Untitled Document

Stephen R. Ramsburgh, M.D.
President James A. French Society of Pathologists

June 2007

It has been awhile since I have communicated with you and much has happened that I want to share with the Membership. As you know from previous correspondence, we have several projects in the works, some of which have been completed. They represent some exciting changes for the Society. First and foremost is the program that will be in part sponsored by the A. James French Society entitled “New Frontiers in Diagnostic Pathology: An Update for Practicing Pathologists”. This meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 September, 2007 through the afternoon of Friday, 28 September, 2007. There will be a local reception hosted by me at the Alumni Center on Wednesday, the 26th for those who live in Ann Arbor or arrive early. As you know from the schedules that you have received, the accommodations are magnificent, the program is challenging, and the A. James French lecture will be given by an old friend and alumnus of the University of Michigan, Dr. Thomas V. Colby, who currently serves as Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. All of us that are involved in putting together this educational conference are very excited about the program and its format and believe that you will find it challenging and worthwhile. There will be a dinner for the Membership of the Society and all the attendees at 6:30 Thursday evening at the Michigan League. I promise you the after-dinner speaker will be one of the best you have ever heard.

Now on to something very dear to my heart. As you know, I, with the support of my colleagues, have started an A. James French Traveling Fellowship for senior level residents. The residents that apply for this Fellowship are chosen by a Board of Directors appointed by the president. This year we sent three Fellows, two from the University of Michigan and one from the University of Iowa. Dr. Lauren Smith from the University of Michigan spent a week with Elaine Jaffe at the NIH in Bethesda. Dr. Chris Przybycin, also from Michigan, spent a week with Dr. Victor Reuter at Sloan-Memorial Kettering in New York. Dr. DesiRae Muirhead from the University of Iowa spent a week with Dr. David Page at Vanderbilt University. All three of the traveling fellows had wonderful experiences. Their treatment couldn’t have been better and the feedback I have received from them has been described as “invaluable”, “the best experience of my residency”, “an educational opportunity for which there is no substitute”, “the week was very high yield for me and definitely one of the highlights of my residency training”. In short, the program has been a resounding success. I have personally written thank you notes to each of the faculty that hosted our fellows and the feedback has been superb. I am very proud and pleased to have been a part of this endeavor and look forward to having more and more pathology residencies across the country with A.J. French ties participate in this unique experience.

Finally, the last accomplishment is slightly more modest but significant nonetheless. We have increased our membership fairly dramatically incorporating many of the more recent graduates (last ten years or so) into active membership. I believe we need to continue to add new members because this is so important in our fulfilling the purpose of the organization which is to honor and perpetuate the ideal precepts in pathologic science and education as exemplified by the life and teachings of A. James French, M.D. We accomplished these goals by providing an annual opportunity for continuing education of its members, promoting fellowship among the members, and fostering educational opportunities in pathology for our residents in training.

I always enjoy the opportunity to communicate with you. I look forward to seeing many of you in the fall of this year and will continue to share with you the latest happenings within the Society. Drs. Hess, Myers, and Visscher, join me in looking forward to meeting and interacting with all of you.

Links: Home Biography Officers and Board Members By-Laws Dues and Membership Traveling Fellowship Meeting Dates Membership Directory News from the President Pathology Home			Stephen R. Ramsburgh, M.D. President James A. French Society of Pathologists June 2007 It has been awhile since I have communicated with you and much has happened that I want to share with the Membership. As you know from previous correspondence, we have several projects in the works, some of which have been completed. They represent some exciting changes for the Society. First and foremost is the program that will be in part sponsored by the A. James French Society entitled “New Frontiers in Diagnostic Pathology: An Update for Practicing Pathologists”. This meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 September, 2007 through the afternoon of Friday, 28 September, 2007. There will be a local reception hosted by me at the Alumni Center on Wednesday, the 26th for those who live in Ann Arbor or arrive early. As you know from the schedules that you have received, the accommodations are magnificent, the program is challenging, and the A. James French lecture will be given by an old friend and alumnus of the University of Michigan, Dr. Thomas V. Colby, who currently serves as Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. All of us that are involved in putting together this educational conference are very excited about the program and its format and believe that you will find it challenging and worthwhile. There will be a dinner for the Membership of the Society and all the attendees at 6:30 Thursday evening at the Michigan League. I promise you the after-dinner speaker will be one of the best you have ever heard. Now on to something very dear to my heart. As you know, I, with the support of my colleagues, have started an A. James French Traveling Fellowship for senior level residents. The residents that apply for this Fellowship are chosen by a Board of Directors appointed by the president. This year we sent three Fellows, two from the University of Michigan and one from the University of Iowa. Dr. Lauren Smith from the University of Michigan spent a week with Elaine Jaffe at the NIH in Bethesda. Dr. Chris Przybycin, also from Michigan, spent a week with Dr. Victor Reuter at Sloan-Memorial Kettering in New York. Dr. DesiRae Muirhead from the University of Iowa spent a week with Dr. David Page at Vanderbilt University. All three of the traveling fellows had wonderful experiences. Their treatment couldn’t have been better and the feedback I have received from them has been described as “invaluable”, “the best experience of my residency”, “an educational opportunity for which there is no substitute”, “the week was very high yield for me and definitely one of the highlights of my residency training”. In short, the program has been a resounding success. I have personally written thank you notes to each of the faculty that hosted our fellows and the feedback has been superb. I am very proud and pleased to have been a part of this endeavor and look forward to having more and more pathology residencies across the country with A.J. French ties participate in this unique experience. Finally, the last accomplishment is slightly more modest but significant nonetheless. We have increased our membership fairly dramatically incorporating many of the more recent graduates (last ten years or so) into active membership. I believe we need to continue to add new members because this is so important in our fulfilling the purpose of the organization which is to honor and perpetuate the ideal precepts in pathologic science and education as exemplified by the life and teachings of A. James French, M.D. We accomplished these goals by providing an annual opportunity for continuing education of its members, promoting fellowship among the members, and fostering educational opportunities in pathology for our residents in training. I always enjoy the opportunity to communicate with you. I look forward to seeing many of you in the fall of this year and will continue to share with you the latest happenings within the Society. Drs. Hess, Myers, and Visscher, join me in looking forward to meeting and interacting with all of you.