Professor Fernando Schmitt, MD, FIAC
For the last year we have all been busy implementing the ideas proposed at the strategic meeting in Lisbon 2022. Working closely with Massimo Bongiovanni the General Secretary of the IAC, and Allison AustIn, Secretary to the IAC, as an effective executive team, and I thank them for their assistance and all their efforts in managing the IAC.
I am also working closely with the different established IAC committees in attempt to achieve the goals proposed by our strategic meeting in Lisbon 2022. We have established new committees to fulfil these aims.
Achievements aligned with decisions of Strategic Meeting
Communication Committee
Constitution and By-Laws Committee
CT Registry Exam and Renewal Committee
Education Committee
IAC Foundation Committee
International Cytopathology Board Committee
Liaison Committee
Membership Committee
Research and Publication Committee
Site-Selection and Planning Congress
- EDUCATION/E-LEARNING
- INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF CYTOLOGY
- Standards, services, guidelines, publications + JOURNAL – ACTA CYTOLOGICA-
- IAC FOUNDATION
- RESEARCH
- Establishment of online exams (contract signed with Smart in Media. The first exam was held in Budapest in October 2023).
- MOU signed with main pathology and cytopathology societies: ASC, EFCS, SLAC, ESP – involving organization of companion meetings (SLAC in September, EFCS in October and ASC in November)
- Organization of USCAP IAC Companion Meeting for Baltimore March 2024
- Renew of MOU with IARC to publish new cytopathology reporting systems: breast, liver, kidney and adrenal, 2023.
- Proceeding with the organization of next ICC 2025 in Florence, with active participation of IAC in the establishment of the scientific program together with the officers of SIAPEC and local organized committee.
- Reinforcing the social media tools: new website, LinkedIn account.
- Expansion of the staff with a specialist in communication
- Approval of the basis for launch the IAC Foundation
To do list for the next period
- The IAC website has a calendar of Tutorials, exams, webinars and other international events.
- Reformulate the internal rules, making more clear and publishing in the website
- To implement the decisions of the strategy meeting to increase membership and attract young members.
- To implement the mentorship program.
International Meeting 2022-2024
November 2022 – 21 ICC Baltimore, MD, USA
March 2022 – Companion Meeting USCAP New Orleans, LA, USA
July 2023 – Two day Tutorial in Lahore, Pakistan
September 2023 – One day Pre-congress Tutorial in Budapest, Hungary
September 2023 – Companion Meeting, ECC in Budapest, Hungary
November 2023 – Companion Meeting at ASC annual meeting Austin, TX
December 2023 – Two day Tutorial Hong Kong
March 2024 – Companion Meeting USCAP in Baltimore, MD, USA
June 2024 – One Day Pre-congress Tutorial Leipzig, Germany
June 2024 – Companion Meeting ECC Leipzig, Germany
July 2024 – Virtual Tutorial with SLAC
November 2024 – Companion Meeting at ASC annual meeting, Orlando, FL
IN PLANNING
March 2025 – Companion Meeting USCAP in Boston, MA, USA
May 2025 – 22nd International Cytology Congress, Florence, Italy
ORGANIZATION OF THE 22nd INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF CYTOLOGY
- The organization of the upcoming ICC 2025 in Florence, with the active participation of the IAC in establishing the scientific program together with officers of SIAPEC and a local organizing committee, is well underway.
An excellent program has been established. Invitations have been sent to proposed Chairs, and the response has been very positive. The location is very attractive, and the registration fee calculations help make it a very attractive meeting.
More progress…
The projects to support younger members are also taking shape. Webpages for an IAC Advanced Training Center program are near completion.
The aim is to offer institutes a platform to provide advanced training in Cytopathology for international fellows to apply for.
Successful achievements aligned with decisions of the Strategic Meeting
DIGITAL EXAMINATIONS. The online exams are up and running. Many thanks to Donna Russell for the tireless energy she has shown, learning to master the on-line platform and together with Dr. Ali reviewing all the necessary digital slides, visual images and written questions. This has completely modernised the examinations.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Co-operation with the main pathology and cytopathology societies: ASC, EFCS, SLAC, ESP has been excellent. In July this year SLAC hosted a virtual tutorial with IAC assistance. Companion meetings have taken place and are in planning for the future. Work is continuing together with IARC-WHO to publish new cytopathology reporting systems: breast, liver, kidney and adrenal.
WHO Classification of Tumors
 International Agency for Research on Cancer and the International Academy of Cytology |
 WHO Reporting System for Pancreaticobiliary Cytopathology |
Liaison Committee Societies with MoU
American Society of Cytology, Companion Meeting and IAC exams
SLAC, Companion Meeting and IAC Exams
EFCS, Companion Meeting and IAC Exams
ESP, Companion Meeting
Successful achievements aligned with decisions of Strategic Meetings
- SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the aims was to reinforce the social media tools: a new website and LinkedIn account. A new staff member, Carmen Hillebrand, as a specialist in communication, has been with the IAC for over a year now and is presenting the IAC to many who may not know about us. She will also help anyone who wishes to create a social media account - THE IAC FOUNDATION
has now been launched – A first project has been decided upon and the first donations have been received. Dr. Martha Pittman has led her committee admirably. She will be presenting a report later. - RESEARCH CORNER
The plans for the Research Corner are also soon to reach completion.This will also be a platform for experienced professionals to collaborate on research projects.IAC members will also receive email information once this is live on the IAC website.
IAC FOUNDATION HAS BEEN FOUNDED
An application form for the first Foundation Grants is available. Providing a travel grant of one thousand Euros to five IAC members. The committee will make a choice on merit.
There has already been support and the first Corner Stone Donors names can be seen on the website. Thank you to everyone.
THE IAC RESEARCH CORNER
The framework for the website is almost complete.
Once it has been tested, then IAC members will be encouraged to offer assistance in their specialist field, and others can ask for assistance.
More progress…
A calendar of Tutorials and Webinars is now available at the IAC website. It can be of use to inform about exams, meetings and many activities. (www.cytology-iac.org/events)
Negotiations are in progress with Karger for an online-only option for Acta for some IAC members
The internal rules for the Academy have been compiled and will soon be presented to the Board of Directors for approval and improvements. These rules will assist in making the Academy structures clearer and will be published on the website.
The aim to implement the mentorship program is also taking shape. The web pages are near completion, and there will soon be an email will be sent to our members introducing the program.
The plans to implement the decisions of the strategy meeting to increase membership and attract young members are in progress.
