Chairman's Column
Daniel Sahm is New Division C Chair-Elect
Ferraro and Zabransky Complete Terms
ASM Council News
ASM Council Policy Committee Report
bioMerieux Vitek Sonnenwirth Award
Becton Dickinson and Company Award
Annual Meeting - Let the Good Times Roll!
- It is a privilege to have been able to serve as your Chair of Division
C during the last year. As you will see from this Newsletter, the planning
for the Scientific Program for the upcoming meeting in New Orleans. Louisiana.
May 19 to 23, 1996 is now complete. Numerous sessions organized solely
by Division C or in cooperation with other Divisions will play a major
role. These include the Divisional Group I Symposium on Microbial Drug
Resistance: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Impact and a session on Viral
Diagnosis. The State of the Art, which will be one of the seminars in a
major Colloquium at the General Meeting. Traditional favorites of many
of our members such as the Case Presentations in Clinical Microbiology
as well as the Debates in Clinical Microbiology will have prominent places
at this year's meeting. In addition, scientific seminars focusing on Susceptibility
Testing Updates and Innovation, Emerging Waterborne Protozoan Pathogens,
Infections in Mothers that Harm their Babies, Various Aspects of Mycobacteriology,
and issues relating to Responsibilities and Opportunities in the Clinical
Laboratory for Improving FDA Approved Diagnostic Tests, as well as the
Clinical laboratory Improvement Amendments will be featured.
- Over 400 scientific abstracts in a variety of areas have been programmed
into numerous poster sessions to be held throughout the week. In addition
to the Scientific Sessions. I encourage all Division C members to attend
the two Award Lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the Business
Meeting on Tuesday. May 21st at 11:00 am and to come and meet fellow members
of Division C at the Mixer to take place in the Hilton Hotel on Monday
evening, May 20th at 6:30 pm. In closing I want to thank our Chair-elect,
Dr. Daniel Sahm for helping to review the many abstracts for the 1996 General
Meeting and especially acknowledge Dr. Ronald Zabransky for his herculean
effort in organizing and preparing this Newsletter.
I look forward to seeing all of you in New Orleans and welcome any comments or suggestion that you might have.
Mary Jane Ferraro
Chair, Division C
- Due to a recent change in the Society by- laws the results of the election
for Division Chair held one year ago were voided. At that time Judy Daly,
who had previously been elected Division Councilor-at-Large was elected
Chair-elect. A recent change in the Society by-laws prohibits the occupancy
of two major offices by the same individual (see Council Report below).
Therefore, in accordance with the by-laws, a new chair- elect, Daniel F.
Sahm, was appointed by Carol Nacy, ASM President. Dr. Sahm will assume
office in July 1996.
Dr. Sahm received his B.S. degree in Biology from Allegheny College (1975), his M.S. in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1978), and his Ph. D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center in 1981. After completing a two-year postdoctoral residency in Medical and Public Health Microbiology at the Centers for Disease Control he joined the University of Chicago Medical Center where he subsequently served as Assistant, Associate, and Co- Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories and as Assistant and Associate Professor of Pathology from 1983 to 1992. In 1992 he became Director, Division of Microbiology and Serology at Jewish Hospital of St. Louis and is now Medical Co-Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory; for Barnes -Jewish Hospitals. Dr. Sahm's primary academic appointment is as Associate Professor of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Sahm serves on the editorial boards of Clinical Microbiology Reviews, the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, and Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. He is also an ad hoc reviewer for Clinical Infectious Disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Hospital Immunology, PCR Methods and Applications, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He was also a section editor for the 6th edition of the Manual of Clinical Microbiology.
Dr. Sahm is a Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (since 1988) and was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1992. He has served as a Foundation for Microbiology Lecturer (1988-1989), as President of the Illinois Branch of ASM (1989-1990), and is currently serving on the Program Committee for the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and on the Examination Committee of the American Board of Medical Microbiology. He is also an advisor for the National Committee for Clinical Standards Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. For the General Meeting of the ASM and ICAAC Or. Sahm has organized and participated in numerous workshops, seminars, and symposia concerning antimicrobial resistance and in vitro susceptibility testing, topics which are the focus of his clinical and research interests.
- In June 1996 Mary Jane Ferraro will complete her term as Chairman
of Division C; Ronald J. Zabransky, who has served as Division Councilor
for the last two years, will also completed his term. Succeeding Dr. Ferraro
will be Daniel F. Sahm, recently appointed as Chair-elect. Mary
J. Gilchrist, currently Councilor-elect and Director of the Iowa State
Hygienic Laboratory, will assume the Councilor's position.
