Dear FSP Members,
Happy New Year! As we step into this new year, I am excited to see what is ahead for the FSP in 2025. It has been an incredible honor to serve as your President the past two years. With my term coming to an end in February 2025, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable successes we have achieved together and the deeply rewarding experience it has been to lead the FSP. These two years have been filled with growth, collaboration, and a shared commitment to advancing our society and the community we have built. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated and passionate board members as well as our devoted FSP members.
Precision Medicine Academy
In alignment with our vision to advance pathology education and innovation, FSP was awarded the Precision Medicine Academy Grant in the Summer of 2024 from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. This grant will allow us to offer cutting-edge educational opportunities as well as training and mentorship opportunities, equipping our members with the tools and knowledge to stay at the forefront of precision medicine.
I am proud to share that we have launched the new online learning center for FSP members which will not only house the Precision Medicine Academy, but it will provide a platform to host other educational activities for FSP members to take advantage of. The new learning center can be found online here.
We successfully hosted the first live webinar of the webinar series for the Precision Medicine Academy in December of 2024 on Cancer Diagnostics and Precision Medicine. The on-demand version of this webinar which offers 1 hour of CME credit is now available on the learning center as well. Our next webinar on Hereditary Genetic Changes and Somatic Mutations in Precision Oncology is coming up on January 28th at 12:00pm ET. To learn more and register visit the FSP learning center here.
CAP Leadership Summit and Advocacy Stipend Update
Advocacy remains a cornerstone of our mission at FSP. To support the participation of our members in the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Leadership Summit, I am pleased to announce that the Advocacy Stipend has been increased from $500 per recipient to $1,000 per recipient in 2025. This adjustment underscores our commitment to empowering members to advocate for pathology and make a significant impact at the national level. The FSP launched this initiative to support members attending the Summit in 2024 and it was received with great success. The summary from 2024’s stipend recipients can be found on the FSP website here.
The 2025 CAP Leadership Summit will take place on April 26-29, 2025 in Washington, DC. FSP members can learn more about the opportunity and apply to receive the advocacy stipend on the FSP website here. The deadline to submit is February 26, 2025.
Interested to learn about the importance of advocacy? FSP produced an impactful webinar on Advocacy - The Why, What, and How and it is now available to view on the new online FSP learning center. The webinar introduces advocacy, the legislative process and the role of a lobbyist as well as why advocacy is important and how to become a physician advocate. Watch Now!
Membership Growth
Our FSP community continues to flourish! I am proud to report that we have seen a consistent increase in FSP membership over the past two years. Since my term began in February 2023, we have seen more than a 10% increase in membership annually and have been able to maintain a 95% or more retention rate for our members annually. While our retention rate is incredibly strong, we continue to engage with any members that have not renewed to continue their membership. I am pleased to share that our retention rate for our group membership has been 100% for the past two years. This growth and retention rate reflects the strength of our society, and the value members find in our educational programs, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts. Thank you for being ambassadors of FSP and helping us expand our reach.
Financial Growth
FSP continues to achieve strong financial growth and stability, enabling us to further invest in member services, educational offerings, and advocacy initiatives. Since my term began, we have maintained a steady 10% annual growth rate, a testament to the robust financial health of our Society. This growth ensures that we can sustain our mission and continue providing high-quality resources that benefit our members and the field of pathology.
FSP x FLASCO Collaboration
Our collaboration with the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) continues to grow and flourish. This partnership has enabled us to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and enhance the integration of pathology and oncology. In 2024, we hosted the program at a new location at the renowned Moffitt Cancer Center which allowed us to maximize the opportunity for impactful collaboration and education. We look forward to confirming our 2025 location and announcing soon!
Academic Program Collaboration
The FSP has remained committed to fostering strong partnerships with our academic programs across the state. Through collaboration with our state’s esteemed institutions, FSP ensures that its programs reflect the latest advancements in pathology and addresses the evolving needs of our members while leveraging the strengths and expertise of the talented faculty members at each program.
FSP will once again host an Academic Programs Workgroup Meeting on February 15th in conjunction with the upcoming FSP Annual Pathology Conference where we will bring together the academic program chairs as well as the residency program directors at each of the institutions to discuss how we can collectively provide innovative programs, enhance our educational offerings, and strengthen academic programs’ initiatives.
Looking Ahead
As our new President, Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD and the new executive committee and board members begin their term in February 2025 upon official approval from the FSP membership at the upcoming business meeting on February 15, 2025, I am confident the society will continue to thrive and flourish under their leadership. As we build on the momentum from the past two years, I encourage each of you to stay actively engaged with FSP and support the new executive leadership. Whether through attending our meetings, engaging in the new online learning center, participating in webinars, promoting FSP membership or contributing to advocacy initiatives, your involvement is vital to our continued success.
