35th ANNUAL NZSC CONFERENCE

Report compiled by Abed Kader
Convenor of the 2004 Conference

Introduction

The 35th Annual Cytology Conference of the NZ Society of Cytology (NZSC) was held at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington from the 7th to the 9th of October 2004. The meeting was hugely successful, with the scientific programme comprising of a good mix of gynaecological and nongynaecological cytology.

Attendence

In total, 54 delegates attended the conference. These were currently practising pathologists, cytotechnologists and cytotechnicians. In addition, there were 3 representatives of the NCSP, 3 overseas keynote speakers, 1 Australian speaker (Stuart Dobson) and an Occupational therapist (Philippa Grimes). Five companies' representatives also attended the conference sessions.

Delegates enjoyed a full programme

Sponsorship

Financial sponsorship was received from

NCSP (principal sponsor)
Biocare
Medbio
Diagnostic Technologies
Cooper Medical.

Olympus NZ provided video microscopy facility. Valley Diagnostic Lab provided pens for conference delegates. Medlab Wellington were the conference organisers and also sponsored a calculator/pen gift set for delegates. Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast opened the conference and the Wellington City Council sponsored the Civic Reception at the Council Chambers.

A big thank you to all our sponsors, without whom the conference would not have been possible.

Mayor Opens Conference

Speakers

The keynote speakers were Dr Diane Solomon, Dr Carlos Bedrossian and Dr Ursula Bedrossian.

Diane Solomon, M.D. is a Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute. She recently headed the NCI ALTS clinical trial to determine the optimal management of women with equivocal and mildly abnormal Pap tests. She has also been instrumental in the development and evolution of the Bethesda System for communicating the results of cervical cytology: from its inception in 1988 to the recent publication of the second edition of the Bethesda Atlas. Dr Solomon gave a total of 4 lectures at the conference. These were entitled "Myths in Cytology", "HPV", "Bethesda 2001" and "Cytology Interobserver Reproducibility".	Diane Solomon
Dr Carlos Bedrossian, Editor-in Chief of Diagnostic Cytopathology was the founder of the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Society of Cytopathology. A world renowned pulmonary pathologist, Dr. Bedrossian has lectured extensively at the international level on the use of cytopathology, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy in the diagnosis of lung diseases. Dr C. Bedrossian gave 2 lectures entitled "Mesothelioma vs Carcinoma" and "Lung Cancer".	Carlos Bedrossian
Dr. Ursula Bedrossian is the managing editor of Diagnostic Cytopathology. She has authored several papers on Immunocytochemistry applied to cytologic specimens, sexually transmitted disease and cytopreparatory methodologies. She is a member of the Cytotechnology Advisory Committee of the American Society of Cytopathology and serves as treasurer on the Executive Board of the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology. Dr. Bedrossian lectures frequently on behavioral theories of management and the motivation of cytotechnologists. She also writes a regular feature for the ASC Bulletin entitled "What Keeps us at our Scopes". Dr U Bedrossian gave 2 talks entitled "LBC - ASCUS vs AGUS" and "Behavioural Theories".	Ursula Bedrossian

Other speakers included:

Stuart Dobson from Australia gave 2 lectures entitled "Thin Prep Imaging System" and "Challenging differential diagnoses in LBC".
Philippa Grimes spoke microscopy from an occupational physiotherapist's perspective.
Dr Fred Mayall (Hamilton) gave 2 talks entitled "Lymphoma" and "HPV Digene testing"
Colin Woods (Wellington) spoke about the NZSC website.
Carol Green (Wellington) updated delegates on cytology training and education.
Dr Hazel Lewis (NCSP) spoke about HGSIL NCSP trends.
Dr Mee Ling Yeong and Liz Pringle (DML, Auckland) Presented the answers to the DML quiz.

Fred Myall

Colin Woods

Carol Green

Diane Casey (MoH), Dr Harold Neal and Dr Margaret Sage spoke on Competency Assurance in Cervical Cytology. This was followed by a panel discussion. The panel comprised (Pictured left to right):
The Panel
Colin Woods (MLW, Wellington)

Dr Karin Wood (VDL, Wellington)

Liz Pringle (DML, Auckland)

Dr Margaret Sage (Christchurch)

Dr Harold Neal

Prizes

Prizes were awarded for proffered papers (Dianne Stanley and David Palmer) and best poster (Jennifer Sigley). The Bedrossians brought with them 2 gifts. These were awarded as lucky draw prizes. The 1 year subscription to Diagnostic Cytopathology was won by Sarah Talbot and the Quality Management book was won by Dr Peter Fitzgerald. The draw for the Biocare digital camera was won by Harold Neal . A cheque was handed to Colin Woods as acknowledgement for the work he has done on the NZSC website.

Dr Peter Bethwaite presents Dianne Stanley with her prize.

Closing

The conference was formally closed by President of the NZSC Dr Mee Ling Yeong who thanked all the organisers of the conference and the speakers.

Text and photos: Abed Kader
Design and Sub-editing: Colin Woods

Society President, Dr Mee Ling Yeong

AGM Minutes and Comprehensive Procedings of the 2004 conference will be published on the website in the near future - CJW