The following article appeared in the CAP publication, PATHOLOGIST. It is reprinted here with permission.

The Twenty-Five Years of the Pennsylvania Association of Clinical Pathologists
F. William Sunderman, MD, PhD

In the life of every organization there occur times when it seems appropriate to pause for a moment to reflect upon its origin and early history, to review its purposes, and to test its basic principles against the back-drop of modern society. Our twenty-fifth anniversary seems to be such an occasion.

Toward the end of the Second World War in 1944, a few of us who were responsible for the operation of clinical laboratories in Philadelphia banded together to discuss our mutual problems. We had become disturbed over several incidents in which a physician would take a sample of blood from one patient, divide it into two test tubes, send it to two clinical laboratories for analysis, and obtain two widely divergent results. Our little group petitioned the Philadelphia County Medical Society to organize a Clinical Pathology Section of that society. The petition was granted, and from 10 to 15 clinical pathologists in the Philadelphia area met on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the mutual problems relating to our specialty. The problems were varied and are still current. For example, in reading over some old papers, I came across a notation that at one of the early meetings Claude Brown led a discussion on "Certification of Laboratories." How many realize that our current problems on certification of laboratories have had a long evolutionary development?

The Clinical Pathology Section of the Philadelphia County Medical Society in 1944 decided to distribute unknown serums among its members and to report the results of the analyses at the scheduled meeting of the section. At that time I was affiliated with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where we had adequate ampuling facilities and I was, therefore, chosen to prepare and distribute the unknown serums. The analytical results of these studies were so revealing that Dr. William P. Belk, then chairman of the Committee on Laboratories of the Pennsylvania Medical Society requested me to assess the accuracy of some of the common chemical measurements made in clinical laboratories throughout the state of Pennsylvania. A questionnaire was sent to all pathologists in the state in January 1945, explaining the survey purpose.

Fifty-nine of the 69 pathologists in Pennsylvania expressed a desire to participate in the survey, and 61 approved of forming an association of pathologists in the state. The results of the original Pennsylvania survey were published by Belk and myself1 and are well known to most of you. Suffice it to say that our report received wide publicity both in this country and abroad. It should be mentioned that in the first two national surveys of the College of American Pathologists, both of which I was privileged to conduct, the results from Pennsylvania were better than those from the country as a whole.

There is no doubt that the proficiency survey of clinical laboratories in Pennsylvania provided the stimulus that led to the formation of our association. Under the leadership of Dr. Belk, all Pennsylvania pathologists were requested to attend a meeting to be held during the time of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society meetings in October, 1946, at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The pathologists' meeting was scheduled for the morning of October 10, 1946, with Dr. Stanley P. Reimann serving as the chairman pro temps. After a discussion of the purpose of the meeting, the pathologists in attendance voted unanimously to form the Pennsylvania Association of Clinical Pathologists. The founding members who attended this organizational meeting and signed the role included:

H. B. Anderson
Cambria County Hospital, Johnstown

William P. Belk
Episcopal Hospital, Philadelphia

George E. Boesinger
Altoona Hospital, Altoona

Claude P. Brown
Brown Laboratories, Philadelphia

Carl J. Bucker
Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia

J. H. Clark
Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia

Merl G. Colvin
Williamsport Hospital, Williamsport

Thomas A Cope, Jr.
Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia

John Eiman, Sr.
Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington

Julius Foldes
Hazelton Hospital, Hazelton

James C. Forrester
Polyclinic Hospital, Harrisburg

Gershan Ginsburg
Northern Liberties Hospital, Philadelphia

Joseph E. Green
Carlisle Hospital, Carlisle

Henry F. Hunt
Geisinger Memorial Hospital, Danville

C. Harold Johnson
Annie M. Warner Hospital, Gettysburg

M. J. Leitner
Bushkill

Frank B. Lynch, Jr.
Germantown Hospital, Philadelphia

Thomas W. McCreary
Rochester Hospital, Rochester

P. N. Menlowe
MeKeesport Hospital, McKeesport

George R. Moffitt
Harrisburg Hospital, Harrisburg

Lewis C. Pusch
York Hospital, York

Lester Rauer
Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia

Stanley P. Reimann
Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia

Russell Richardson
Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia

S. Brandt Rose
Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia

Henry A. Rothrock, Jr.
St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem

William L. C. Spaeth
Frankford Hospital

F. William Sunderman
Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

J. J. Wenner
Allentown

Frederick O. Zillessen
Easton

At the organizational meeting, the following officers and members of the Executive Committee were chosen:

In November 1946, Dr. Henry F. Hunt wrote a letter to Pennsylvania pathologists announcing the formation of our association and stating the reasons for its founding.

