About the SPPG - History
Our forerunners
A number of Swiss Pathologists had been interested in Pediatric Pathology
already in the 50ies and 60ies of the last century. In Zürich
Profs. Uehlinger and Siebenmann already described a number of important
lesions. A maior interest in Pediatric Pathology was also shown by
Prof. Blanc in Geneva, Prof. Molz in Zürich and Dr. Mühlethaler
in Aarau.
The first steps
The idea of creating a group of Swiss Pediatric Pathologists was born
in the beginning of the year 1980. There were two essential events:
The first was a letter written in April 1980 by Prof. Wagner from Bern,
who was then president of the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG).
The Pediatric Clinical Oncologists had realized that there was need for
the collaboration with the Pediatric Pathologists in order to be able
to join the American Study Groups and properly conduct their studies.
Therefore they invited a representative of the Pediatric Pathologists
to join them. The initial contacts were established between Bozic, Briner,
Cox and Zimmermann. Briner was asked to get in contact with the SPOG
and take part at the meetings of the Executive Committee of the SPOG.
We decided to form a panel meeting at regular intervals, reviewing the
most interesting and difficult cases.
The second line of support came from Prof. John Emery from Sheffield,
who had just started in 1979 a Series of "Advanced Courses in Pediatric
Pathology", which were run under the auspices of the International
Pediatric Pathology Association. At the end of the second Course he proposed
that the following be held in Switzerland.
Organizing the third Advanced Course of Pediatric Pathology, in Grindelwald,
September 1981
Organizing a one week course for 40 Pathologists interested in Pediatric
Pathology from all over the world was a major task and was successfully
met. This was possible only due to the fact that all the Swiss colleagues,
who had formed the nucleus, were willing to closely cooperate in the
organization.
Creating a Constitution
The first informal meeting took place on the 4th April 1981 in Berne
and was attended by Bozic, Briner, Cox, Mühlethaler, Ohnacker
and Zimmermann. We realized, that it would be important to form an
official body and hence decided to create a constitution.
According to it, all Pathologists, residing in Switzerland and in the
direct vicinity with a maior interest in Pediatric Pathology were invited
to join the group. The main objectives were: to foster Pediatric Pathology
scientifically and practically, to develop and maintain relations with
related scientific branches, medical and biological disciplines, to develop
contacts to national and international associations of Pathology and
Pediatric Oncology and encourage friendly relationships among its members.
It was decided, that the official working language at the meetings be
English.
Founding the Swiss Pediatric Pathology Group (SPPG)
At the meeting on 4th June 1983 in Zürich the SPPG was officially
founded. Briner was elected President, Bozic became Vice-president, Zimmermann
was Secretary and Cox was Treasurer. At the annual Meeting of the Swiss
Pathology Society in November 1983 in Locarno the Group was officially
announced and the colleagues interested were invited to join.
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letztes update 2.11.05
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