The results of the recent election of other Division Officers for 1996-97 were as follows:
Division Chair-Elect: J. Michael Miller.
Dr. Miller is Chief of Microbiology in the Diagnostic Microbiology
Section of the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA.
Alternate Division Councilor: Susan Whittier.
Dr. Whittier is with the Clinical Microbiology Service at Columbia
Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY.
Drs. Miller and Whittier will assume office in July.
- As many of you know, the ASM Council is the major governing body of
the ASM, it consists of the elected representatives (Councilors) from each
scientific division and each geographic branch, the major elected officers
of the Society, and the Chairs of the various Boards of the Society. There
are also Division Group councilors and additional councilors- at-large
from the divisions and branches whose numbers serve to establish parity
with representation from the branches.
The Council meets only once a year, at the Annual Meeting. The Council Policy Committee (CPC) which includes the key elected officers, The Board Chairs, and a limited number of Councilors carry out the work of the Society at other times.
During the past years the Clinical Division has been fortunate to have had good representation on both the Council and the CPC. Key members of the Division who have served the Society in this manner include: Cindy Needham, previous Secretary of the Society (seven years!), Pat Murray, Division Group Councilor, Marie Pezzlo, Membership Board Chair, and Judy Daly, Councilor-at-Large. In addition there are a number of branch Councilors who are members of the Clinical Division. All in all with the Clinical Division comprising almost one-sixth of the Society membership, almost one-fifth of the Council members claim the Clinical Division as their base. Elections can change these ratios and representations very fast. I therefore encourage each member of the Division to be and stay active in their branch and other major committees and Boards of the Society
This past year the Society started operating under its new structure. This included the introduction of a new Membership Board (Marie Pezzlo is Chair) and the new division structure. The Clinical Division is now included with the Medical Mycology, Nosocomial Infections, and Mycobacteriology divisions in Group I. The new structure is intended to facilitate programming for the General Meeting and to establish parity between divisional groups
The new structure allowed for election of a Branch Councilor-at-large and Roberta Carey of the Illinois Branch was elected in a run-off election. Also the fall election added two other Clinical Division members as Division Councilors-at-Large: Ellen Jo Baron and Susan E. Sharp, who will take office this July.
A major issue discussed and adopted at the May Council meeting was a new policy to prohibit the concurrent occupancy of a position on the Council by an officer of a Board or Division. This was based on the presumed appearance of conflict of interest. In adopting the policy no provision or grandfather clause was made for individuals currently occupying such positions
It is not possible in this short space to list all of the various activities of the of the various boards and committees that effect the Clinical Division. The following are worthy of mention.
The continual activities of the Laboratory Practices Committee, the Committee on Microbiology Devices, and the Public and Scientific Affairs Board have kept our members abreast of legislative and regulatory issues, particularly CLIA '88, as well as serving as a voice for the concerns of the membership.
The Meetings Board and its two major committees concerned with ICAAC and the General Meeting are to be recognized for their continued efforts in organizing the excellent scientific forums and other programs at their respective meetings. The Chair and Chair- elect of the Division do most of the work in scheduling the seminars and other sessions and selecting the poster presentations for the annual meeting.
The work of the Publications Board, its editors , and authors, especially those involved in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, the 6th edition of the Manual of Clinical Microbiology, the Cumitech series, and the new Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook are to be commended for their efforts in keeping our division membership appraised of the newest concepts in technology. These publications are major sources of revenue for the Society.
The Board of Education and Training and its several committees should be recognized for their work in providing workshops at the meetings as well as teleconferences for those who cannot attend a major meeting.
I would also like to mention the American Academy of Microbiology and its committees and its continued support of the certification and accreditation programs, which although appear to be serving a limited number of the Society has the greatest impact in the Clinical Division.
The ASM members of these boards and committees are committed volunteers. Many are practicing clinical microbiologists who take time out of their busy schedule to promote the science and profession of microbiology. I ask; that you join me in recognizing them. I further ask that you join their ranks by volunteering for an activity where you feel that you can contribute.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity of serving you as your representative in the governance of the Society.
Ronald J. Zabransky, Ph.D.
