), Dr (Col) U. Dinesh (Dharwad), Dr. Kim Vaiphei (Chandigarh), Dr. Pradeep Vaideeshwar (Mumbai), Dr. T. Roshini Paul (Hyderabad), DR. J. D. Rege (Mumbai), Dr. B. R. Yelikar (Bijapur), Dr. Daksha Prabhat (Mumbai), Dr. Usha Kini (Bangalore), Dr. Flora Lobo (Mangalore), Dr. Meenal Hastak (Mumbai) and Dr. M. V. Mallya (Goa). Slide boxes had been provided earlier, at cost, by Dr. Gayathri to those desirous of pre viewing the slides.

In the post lunch session there was the Symposium on "Spectrum of Tissue Pathology in HIV / AIDS" ably moderated by Dr. D. N. Lanjewar (Mumbai). The topic was beautifully discussed by Dr. Lanjewar and his panelists Dr. Arun Chitale (Mumbai), Dr. Sharada Rane (Pune), Dr. Anjali Amrapurkar (Mumbai), Dr. G. U. Deshpande (Pune), DR. Vani Santosh (Bangalore), Dr. Debdutta Basu (Pondicherry) and Col. S. Satyanarayana (Pune) and was well appreciated by the audience.

The Scientific Programme of the Annual Meeting was brought out in the form of a Proceedings Booklet, edited by Dr. Francisco Couto, the Secretary & Treasurer of the IAP-ID, and was distributed to the delegates by the Organizers. The Scientific Programme was followed by the General Body Meeting of the IAP-ID. The President of the IAP-ID Dr. Anita Borges chaired the Meeting and called the Meeting to order. The Secretary & Treasurer Dr. Francisco Couto read out the Annual Report for 2004, the Minutes of the last General Body Meeting held at Bhubaneshwar on 18th December 2993 as well as the audited statement of accounts for 2004, and these were duly approved by the members. Dr. Anita Borges, President, and Lt. Gen. J. R. Bhardwaj, Councillor, having completed their 2 year term on these post elections were held for these posts and Lt. Gen. J. R. Bhardwaj (New Delhi) was elected as the new President and Dr. Kusum Joshi (Chandigarh) was elected the new Council member. Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj and Dr. Kusum Joshi were warmly congratulated by Dr. Anita Borges, Dr. Francisco Couto and other members present. Dr. Couto also thanked the outgoing President Dr. Anita Borges and the outgoing Councillor Lt. Gen. J. R. Bhardwaj for their dedicated services to the IAP-ID in these capacities. It was ecided that the IAP-ID Annual Meeting 2005 would be held at Indore to be organized by Dr. G. P. Bhagwat. Besides the Guest Lecture by the invited foreign speaker it was decided that the Slide Seminar would be on "Orbital Lesions" to be moderated by Dr. K. S. Ratnakar (Hyderabad) and "Placental Pathology" to be moderated by Dr. Rama Gopalan (Chennai). Topics were suggested by the General Body for the Annual meeting 2006 and for the Slide Seminar the topics suggested were Prostate Pathology, Endoscopic Non Neoplastic Gastointestinal lesions, Salivary Gland tumours and Melanotic lesions of Skin; for the Symposium topics suggested are Paediatric tumours, Embryonal tumours, Frozen Section and Pathology of Aging. The Mid Year Teaching Programme 2005 was allotted to Col. Gurvinder S. Chopra of the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, and will be a "Workshop on Molecular Pathology". The 8th IAP-ID Annual CME 2005 was allotted to Dr. Usha Kini, Bangalore, on the topic "Tumour and Tumour like lesions of the Bones". Dr. Francisco Couto, Secretary & Treasurer, informed the members that Lt. Gen. J. R. Bhardwaj had announced that a contribution to the IAP-ID of Rs. 1,00,000 would be made by the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, organizers of the Annual Meeting 2004. Dr. Anita Borges, President, Dr. Couto, Secretary & Treasurer, and the members assembled profusely thanked Gen. Bhardwaj for this noble gesture. Dr. Francisco Couto, Secreatry & Treasurer of the IAP-ID, informed the members that the President Dr. Anita Borges and the Secretary & Treasurer Dr. Francisco Couto in their capcity as Councillors of the IAP had attended the council Meeting of the IAP at Brisbane, Australia, in October 2004, and appraised the members of various matters discussed therein. Dr. Couto informed that Dr. Jack Strong, the Treasurer of the IAP had informed that the IAP would be increasing the international subscription fee to US Dollars 6 from the current US Dolars 4 from the year 2006 and adviced the various Divisions of the IAP that appropriate enhancement in their membership fees would have to be made to cover this. Dr. Francisco Couto, Secretary & treasurer, informed members that Dr. Anita Borges (President), Dr. F. Couto (Secretary & Treasurer) and Dr. K. R. Harilal (Vice President Asia of IAP) had attended a meeting of Asis and Pacific Divisions of the IAP where increased co-operation between these Divisions, shring expertise, future Conferences, etc, were discussed. The general Body approved that the Indian Division be a part of this grouping and also approved of matters relating to this. He President Dr. Anita Borges proposed that the neighboring countries which share common problems with India should participate in meetings to discuss these issues of common interest; however the members felt that for the moment the Indian Division should restrict itself to sending information of its meetings tom these countries so that those interested from these countries may attend the meetings of the Indian Division.

Dr. Francisco Couto, Secretary & treasurer, on behalf of the IAP-ID, thanked Prof. Theo van der Kwast, Dr. K. Gayathri and her team and Dr. D. N. Lanjewar and his panelists for their contribution to the success of the scientific programme. The Secretary & Treasurer Dr. Couto expressed gratitude and thanks to Dr. Bishan Radotra, Secretary IAPM, for so graciously consenting to having the Annual Meeting of the IAP-ID in conjunction with the IAPM Conference. On Behalf of the IAP-ID, Dr. Couto expressed deep appreciation and thanks to Col. S. K. Nema, Organizing Secretary, and Col. S. Satyanarayana and Col. Anurag Mehta, Joint Organizing Secretaries, for hosting the Meeting and for the excellent arrangements. The Meeting was then concluded and declared closed by the President.