"There are compelling reasons for closer association among those who practice or teach laboratory medicine, The scientific content and the possibilities for practical application of this specialty have expanded until it now equals any other in its opportunities for service to physician and patient. In actual performance, however, it lags behind badly, and so fails to receive the recognition that it should command. Concerted rather than individual efforts are necessary to correct this condition. The prospect of informal exchange of experiences and of good fellowship add to the attractiveness of a state association."

It should be noted that formation of our association was closely correlated with the founding of the College of American Pathologists. The organizational meeting of our association preceded the organizational meeting of the College by two months.

A brief historical account of this development might be appropriate. Dr. Frank B. Konzelmann, one of the faithful, loyal members of the Clinical Pathology Section of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, was the president of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists in 1946. In June of that year during the AMA meetings in San Francisco, Dr. Konzelmann called for a meeting of pathologists to discuss the formation of an organization that would undertake to consider economic matters pertaining to pathologists. At that meeting in San Francisco it was decided to start an organization to be known as the College of American Pathologists and to hold an organizational meeting at the Drake Hotel in Chicago in December, 1946. In order to develop enthusiasm for the formation of this proposed new national organization, as well as for the formation of our state association, a dinner meeting was scheduled at the University Club in Philadelphia in September 1946, under the auspices of the Clinical Pathology Section of the Philadelphia County Medical Society.

At that meeting, I served as the toastmaster. By happenstance, a few days ago I came across my notes of that occasion which included a list of the guests. Among those present were the following: Dr. Frank B. Konzelmann, then president of ASCP; Dr. Robert A. Moore, representing the American Board of Pathology; Dr. Theodore Curphey, active in the medical affairs of New York state; Dr. J. J. Moore, treasurer of the American Medical Association; Dr. Harry Weest, Secretary of Health of Pennsylvania; Dr. Rufus Reeves, Director of Health of Philadelphia; Dr. J. Parsons Schaeffer, president of the College of Physicians, and a number of other distinguished guests. Dr. William Boyd was the banquet speaker. The subject of his address was "Lawrence of Arabia." The successful efforts to organize both the College of American Pathologists and our own Pennsylvania Association of Clinical Pathologists may be traceable to a number of preliminary, convivial occasions such as the dinner given by Philadelphia Clinical Pathologists.

The first scientific meeting of our Pennsylvania Association of Clinical Pathologists was held at the Pocono Manor Inn on April 28-30, 1947. I could not locate a program of the meeting; however, I can state unequivocally that the subject, "Tranquilizing Effects of Alcohol," was explored in depth, aided by mournful chords from George Moffitt's guitar.

During the 25 years since the formation of our association, the rate of technological and scientific progress has been unmatched in the history of mankind. In 1789, 182 years ago, it took George Washington eight days to travel the 200 miles between Washington and New York. The fact that it required eight days is not significant. The significant fact is that Moses, 1300 years before Christ, could have made the trip in the same time. And now, this distance of 200 miles can be covered by a commercial airplane in less than half an hour.

Twenty-five years ago the entire plastics industry, which now virtually affects everything we see or touch, was practically unknown. At that time our clothing was made entirely of wool, cotton and silk; now more than 30 percent is synthetic. In 1946, I traded my old car plus $225 for a new one. Automobiles are higher now! Twenty-five years ago there were no sales taxes, no city wage taxes and no state income tax.

I do not want to belabor the point, however, it becomes obvious that within the last quarter of a century, we have witnessed the most dramatic scientific, economic, political, and social changes in human history. This is an age of velocity and there is reason to believe that the accelerated pace may continue; nevertheless, it seems to me that there is much danger in the promotion of speed at the expense of quality. You still can not get a baby in one month by making nine women pregnant.

The major problem that faces us at present is how to prepare our young pathologist to cope with the incredible, unimaginable world that lies before them With the voluminous amount of paper work and red tape that is now being required for the pursuit of almost every activity, I fear sometimes that the bureaucratic camels may be forcing the intellectual pilgrims out of their tents. However, be that as it may, the chief element of strength in our continuing journey is the spirit of mutual help and understanding that has always pervaded the members of our beloved association. Let us go forward then, with courage, into the second quarter of a century of our journey!