Vol 64 No 1 2024 

Page 5

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ASIA

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF PATHOLOGY MARCH 2024

Ismail I Matalka, FRCPath  Vice President for Asia 

The XXXIV Meeting of the Arab Division, Doha-Qatar

 29th Nov to 3rd Dec 2023

The scientific program of the Congress offered a comprehensive range of topics covering the latest advancements in diagnostic pathology, molecular pathology, digital pathology and artificial intelligence, breast pathology, gynecological pathology, thoracic pathology, soft tissue and bone pathology, hematopathology, and gastrointestinal pathology. An RCPath trainees’ session was also included.

The program was designed into 3 practical workshops on the first day, followed by 3 full days of didactic lectures concentrating on 8 different themes of surgical pathology. Three pre-congress workshops were organized, each for a full scientific day, including dermatopathology, medical renal pathology, and certified PDL-1 training.

Many research projects have been presented in the conference in the form of poster presentations. Over 250 posters were submitted, of which 120 posters were accepted.

Eleven Bursaries for poster submissions were awarded, each for 1200 USD, to cover travel and accommodation of trainees. These awards were meant to encourage attendance of junior residents from less advantaged countries.

Three “Ibn Al-Nafis” awards for junior pathologists for  best poster presentations for a total of 1200 USD.

The full scientific program was CPD accredited by the Ministry of Health of the State of Qatar, as well as the RCPath-UK for a total of 30 CPD points.

Excellent attendance has been achieved, with over 656 delegates, from 37 countries. There were 29 speakers:  4 from Qatar, and 25 International, who shared their knowledge and experiences from around the globe.

Arab School of Pathology Bone Pathology Workshop 

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

in Collaboration with Oman Pathology Society and Directorate General of Khoula Hospital,  October 25-26 2023

The Arab School of Pathology, in collaboration with the Oman Pathology Society and the Directorate General of Khoula Hospital, conducted a Bone Pathology Workshop on 25th-26th October 2023, at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Dr. Hunaina Al Kindi, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, commenced the workshop with opening remarks and a welcome speech.

The two-day event featured lectures, a slide seminar, and case presentations covering various bone lesions. Topics included Bone Histology, Molecular Pathology, NGS for Pathology, Osteogenic Tumors, Chondrogenic Tumors, Giant Cell Rich Lesions of Bone, Mesenchymal Tumors of Bone, Vascular Tumors of Bone, Undifferentiated Small Round Cell Tumors, Hematopoietic Neoplasm of Bone, and Notochordal Tumors.

The distinguished invited speaker, Prof. Fouad Al Dayel from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, shared his expertise in this field. Local speakers included Dr. Mina George, Dr. Hunaina Al Kindi, Dr. Zahra Al-Hajri, Dr. Maimuna Al-Saadi, Dr. Nabila Al-Julandani, and residents Dr. Azza Al-Zakwani and Dr. Al-Thuraya Al-Hajri. The workshop targeted pathologists in training and junior/senior pathologists, drawing around 40 participants from Oman and other Arab countries. Dr. Hunaina Al Kindi concluded the workshop with a round of thanks to all speakers, participants, and organizers.

The 14th Kristin Henry Arab-British School of Pathology of Soft Tissue Tumors 

Amman, Jordan 10th – 11th November 2023

The Kristin Henry Arab-British School of Pathology, one of the educational venues of the Arab Division-IAP, in collaboration with the British Division-IAP, conducted a workshop on the pathology of soft tissue tumors (STT), in Amman, Jordan, for 2 days on 10th-11th November 2023.

The invited international speaker from BD was Dr. Uta Flucke from Radboud University Medical Centreat Netherlands. Dr. Flucke is a renowned expert in soft tissue pathology; she presented five valuable lectures highlighting the latest updated classification of STT including: USP6, BCOR, DICER and protein kinase-related lesions along with vascular malformations. In addition, f six local speakers from the Jordan Society of Pathology (Dr, Samir Amr, Dr. Omar Jabr, Dr. Mohammad Alorjani, Dr. Sura Rawabdeh, Dr. Lina Al-Nahar, and Dr. Aseel Al-Omari) presented six lectures discussing epithelioid, round blue cell, myxoid and pediatric STT, along with next generation immunohistochemistry in STT. Free participation was offered for target audience including 40 residents enrolled in local training programs of histopathology and junior histopathologists. Dr. Ghazi Zaatari, Secretary of AD-IAP and Dr. Hala Kfoury, Chair of the Arab School of Pathology also attended the workshop. This workshop was coordinated and organized locally by both Dr. Samir Amr and Dr. Aseel Al-Omari, and sponsored by the Istishari Hospital, Amman, Jordan.

Obituary

Dr. Ali Al-Saad

It is with heavy hearts that we share with you the unfortunate news of the passing of Dr. Ali Al-Saad, Treasurer of the Arab Division, and a dear friend and colleague, in a tragic car accident in Jordan along with his wife and daughter. Dr. Al-Saad completed his training in Jordan and the UK, where he served for some time before returning to Jordan to serve his community. This is an awful loss to the members of the Division and the pathology community in Jordan and the Arab Division.

Dr. Mohammad Dabbour

On 13th of October, less than a week after the war on Gaza began, Dr. Mohammad Dabbour, a pathologist in Gaza, was killed by Israeli military airstrikes, along with his father and son. Dr. Dabbour completed his training in Jordan. In 2015, he returned to Gaza, where he served as a consultant Histopathologist at Al-Shifa Hospital and the Head of the pre-clinical department at the Islamic University of Gaza. His loss will have a great impact on the service of pathology in the besieged Strip

Future Meetings & Educational Activities of the Arab Division of IAP

Other Activities

The Online Interactive Pathology Quiz Program (Continuous Program)

Endorsed by the Arab Division of IAP

Program Coordinator:  Issam Francis, MD, FRCPath

Total Quizzes Posted; 73 Quizzes (one Quiz per month)

Total Quizzes Performed: 11375

Average quizzes per year: 2275

Total Number of MCQs Posted: 4900

Number of Participants: 896

Countries: 51

Certificates Distributed since 2019: 8200

Registration Fee: Free

Election of New Officers

of the Executive Committee of the Arab Division

Treasurer: Dr. Mohammad Al-Qudah (Jordan)