The Society for Pediatric Pathology, founded in 1965, is an educational and scientific organization of physicians and scientists who share a common interest in this vital field. Over 700 members of the Society practice in more than 60 Children’s Hospitals, Community Hospitals and University Hospitals of the United States, Canada and throughout the world. It is the aim of the Society to foster research, education, and practice as they pertain to pediatric pathology, and to provide a forum for discourse among its members.
The Mission of Society for Pediatric Pathology is to perform the following and other related functions:
- To promote expertise, effective teaching and productive research in the practice of pediatric pathology.
- To assist and promote the development and recognition of resident/fellow training programs in pediatric pathology and work with certifying and accrediting bodies to establish and maintain a means by which pathologists may be certified as having special competency in pediatric pathology.
- To sponsor and promote the education of physicians and others in healthcare related to pediatric pathology.
- To establish and maintain appropriate relationships with other societies and groups of physicians, and other scientists, who share professional interests with the Society.
The Society for Pediatric Pathology (SPP) welcomes all physicians and scientists interested in Pediatric Pathology. Several categories of membership are available:
- Regular: Pathologists, other physicians, or scientists with interest in Pediatric Pathology or allied disciplines. Dues ($395 per year) include an online subscription to the journal Pediatric and Developmental Pathology.
- Affiliate: Individuals who qualify as regular members but have permanent residence outside North America. Affiliate members are not required to pay dues, but may pay $50 per year in order to receive PDP online. Affiliate members residing outside North America have the option of becoming Regular members.
- Junior: Junior membership is open to those physicians and scientists actively engaged in formal training, with attestation from the training program. Dues are reduced ($50 per year) but still include an online subscription to PDP.
Meetings
The Society conducts a Spring Annual Meeting in conjunction with the U.S. -Canadian division of the International Academy of Pathology (USCAP), attracting large numbers of registrants from both organizations. In addition, the Society holds a Fall Meeting each year at various pediatric institutions throughout North America. Both the Spring and Fall meetings include presentations of papers and a symposium focusing on a selected topic. The Spring meeting includes the Sidney Farber Lecture, which features an in depth view of current topics in pediatric and developmental pathology. Each Spring meeting also includes a series of six workshops for the continuing education of practicing pathologists. The Perinatal Section of the Society sponsors a further symposium focusing on perinatal topics within the field. CME credit is offered for these educational activities.
Publications
Pediatric and Developmental Pathology is the premier journal dealing with the pathology of disease from conception through adolescence. It covers the spectrum of disorders developing in-utero (including embryology, placentology, and teratology), gestational and perinatal diseases, and all disease of childhood. Studies may be in any field of experimental, anatomic, or clinical pathology, including molecular pathology. Case reports are published only if they provide new insights into disease mechanisms or new information.
Slide Survey
The Slide Survey Program of the SPP is intended for all pathologists and pathology trainees. The slide survey is offered in online version only. The slide survey online (SSO) consists of 15 cases per year (3 sets of 5 cases each) which include virtual microscope slides, digital versions of the booklets and the electronic answer-submission sheets, as well as survey analysis, case discussion, and select case archives. Participants can expect to spend approximately one hour on each case, including reviewing the history and slide, arriving at a diagnosis, answering the questions, and reviewing the contributor’s summary and case discussion.
Grants
It is the aim of the Society for Pediatric Pathology to foster research, education, and practice as they pertain to pediatric pathology, and to provide a forum for discourse among its members. The Society sponsors a Young Investigator Research Grant program and also a Short-Term Study Stipend program. A number of awards are given to honor meritorious work by young investigators, work incorporating novel technology, and excellence in presentations relating to perinatal pathology and presentations by pathologists-in-training.
