Pathology Visions’ Presenters & Products Draw Diverse Attendance to San Francisco

Distinguished presenters and product information drove attendees from across the globe to San Francisco, CA for the 10th Annual Pathology Visions Conference, hosted by the Digital Pathology Association (DPA). The conference was held last month at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Those that attended the conference represented 28 states, 18 countries and 133 organizations.

Pathology Visions spanned across two days with pre-conference workshops taking place the Sunday before the official start of the conference. Presentations throughout the two days were given by experts in whole slide imaging, image analysis and other aspects of the digital pathology field, as well as workshops that catered to all levels and interests of digital pathology, ranging from “Digital Pathology 101” to “Whole Slide Imaging Validation Guidelines, Quality Improvement and Regulatory Issues for Clinical Implementation.” Throughout the two days, physician attendees had the opportunity to earn up to 5 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits from the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA). The presentation PDFs are now available on the DPA website to Pathology Visions attendees. Please contact the DPA Staff with any questions.

Headlining the lineup of distinguished presenters at Pathology Visions 2014 was keynote presenter Dr. Jennifer L. Hunt, with a timely presentation, titled “#SelfieSunday #TransformationTuesday #ThrowbackThursday.” Dr. Hunt currently serves as Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Aubrey J. Hough Endowed Professor of Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In her keynote presentation, Dr. Hunt took attendees on a tour of some new innovations of the past decade that have succeeded and failed to be adopted for pathology practice. She also explored some of the potential drivers of uptake in the modern laboratory with a particular emphasis on financial pressures and cost analysis.

At the conclusion of the conference, one attendee posted about his experience in the Pathology Visions mobile app saying, “Enjoyed every part of the meeting. As a first time visitor to Pathology Visions annual meeting I was truly impressed with the amount of useful information and informative talks that will certainly advance the field of digital pathology. Special thanks to the presenters, vendors and all in attendance for making this such a great meeting.”

Prior to the conference, the DPA awarded three pathology residents with Travel Awards. These Travel Awards allowed each resident to attend Pathology Visions at no expense. Winners included:

Travel Award Winners— Nathan Cuka, MD; Vadim Pinskiy, PhD; and Nick Reder, MD, MPH.

At the conclusion of the conference, the DPA gave away Poster Presentation Awards. This competition gave attendees the opportunity to be awarded for their superb knowledge and dedication to the field of digital pathology. Winners included:

Best Poster by a Resident – From Image to Data to Model to Knowledge: A New Integrated Platform to Study Epithelial Neoplastic Lesions
Authors: Martial Guillaud, Calum MacAualy.

Best Clinical Poster – Integration of Digital Pathology with Diagnostic Pathology Practice
Authors: Azhar Rafay, Chee Leong Chee, Waih Khuen Seah, Chui Ling Janel Loke, Poi Fun Jennifer Chin, Shi Hui Adeline Sng, Yong Quan Chua.

Best Education Poster – Eye-tracking in the Assessment of Digital Pathology Platforms: Current Concepts and Capabilities
Authors: Sharon Fox, MD, PhD; C. Charles Law, BS, PhD; Beverly E. Faulkner-Jones, MD, PhD.

Best Research Poster – The Use of 3D Printing as an Adjunct to Digital Pathology in Slide Analysis
Authors: Zev Leifer, Steven A. McClain.

People’s Choice – Digital Pathology and Change Management: Effective Practices for the AP Lab
Author: Deborah A. Hillsdon-Smith, MBA, LSSBB, SCT(ASCP)CT.

Pathology Visions 2015 is scheduled for October 11 – October 13, 2015 at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston, MA. Continue to check the website for updates and deadlines for Pathology Visions 2015.

About the Digital Pathology Association

The Digital Pathology Association, located in Indianapolis, IN, was founded in 2009. Its mission is to facilitate education and awareness of digital pathology applications in healthcare and life sciences. Members are encouraged to share best practices and promote the use of technology among colleagues in order to demonstrate efficiencies, awareness and its ultimate benefits to patient care. Visit the website to learn more about the DPA and Pathology Visions.

Source: Digital Pathology Association