FSP 44th (2018) Annual Anatomic Pathology Conference Highlights

The 44th Annual Anatomic Pathology Conference was held on February 16-18 in Orlando at the Grand Floridian Hotel. The conference was well attended with approximately 260 pathologists and 42 vendors representing the best laboratories, products and services in pathology.

The conference touted an impressive compendium of speakers from across the country including Drs. John Goldblum, Lester D.R. Thompson, Marisa Nucci and Raouf E. Nakhleh. Local faculty members from Florida included Drs. Andre Pinto from the University of Miami, Juan Carlos Hernandez-Prera from Moffit Cancer Center and Dianne Torrence from the University of Florida who gave riveting microscopy cases that supplemented each of the keynote presentations.

Friday kicked off with lectures given by Dr. John Godblum on The Trouble with Fat and Common Morphologic Patterns in Soft Tissue Tumors. Shown here, Dr. Goldblum is awarded with his faculty appreciation plaque by FSP President, Dr. Antonio Martinez. Afterwards, Dr. Dianne Torrence provided a very compelling interactive microscopy case presentation on soft tissue pathology.

 

The exhibit hall opened on Friday with a refreshment break and welcome reception with the exhibitors. New this year, the digital posters were on display on both Friday and Saturday in the exhibit hall giving attendees ample opportunity to view over 20 digital posters submitted from Florida's finest medical students, residents and fellows in pathology.

 

 

On Saturday attendees were given the opportunity to hear from pathology expert Dr. Lester D.R. Thompson who gave riveting lectures on What's New in the Head and Neck WHO? and How to Interpret the Nuclear Features of Papillary Carcinoma. Afterwards Dr. Juan Carlos Hernandez-Prera gave an interactive microscopy case presentation on head/neck pathology to round out the discussions in the morning. Shown here, Education Chair, Dr. Jim Zhai, awards Dr. Thompson with his faculty appreciation award.

 

FSP meeting

 

In the afternoon FSP held its annual business meeting which was kicked off by a rousing appeal to support the FSP Pathology PAC by Chair, Dr. Morton Levitt, and FSP's own lobbyist Amy Young from Ballard Partners. Amy Young then introduced the luncheon's keynote speaker Judge Ashley Moody, candidate for Attorney General. Judge Moody gave an overview of her candidacy and how FSP's members can be engaged in the legislative process to impact positive change in healthcare.

 

The top three abstract winners were presented with their awards during the business luncheon by Poster Committee Chair Dr. Stephen Vernon.

 

 

Third Place:

 

Diana Morlote, MD

Malignant Ewing-like neoplasm with EWSR1-KLF15 fusion: At the crossroads of a myoepithelial carcinoma and a Ewing-like sarcoma

 

 

 

Second Place:

 

 

Lynh Nguyen, MD

Clinical Indications for PDGFRA, PDGFRB, OR FGFR1 Testing in Hematologic Neoplasms

 

 

 

First Place:

 

Christopher A. Febres-Aldana, MD

Histopathology of Drug-Induced Liver Injury with Autoimmune Features versus Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Pilot Study

 

After the luncheon concluded, Dr. Raouf Nekhleh from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville led the attendees through a very interactive read slides session on Challenging Cases in Liver and GI Pathology. The audience was able to use keypad response systems to help diagnose cases and answer polling questions.

 

The last day of the FSP meeting, attendees heard from Dr. Marisa Nucci from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA on a practical approach to endometrial biopsy and cervical biospy as well as an update on ovarian neoplasia. Dr. Andre Pinto followed her lectures with an interactive microscopy case presentation on GYN pathology.