XXVI
International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology

September 16-21, 2006, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Québec, Canada

Report from the Chilean Division

One of the many reconditioned houses in this old port neighbourhood. English merchants built these houses when Valparaiso was a busy port servicing the ships that used the route around Cape Horn to trade from the East Coast to the West coast of the Americas. The houses fell into disrepair when the shipping route was replaced by the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.

The Chilean Division was established in 1995. Sergio Gonzales was the foundation Secretary/Treasurer and later President. The present President is Alicia Benavides and the Secretary is Martha Colderon Zelaya.
The Chilean Division of the IAP and the Chilean Society of Pathology have decided to amalgamate. This follows a trend in other countries such as Brazil and Spain.

There are about 150 pathologists practising in Chile.
The undergraduate medical course takes 7 years – 5 years tuition and 2 years work in a hospital. Post graduate training in Pathology is 5 years in a Teaching hospital. Specialist certification is given by the National University. The pathologists are working towards introducing a system of Board accreditation of Pathologists. Outstanding young pathologists are undergoing post graduate training in some of the leading institutions in the United States.

The Presidential Palace, Santiago.

Chile is a long, narrow country on the South West coast of South America. It has a population of about 15.5 million and is enjoying a period of political and economic stability. The capital, Santiago, has the majestic, snow covered Andes Mountains as a backdrop to its mixture of old and modern buildings.

South of Santiago there is intense agricultural activity. This is an important wine producing area. It is the home of the famous Chilean red wine in particular. About 100 miles north of Santiago is the port city of Valparaiso. This city is the headquarters of the Army and Navy, as well as being the commercial port. Before the Panama Canal was built, Valparaiso was a busy and important port servicing the shipping that supplied the West coasts of North and South America using the route around Cape Horn. For many years after the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, Valparaiso was in a state of decline. Now, however, because it is the main sea port for Chile it is flourishing once more.

Valparaiso - the commercial port. The buildings are built close together on the steep hill sides around the port. The area is prone to earthquakes and damage to houses is a hazard.

Between Santiago and Valparaiso there is a narrow fertile valley between the low mountain ranges that run north-south parallel to the main Andes Mountains. The far northern part of Chile is desert where nothing grows.

Viu Manent - one of the wineries to the South of Santiago.

The Naval Academy Building facing Naval Square in Valparaiso. The city is an important Naval and Military centre.

Chile administers Easter Island and one of the smaller of the famous stone head carvings (moais) from Easter Island has been placed in a park on the outskirts of Valparaiso.

Llama rides at the foot of the Hill of the Virgin.

Santiago viewed from the Hill of the Virgin, a small mountain that dominates the skyline of the city. The snow capped peaks of the Andes form a backdrop to the city.

Senior pathologists: L-R Luis Francisco, Velozo Papey, Cecilie Scheilung, Alicia Benavides (President of the Brazilian Division of the IAP), Sergio Gonzales (Professor and Head Department of Pathology at the Catholic University Hospital and a former President of the Chilean Division of the IAP.)

Trainee pathologists.


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A short history of the development of pathology in Chile

After many failed attempts to have Chilean physicians trained as pathologists in Europe, the Chilean government decided in 1907 to hire a German professor to establish a Pathology department for the public health system. Professor Max Westenhoeffer (1871-1957) a former student of Rudolph Virchow (1821-1902), was recruited and appointed Professor of Anatomic and General Pathology at the University of Chile.
After a short stay he returned to Germany in 1911. During this period, no pathologists were trained. In 1930, Westenhoeffer was again hired to establish a Chilean School of Pathology.

One of his former students from Berlin, Dr. Ismael Mena (1902-1979), a prominent surgical pathologist, succeeded him as Chairman of the Institute of Pathology at the Hospital Salvador in Santiago. Mena continued the task of consolidating a Chilean School of Pathology.

Ismael Mena.
Note: The picture on the wall is of the lecture theatre in the Virchow Institute of Pathology in Berlin.

Benedicto Chuaqui.

Roberto Barahona

Dr. Roberto Barahona (1908-1982), a Chilean student of Dr. Mena, founded the Department of Pathology at the Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, in 1945. He dedicated his life to the formation of pathologists. A fine and cultivated man, he attracted many young medical students to the specialty, and over 60 specialists have now passed through the postgraduate program at the Catholic University School of Medicine in the last few decades.

One of the most brilliant students of Dr. Barahona was Dr. Benedicto Chuaqui (1934-2003). He was a leading Cardiovascular Pathologist and he succeeded Dr. Barahona as Chairman of the Pathology Department until 2000. He continued Dr. Barahona’s work and style and after his death in 2003, dozens of disciples mourned his untimely departure.

Professor Sergio Gonzales succeeded Dr. Chuaqui in 2003.
Chilean Pathology has been influenced by the German school of Pathology and it is characterized by a strong emphasis on general pathology as applied to autopsy pathology and teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Surgical Pathology, with its emphasis on diagnosis, has been a recent introduction to Chilean Pathology, and most of the younger generation of pathologists have done postgraduate and postdoctoral studies in North America.

At present there are over 150 pathologists in active practice throughout the whole country. Scientific meetings are held every month and a National congress every year.
Sergio Gonzales

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PRACTICAL PULMONARY PATHOLOGY

London, 25-28 July, 2006

This course is designed to provide histopathology and cytopathology trainees and consultants with an opportunity to study diagnostic lung pathology in a comprehensive manner. It comprises lectures and practical microscopy sessions, the latter making up roughly half the time and consisting of individual study of a unique collection of cases.

Further details and application forms are available from Professor B Corrin,
Brompton Hospital, London SW3 6NP. Fax +44 20 7 351 8293.

E-mail: b.corrin@ic.ac.uk

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Tutorial on Neoplastic Hemato-
pathology

January 23-27, 2006
Boca Raton Marriott,
Boca Raton, Florida

The Tutorial, sponsored by The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, will be held under the direction of Dr. Daniel M. Knowles, Professor and Chairman of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The program will consist of lectures and case presentations. The Tutorial faculty will prepare an extensive notebook comprised of lecture notes and reference citations covering all of the topics presented at the Tutorial. The registration fee is $1,200, after December 30, 2005 $1,300.

For further information, please contact: Mrs. Cynthia Cameron, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, WMC Room-302, 1300 York Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10021. Telephone (212) 746-6464; Fax (212) 746-8192;

E-mail: cel2001@med.cornell.edu

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