Thank you for your dedication and support. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events and working together to achieve even greater milestones.
2024 is in the rear-view mirror. However, 2025 may bring significant changes to not only the world of politics but also of medicine. While we patiently wait for bills to be filed before the beginning of the 2025 Regular Session in March, we take a look at the key accomplishments of the Agency for Health Care Administration in 2024 which benefited medicine and pathology.
Enhancing Medicaid Managed Care
The Agency completed the re-procurement of the Medicaid managed care program contracts this year and will begin the program's third iteration on February 1, 2025. The newest contracts emphasize utilization of the Hope Florida program, a new health plan structure to keep families together and support them, introduce significant ways to improve enrollee health, and implement a new quality incentive structure to motivate the health plans and providers to continually improve over the life of the contract.
Opening Access for Training the Next Generation of Health Practitioners
The Florida Legislature, in conjunction with the State’s health agencies, passed legislation reinvigorating the health education landscape in the state of Florida by supporting graduate education for physicians, nurses, and behavioral health professionals. Additionally, the Live Healthy act included financial support to physicians and dentists who participate in the Medicaid program to assist with the repayment of student loans.
Florida Cancer Connect Collaborative
The Florida Cancer Connect Collaborative released its report giving insight into trends for the most common cancers, highlighting screening and prevention measures, and details of the history of cancer research and care in Florida.
Click here to download the Legislative Report that includes important Session dates.
The Florida Society of Pathologists’ number one priority is to protect our patients and our profession. We are committed to protecting to doing this through the efforts of the Pathology-PAC (FSP-PAC). The Pathology-PAC provides supportive candidates, political parties, and other political organizations with contributions to achieve our advocacy goals and ultimately protect our medical license. To be successful in legislative efforts, the FSP needs strong financial support from its members. Consider making a one-time donation or enrolling for an automatic monthly donation on the FSP website. Donate Online Now to the FSP - Pathology PAC!
The FSP would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the FSP Pathology PAC in 2024. Many of these individuals donated multiple times!
As has been widely reported in the news and many health care publications, in October 2024, Blue Cross Blue Shield (“BC/BS”) agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve allegations in a long-running antitrust class action brought by US healthcare providers (including both healthcare facilities and medical professionals) against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its 33 member plans.
This class action settlement represents the largest antitrust payment to be awarded in any healthcare litigation and begs the question—What will your share of the settlement be?
Don’t shoot the messenger, but as a healthcare provider, you and your group may see little, if any, money from the settlement. While the settlement covers all providers in the US who currently provide or provided healthcare services, equipment or supplies to any patient who was insured by, or who was a member of or a beneficiary of, any plan administered by the Blues, from July 24, 2008 until October 4, 2024, 92% of the settlement payments will go to healthcare facilities and only 8% will go to medical professionals.
The reason providers will be receiving such a small percentage of the settlement payments is because many providers will be excluded from the class settlement. Providers owned or employed exclusively by government entities are not covered by the class definition. Nor are providers who participated in a prior class action settlement involving BC/BS. Specifically, a provider who was a member of the settlement classes of physicians in Love v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, No. 1:03-cv-21296-FAM (S.D. Fla.), almost every physician who was licensed to practice prior to March 12, 2008, will be considered an Excluded Provider because their claims were already released in that lawsuit.
Healthcare providers should consult with experienced counsel to evaluate their specific situation and make an informed decision in advance of all relevant deadlines, including the opt-out date, which is March 4, 2025.
Steven R. Weinstein is the Managing Parter of the Miami Office of K&L Gates, a global law firm operating on five continents, with over 1700 lawyers. He specializes in health care litigation.
As We Look Ahead to 2025
As we embark on a new year, it’s evident that our organization is thriving and exceeding expectations in success and innovation. After a fantastic 2024, 2025 promises to be even more remarkable for the Florida Society of Pathologists (FSP).
New Year, New Membership Recruitment Challenge!
We’re thrilled to kick off our 2025 Membership Recruitment Challenge! As you know, FSP grows stronger when members like you invite colleagues to join. A larger membership means a more robust and vibrant society, and your efforts are key to our success.
Let’s make 2025 a record-breaking year—can we surpass the number of new members recruited in 2024? Join this exciting challenge and help us build a stronger community.
FSP Member Spotlight Opportunity
FSP loves to showcase our members! If you’re interested in being featured in a Member Spotlight, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to Shana Harvey at membership@flpath.org to express your interest.
A Warm Welcome to Our 2024 New Members!
We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Florida Society of Pathologists. Your addition strengthens our community and contributes to the success of our mission. Welcome to FSP! Welcome aboard! We’re excited to have you as part of our community.
