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Our Community Speaks
Overview
Pathologists Overseas was founded in the spring of 1991 by Dr. Heinz Hoenecke. Our mission is to help improve and provide affordable pathology services to under-served patients worldwide. This is to be accomplished through volunteer efforts of pathologists and technologists, primarily from the United States and Canada.
As the organization and its activities grew, it became evident that this mission would be better served by incorporating as a nonprofit charitable organization. On July 2, 1992, Pathologists Overseas was incorporated in the State of California. Subsequently, we have obtained an Internal Revenue Service ruling as a tax-exempt organization under sections 501(a) and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Rotations for Ghana's Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi
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If you want to learn more about volunteering for this project please click here to contact Tom Coppin.
2008
Because this project includes
01/17 to 02/18: Dr. Thomas Coppin (project leader)
02/?? to 02/28: Dr. Daines
03/01 to 04/15: gap in rotation
04/15 to 05/06: Dr. Oliver
05/05 to 05/23: Dr. Villaneueva
05/12 to 05/23: Ntiamoah (histologist) and visit by Heinz Hoenecke M.D.
Rotations for Peru
If you want to learn more about volunteering for this project please click here to contact Victor Lee.
2008
2009
Interesting Articles
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Some of our volunteers have published on their experiences with Pathologists Overseas:
Take a second to lean a little bit more:
Information For Volunteer Pathologists in Ghana
The normal rotation is 30 days beginning either at the beginning of each month or, if double-coverage is being provided, going mid-month to mid-month.
Volunteers pay their own expenses which at present is mainly the airfare to and from Ghana and the preparatory vaccines (yellow fever, hepatitis A & B, and typoid) the anti-malarial drugs and the passport and visa.
A travel insurance policy is a must.
Past Volunteers
Max Arens, Ph.D.
Melvin S. Blanchard, M.D.
Eva Bovani, M.D.
Judy Bruce, BS (MT)
Wayne Bruce, Ph.D.
Richard Buller, Ph.D.
Norm Cadman, M.D.
Rebecca Davila, B.S.
Victor G. Davila-Roman, M.D.
Mike Dunne, Ph.D.
Robin Flieg, BS (MT) (long-term)
John Gawoski, Ph.D.
Jason S. Goldfeder, M.D.
Ann Gronowski, Ph.D.
Kathy Haarmann, R.N.
Jose Hagan, M.D., MPH
Mark Heydenburg
Alice Hoenecke
Heinz Hoenecke, M.D.
Amelia Kasper, M.D.
Marcia Kilsby, Ph.D.
Greg King, M.D., Ph.D.
Derryck Klarkowski, Ph.D. (long-term)
Jackie Klarkowski (long-term)
Gaye Knutsen, R.N., MSN
Jack Ladenson, Ph.D.
Ruth Ladenson, M.S.
Mary Lawrence, RN, CDE
Cesare Manetti, M.D.
Cindy Merrins, MHS, RD, CDE
Joseph Militech, M.D., Ph.D.
Susan Morin, BA (MT) (long-term)
Joan Nelson, PA
Mary Parsaca, BS, MT (ASCP)
Mitch Scott, Ph.D.
Meg Shea, RN, BC, PNP
Greg Storch, M.D.
Ralph Timperi, MPH
Amber Wamhoff, R.D.
Lynn Waring, MBBS
Paul Waring, MBBS
Brian Weinrick, B.S. (long-term)
Burt Wilcke, Ph.D.
Audrey Wilding, R.N.
Peter Wilding, Ph.D.
Gwen Williams, MT, SBB (long-term)
Dave Windus, M.D.
Debbie Windus, B.A.
Debbie Witty, RN, BSN
Oren Zinder, Ph.D.
Bhutan Project Introduction
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Bhutan is a small kingdom nestled on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, between China and India. With a population of about one million, the healthcare is organized and directly controlled by the Ministry of Health. There is no private medical practice. Pathology services had been under a solo pathologist (Dr. Mohanta, an Indian national) for the past thirty years until he was joined by Dr. Krishna Sharma in 2000. Dr. Sharma is now Director of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories for the country and an additional Bhutanese pathologist, Dr. Dhungel is practicing in Mongar Hospital.
Contact Us
Email the whole team by clicking here or email one of us individually using the links below.
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Victor W. Lee, M.D.
Contact Victor
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Heinz R. Hoenecke, M.D.
Contact Heinz
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Emily Bantle, M.D.
Contact Emily
Get Involved
Thanks for visiting Pathologists Overseas. We encourage you to browse the site to learn more and post comments about the humanitarian projects serving underserved patients in Africa and other underdeveloped areas of our world.
We currently need volunteers for Ghana and Peru -- SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS
Please participate in one of several ways:
About Us
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Pathologists Overseas is a charitable organization founded in the spring of 1991 by Dr. Heinz Hoenecke. It is tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation.
Our mission is to help improve and provide pathology and clinical laboratory services to under-served patients worldwide. This is to be accomplished through volunteer efforts of pathologists, clinical laboratory scientists and medical technologists.
History
Pathologists Overseas was founded in the spring of 1991 by Dr. Heinz Hoenecke. As the organization and its activities grew, it became evident that this mission would be better served by incorporating as a nonprofit charitable organization. On July 2, 1992, Pathologists Overseas was incorporated in the State of California. Subsequently we have obtained an Internal Revenue Service ruling as a tax-exempt organization under sections 501(a) and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Leaders & Directors
Pathologists Overseas
A 501(c)(3) and 501(a) Nonprofit Corporation
PRESIDENT
Heinz R. Hoenecke, M.D.
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Victor W. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Norm Cadman, M.D.
