Why Advertise?

In February, 1957, five pathologists, representing five national pathology societies (American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists, American Society for Experimental Pathology, American Society of Clinical Pathologists, College of American Pathologists, and the International Academy of Pathology) met to organize an effort to help pathologists improve public and professional appreciation of their specialty’s contributions to medical practice and research, to recruit physicians for careers in pathology, and to educate pathologists about how to improve individual, community, and professional relationships.  As a result of that meeting, the Intersociety Committee on Pathology Information (ICPI) was formally established. Since that time, the American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists and the American Society for Experimental Pathology merged to form what is now the American Society for Investigative Pathology; the American Society of Clinical Pathologists changed its name to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the International Academy of Pathology changed its name to the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and the Association of Pathology Chairs became a member in 1982.

ICPI was structured to be a continuing body consisting of one representative from each society, with the understanding that projects would be undertaken for the good of the field of pathology. The first chair of ICPI was William O. Russell. Other pathologists who served as chairs of ICPI during its first 25 years were Victor B. Buhler, Robert L. Breckenridge, Kenneth M. Brinkhous, F. Wells Brason, Rex B. Conn, Jr., William M. Christopherson, Robert B. Jennings, Thomas D. Kinney, David J. LaFond, E. Coye Mason, Henry D. Moon, Richard E. Palmer, Ernest E. Simard, Robert E. Stowell, and Martin J. Valaske. Dr. Herschel Sidransky served as Chair from 1984 to 2000, after which time Dr. Ronald P. Spark became Chair through 2007. Dr. David Wilkinson served as Chair from 2008 to 2011, Dr. Margaret Grimes from 2012 to 2014, and Dr. Jacob J. Steinberg from 2015 to 2018. Dr. John Tomaszewski is the current Chair (2019-2021).

In the first decades of its existence, PR Associates (later incorporated as Information Services, Inc.), a Washington,  D.C. firm experienced in public relations for health, scientific and educational projects, provided staff and headquarters for ICPI in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2000, ICPI moved its headquarters to the shared offices of ASIP and Universities for the Advancement of Research and Education in Pathology (UAREP). Since the dissolution of UAREP in 2002, ICPI has been managed by the ASIP. Dr. Mark E. Sobel served as Executive Officer from 2002 until his retirement in 2018. Dr. William B. Coleman currently serves as Executive Officer (since February 2018). In 2004, ICPI reincorporated in the State of Maryland as the Intersociety Council for Pathology Information, Inc.

ICPI is the long-time publisher of the annual Directory of Pathology Training Programs. This Directory transitioned to a searchable web version in 2001 (housed on the ICPI website – www.pathologytraining.org). This Directory contained listings for both pathology residency programs and pathology fellowship programs. In 2018/2019, ICPI entered into an agreement with the American Society for Clinical Pathology to develop a new Fellowship Directory (currently under development at ASCP – Spring 2019). ICPI will continue to provide a Directory for pathology residency training programs.

ICPI publishes Pathology: A Career in Medicine which is a career brochure that provides descriptions of the various roles pathologists serve in medicine, research, and academia for students interested in pursuing a career in pathology. The brochure describes the pathologist’s role on the clinical team and intimate involvement in patient care problems, the variety of case material, the opportunities to do research and to teach, and the wide scope of career options.  Topics include: The Pathologist in Patient Care, Anatomic Pathology, Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, Autopsy, Clinical Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Pathology Informatics, The Pathologist as a Consultant, The Pathologist as a Teacher, The Pathologist in Research, and Academic Paths and Career Options. In recent years, this career brochure was distributed in hard copy. However, the next revision of this brochure is slated for release during 2019 as a digital resource. A hard copy single page overview of the brochure is in development as a mailer to advertise the digital resource.

Since 2009, ICPI has promoted the establishment and annually supports Margaret Grimes, MD – Medical Student Interest Groups (MSIGs) at medical schools across the United States. These MSIGs facilitate and encourage medical students to consider a career in pathology. In 2018/2019, ICPI funded 36 MSIGs, most of which were established in past years and a few of which were new. Expansion of the number of ICPI-supported MSIGs is a major goal for the near future.

In 2005, ICPI became the Secretariat for the Intersociety Pathology Council (IPC). Originally formed in 1968, the IPC is an informal organization composed of representatives of 26 pathology organizations in North America. The IPC website (www.interpathcouncil.org) includes postings of minutes, up-to-date listings of elected officers, and progress reports from each member organization.  As the Secretariat, the ICPI provided funds for the operation of the IPC website and the IPC annual meeting, which takes place on the Sunday immediately preceding the annual meeting of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. In 2018, ICPI decided to relinquish oversight of the IPC to another organization. Through a vote of the IPC member organizations, the Association of Pathology Chairs was selected as the new Secretariat for the IPC. The APC assumed leadership of the IPC with the March 2019 meeting.

In 2014, ICPI began sponsorship of the Pathology Honor Society, which was originated by the Association of Pathology Chairs in 1992. The Pathology Honor Society fosters scholarship and excellence in academic and service pathology. Student members are selected by the Department of Pathology at each participating school of medicine. Since ICPI began its sponsorship, institutional fees have been eliminated to encourage broader participation of schools in the Pathology Honor Society.