Save the Dates: Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar for these two premier events in 2025:
Both conferences offer cutting-edge educational sessions, invaluable networking opportunities, and engaging discussions to support your professional growth.
Thank You for Your Support
To every member of FSP, thank you for your unwavering dedication and contributions to our mission. Your commitment drives our success, and it’s an honor to serve as your Membership Chair. Together, we’re building a brighter future for pathology in Florida.
Please consider joining us for the FSP's 51st Annual Pathology Conference on February 14-16, 2025, at Disney's Grand Floridian in Orlando, Florida.
The meeting will begin with an Educational Symposium hosted by Mayo Clinic and will include the following topics:
Ming Zhou, MD, PhD will speak on Friday afternoon covering GU Pathology followed by a microscopy session on Interesting and Relatively New Entities in GU Pathology given by Jasreman Dhillon, MD. The day will conclude with a non-CME product theater and welcome reception with exhibitors.
Saturday will begin with Jason L. Hornick, MD, PhD speaking on Soft Tissue Pathology. Between educational sessions the FSP will hold a puppy cuddle break in the exhibit hall. The 4th Annual Rare and Interesting Case Competition will be held on Saturday afternoon. There were 21 cases submitted and the top 5 will be presented using PathPresenter’s digital pathology software during this interactive session. Attendees will vote for the top 3 cases during the session. For the second year we will have Resident Jeopardy on Saturday afternoon organized by the Resident and Fellow Committee. The day will end with The Fellowship Fair and Reception.
Ritu Nayar, MD will speak on Sunday on Cytopathology.
We are also pleased to share that there were over 100 posters submitted for inclusion in the FSP Poster Hall and Poster Competition. We are excited to see the posters in person during the meeting as they will be on display starting February 14 through February 16. We can't wait to see who wins the Poster Competition. The winners will be announced during the FSP business meeting on Saturday, February 15.
There is still time to register for the conference! Please click here to register for the conference.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The FSP Online Learning Center is your ultimate destination for professional growth and education in pathology. This robust hub offers a wealth of resources, including live CME-certified webinars, on-demand CME-certified webinars, curated recordings of past webinars, highlights from FSP conferences, and more. Access is exclusive to FSP members—simply log into your membership profile to explore all the Learning Center has to offer.
Access the Learning Center Here
Join us for the second CME webinar of the Precision Medicine Academy webinar series taking place on Jan. 28, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET on Hereditary Genetic Changes and Somatic Mutations in Precision Oncology. The webinar will be moderated by FSP President Marilyn Bui, MD, PhD with guest speakers Theresa Boyle, MD, PhD and Christine Walko, PharmD of Moffitt Cancer Cener. The webinar will explore the critical role of genetic alterations in cancer development and treatment. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the differences between inherited (germline) and acquired (somatic) mutations, their implications for precision oncology, and how to effectively detect them. The program will also highlight the tools and methodologies used to detect these genetic changes and provide strategies for collaborating with genetic counselors to incorporate hereditary risk assessments into cancer diagnosis and management.
This past year has been an exciting and productive time for our resident and fellow community within the Florida Society of Pathologists. Together, we have embraced bountiful opportunities for professional growth and collaboration. Residents and fellows actively engaged in advocacy efforts, lending their voices to important issues that impact the future of our field. We also launched the first-ever resident newsletter series, a platform to share achievements and resources among trainees. We showcased highlights from the 4th Annual Precision Medicine Symposium, reflecting on the cutting-edge advancements at the intersection of pathology and oncology. In addition, the FSP Learning Center has become a fantastic and continually expanding resource to support our education and professional development, ensuring we stay at the forefront of pathology training and practice.
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to approach the 51st FSP Annual Pathology Conference in Orlando, which promises to deliver an enriching experience for trainees. This year, several events are tailored specifically to foster learning, networking, and camaraderie among residents and fellows, including:
We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to grow together as a community of future pathologists!
In a recent Cancer Cytopathology article, published by the American Cancer Society, FSP Resident Liaison to the Board and Chair of the FSP Resident and Fellow Committee, Myles McCrary, MD, PhD, and FSP President-Elect, Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD, highlight the pivotal role state pathology societies play in supporting pathology trainees. Dr. McCrary shares insights into the history of the FSP’s offerings to trainee members and how it has significantly impacted resident and fellow pathologists during their training. Read the full article here.
FSP President Marilyn Bui, MD, PhD, and FSP Board Member Pitor Borkowski, MD, contributed to a recent College of American Pathologists publication on Generative AI: Transforming the Future of Anatomic Pathology. Read the full article here.
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Phone: (904) 309-6261
Email: contact@flpath.org
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