Lisa Deluca-Rapone, HT
Harriet J. Fremland, M.D.
Heinz R. Hoenecke, M.D.
Jack Ladenson, Ph.D.
Victor W. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Richard P. Lynch, M.D.
Browse Projects & Patients
In the second quarter of 2008, we will launch a humanitarian healthcare revolution: the ability for pathologists to put their great expertise, from their desk or home, to the service of patients in developing countries. Many of those patients suffer from the complete lack of access to pathologists and diagnostic services, with the results we can imagine: they do not receive treatment or receive the wrong treatment.
Mission
To help improve and provide affordable pathology and clinical laboratory services to under-served patients worldwide. This is to be accomplished through volunteer efforts of pathologists and technologists, primarily from the United States and Canada.
Click on Overview and About Us<
HER2 testing in breast cancer : NCCN Task Force report and recommendations (PMID: 16813731)
Journal:
J Natl Compr Canc Netw, Vol:4 Suppl 3 Issue: Page:S1-22; quiz S23-4 2006 Jul
Proteins/Gene: ERBB2 gene Disease: Breast cancer Neoplasm Drugs/Chemicals: Adjuvant Bio-process: Expression Gene amplification Methods: Breast Cancer Treatment appropriate quality control/assurance procedures Immunohistochemistry fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization Bio-concepts: Assignment Result The NCCN HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer Task Force was convened to critically evaluate the ability of the level of HER2 expression or gene amplification in breast cancer tumors to serve as a prognostic and a predictive factor in the metastatic and adjuvant settings , to assess the reliability of the methods of measuring HER2 expression or gene amplification in the laboratory, and to make recommendations regarding the interpretation of test results. The Task Force is a multidisciplinary panel of 24 experts in breast cancer representing the disciplines of medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, epidemiology, and patient advocacy. Invited members included members of the NCCN Breast Cancer Panel and other needed experts selected solely by the NCCN. During a 2-day meeting, individual task force members provided didactic presentations critically evaluating important aspects of HER2 biology and epidemiology : HER2 as a prognostic and predictive factor; results from clinical trials in which trastuzumab was used as a targeted therapy against HER2 in the adjuvant and metastatic settings; the available testing methodologies for HER2, including sensitivity, specificity, and ability to provide prognostic and predictive information; and the principles on which HER2 testing should be based. Each task force member was charged with identifying evidence relevant to their specific expertise and presentation. Following the presentations, an evidence-based consensus approach was used to formulate recommendations relating to the pathologic and clinical application of the evidence to breast cancer patient evaluation and care. In areas of controversy, this process extended beyond the meeting to achieve consensus. The Task Force concluded that accurate assignment of the HER2 status of invasive breast cancer is essential to clinical decision making in the treatment of breast cancer in both adjuvant and metastatic settings. Formal validation and concordance testing should be performed and reported by laboratories performing HER2 testing for clinical purposes. If appropriate quality control/assurance procedures are in place, either immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods may be used. A tumor[Neoplasm] with an IHC score of 0 or 1+, an average HER2[ERBB2 gene] gene/chromosome 17 ratio of less than 1.8, or an average number of HER2 gene copies/cell of 4 or less as determined by FISH is considered to be HER2 negative. A tumor with an IHC score of 3+, an average HER2 gene/chromosome 17 ratio of greater than 2.2 by FISH, or an average number of HER2 gene copies/cell of 6 or greater is considered HER2 positive. A tumor with an IHC score of 2+ should be further tested using FISH, with HER2 status[ERBB2 gene] determined by the FISH result[Result]. Tumor samples[Neoplasm] with an average HER2 gene/chromosome ratio of 1.8 to 2.2 or average number of HER2 gene copies/cell in the range of greater than 4 to less than 6 are considered to be borderline, and strategies to assign the HER2 status of such samples are proposed.
Tumors of the Pancreas: From Genes to Diagnostic Pathology
Journal:
Cancer Res, Vol:67 Issue:4 Page:1487-93 2007 Feb 15
Discrepancies have been reported between HER2 status[ERBB2 gene] in primary breast cancer[Breast cancer] and micrometastatic cells[Cell] in bone marrow. The aim of this study was to assess HER2 gene status[ERBB2 gene] in micrometastatic cells[Cell] in bone marrow and corresponding primary tumour[Neoplasm]. Micrometastatic cells[Cell] were detected in bone marrow aspirations in a prospective series of 27 breast cancer patients[Patient] by immunocytochemistry[Immunocytochemical procedure] (pancytokeratin antibody). HER2 status of micrometastatic cells[ERBB2 gene] was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH)[Hybridization], respectively in 24 out of 27. Primary tumour HER2 status[ERBB2 gene] was assessed by immunohistochemistry[Immunohistochemistry] (CB11 antibody) and by FISH[Hybridization] in 20 out of 27 of the cases. HER2[ERBB2 gene] was amplified or overexpressed in five out of 27 (18.5%) primary tumours and in four out of 27 (15%) micrometastatic cells[Cell]. In two cases, HER2[ERBB2 gene] was overexpressed and amplified in primary tumour[Neoplasm], but not in micrometastatic cells[Cell], whereas, in one case, HER2[ERBB2 gene] presented a low amplification rate (six copies) in micrometastatic cells[Cell] not found in the primary tumour[Neoplasm]. We demonstrated that negative and positive HER2 status[ERBB2 gene] remained, in the majority of the cases, stable between the bone marrow micrometastasis and the primary tumour[Neoplasm]. Therefore, the efficiency of anti-HER2 adjuvant therapy[adjuvant therapy] could be evaluated, in a clinical trial, by sequential detection of HER2-positive micrometastatic cells[Cell] within the bone marrow, before and after treatment.
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