The College of American Pathologists Hosts 2021 Annual Meeting: September 25-28

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) will host its CAP21 Annual Meeting with timely and informative educational sessions from Sat., Sept. 25 through Tues., Sept. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

"Pathologists have been resilient as 2021 continues to be an extraordinary and remarkable year in our profession," says CAP President Emily E. Volk, MD, FCAP. "Our member pathologists and laboratories continue to provide cutting edge care when it comes to COVID-19 testing, the new variants, ongoing surges, vaccines and mandates. This year's program addresses many of our current successes and challenges with a look to the future and the critical role pathologists play in the lives of our patients."

President Volk and all presenters are available for interview.

To review the full CAP21 schedule, visit: https://www.capannualmeeting.org/.

VIRTUAL NATIONAL MEDIA BRIEFING, TUES., SEPT. 28

Select educational courses from the Annual Meeting will be highlighted during a virtual National Media Briefing on Tues., Sept. 28 from 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. CT. To register please visit: https://capatholo.gy/3CtFQoB

11:00-11:20 a.m. CT
The Great Unknown: What's Up with COVID-19 Testing?
Benjamin Pinsky, MD, PhD, FCAP
Christina M. Wojewoda, MD, FCAP

• Get an overall impression of where COVID-19 testing is now and moving ahead including the timing of antibody tests, the importance of doing "at home test" correctly and the shortage of laboratory personnel to handle demand.
• Understand how COVID testing has comprised testing for other illnesses and what impact that has had on patients.
• Comprehend the relationship between RNA sequencing and positive COVID-19 tests.

11:20-11:40 a.m. CT
The COVID-Transformed Autopsy Service: Guidelines from the Front Lines
Carolyn Glass, MD, PhD, FCAP
Jonathan Thompson, MD, FCAP
Alex K. Williamson, MD, FCAP

• Find out the very latest from the front lines and how COVID-19 has put additional strains on routine autopsy practices.
• Learn first-hand how three institutions conduct COVID-19 autopsies and what they have learned.

11:40 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT
Hereditary Breast Cancers: What Do We Know Beyond BRCA?
Rania Bakkar, MD, FCAP
Anupma Nayak, MD

• Genetic and molecular testing is now more feasible and readily available, leading to more accuracy and personalized options with more effective and less toxic targeted treatments.
• Understand the role pathologists can play in identification of hereditary breast cancers and administering the right tests.

12:00 p.m.-12:20 p.m. CT
The Pathology of a Cyberattack: How Can Your Laboratory Be Prepared?
Andrew Goodwin, MD, FCAP

• Presenters will address the impact of a cyberattack on a laboratory in 2020 and how laboratories moving ahead can be protected.
• How can laboratories remain nimble and react swiftly when critical situations arise?

ADDITIONAL TOPICS FOR COVERAGE AT CAP21

Presenters on each topic are available for interview:

Reference Ranges for the Transgender Population

• How does the impact of gender-affirming therapies affect laboratory tests?
• Find out the challenges related to gender identity in the laboratory information system and electronic medical records and how to overcome them.

Reversing the Gender Leadership Gap: Taking Action to Create Meaningful Change

• Understand factors contributing to this gap, what women bring to the leadership table and to patient care.
• What are the practical things women can do to amplify their voices in pathology and in leadership positions?

What's Bugging the Gut? A Gastrointestinal Pathology and Microbiology Team Approach in Diagnosing Infections of the Alimentary Tract

• Learn about gastrointestinal infections that raise diagnostic challenges in the laboratory.
• How important is the role of the clinical laboratory in gut diagnosis?

Ordering the Right Test at the Right Time: Strategies in Laboratory Test Management for the Practicing Pathologist

• Talk to pathologists about the important and collaborative role they play in choosing the right tests for patients.
• How does managing testing improve costs and patient care?

Battling the HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Epidemic: Why Pathologists are Critical to Patient Care

• How does diagnosing HPV head and neck cancers impact modern-day pathology and what does HPV testing, changes in classifications and staging look like in the future?
• Understand the public health aspects of HPV cancers including the HPV vaccine and trends in HPV infections.

Pathology of Vaping-Associated Lung Disease

• What changes occur in the lungs of patients who "vape" and particularly a patient with COVID-19 and what risks do vape devices pose with prolonged use?
• Understand the role of the pathologist when it comes to diagnosing lung injury caused by vaping.

About the College of American Pathologists (CAP)

As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists with almost 18,000 members and as the leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the CAP serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Ninety-eight percent of the top 1,000 laboratories in the U.S. are CAP accredited. Pathologists oversee and provide laboratory testing and diagnose viruses, chronic diseases, cancers and other health conditions. For more information, visit yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care. Visit www.cap.org