Division Councilor
- It has been a privilege to serve as Division Councilor-at-Large to
the Council Policy Committee (CPC). The executive committee of the
Society. Of the 17 voting members of CPC, Division C is also represented
by Marie Pezzlo (Chair. Membership Board) and Roberta Carey
(Branch Councilor-at-Large. Cynthia Needham (Society Secretary)
retired on June 30. 1995. Most rewarding has been the opportunity to meet
microbiologists who I otherwise would never have gotten to know.
The CPC of the ASM met on Thursday May 25. 1995 during the Annual Meeting
in Washington, DC. Highlights of CPC activities include:
- Presentations were made to better define the Society's scientific identity
as well as how that identity could be communicated most effectively to
the Society's various audiences. After discussion, the CPC agreed that
is was important to pursue a meaningful effort to define identity and corporate
communication strategy. The Public Communications Committee has been charged
with moving this project forward. Cynthia Needham, a member of Division
C, is the new chair of this committee.
Discussions were held regarding funds requested for regional meetings. It was agreed that this should be coordinated with the Meetings Board. It was suggested that the Branch Organization Committee, under the guidance of Marie Pezzlo, another Division C member. could provide criteria for requested funds.
In accordance with the Society Strategic Plan, the International Coordinating
Committee reported to the CPC that it has defined its purpose to catalyze,
facilitate, and coordinate international activities. ASM is a national
society with over 25% of its membership being international members.
Judy Daly
- Edward J. Bottone has been selected as the 1996 recipient of
the bioMerieux Vitek Sonnenwirth Award. He is being honored for his contributions
and leadership in clinical microbiology and for his efforts as a dedicated
and effective teacher. Dr Bottone has made significant research contributions
including the elucidation of the pathogenesis and taxonomy of Aeromonas
spp., Erwinia spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
With more than 160 peer reviewed articles, 23 book chapters, and 5 books
that he has edited or written, he has constantly made important scientific
contributions in both clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.
It is his compelling service and dedication as a teacher, however, that makes him unique. The recipient of 12 teaching awards from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (New York City) he has taught microbiology to well over 2000 medical students and countless house officers and fellows in both the classroom and laboratory. As director of the Postdoctoral Training Program in Public Health and Diagnostic Microbiology at Mt. Sinai for 21 years, 20 trainees have benefited from his mentorship and in many cases now hold positions of responsibility in other laboratories. In 1991, he was the recipient of Mt. Sinai's highest acclamation, the prestigious Jacobi Medallion for distinguished service. Moreover, he has profoundly impacted the lives of numerous young adults through his involvement in the training of high school students in the New York City area. In 1990 he developed a program where high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are at risk of dropping out of the public school system embarked on a formal three-year program of training in clinical microbiology at Mt. Sinai under his guidance. Ed. Bottone serves as a role model, an advisor, a friend, and in many cases, a surrogate parent to these students.
Dr. Bottone's interest in microbiology was first sparked through a work assignment as a laboratory technician while in the Army. After discharge from the service he worked as a bench technologist and supervisor in a variety of New York hospitals while he pursued part-time studies that eventually earned him his B.S., and M. S. degrees. In 1973 he received his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology from St. John's University. He then assumed the role of Director of the Department of Microbiology at the Mt. Sinai Hospital, a position he held until approximately two years ago. In 1994 he moved to the Division of infectious Diseases at Mt. Sinai in a new role as Director of Consultative Microbiology.
In his letter of support for this award, Dr. Paul Granato commented on the many parallels that exist between the lives of Alex Sonnenwirth and Ed Bottone. Both overcame many obstacles and battles in life to become distinguished clinical microbiologists. Both were authorities in the study of Yersinia enterocolitica (in which they often collaborated), and both touched the lives of hundreds of others by their widespread educational efforts and activities it is most fitting that Dr. Sonnenwirth's memory be appropriately honored by the selection of Dr. Edward J. Bottone as the recipient of the bioMerieux Vitek Sonnenwirth Award. Dr. Bottone was nominated by Dr. Gary V. Doern, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA.
The bioMerieux Vitek; Sonnenwirth Memorial Award Lecture, to be presented by Dr. Bottone at 8 AM Wednesday morning (session # 165), is entitled: "Heroes and the Evolution of a Clinical Microbiologist: A Personal Perspective."
- Alexander von Graevenitz has been selected as the 1996 recipient
of the Becton Dickinson and Company Award in Clinical Microbiology. Dr.
von Graevenitz is being honored for his research accomplishments in the
area of gram-negative bacilli including species of Acinetobacter, Aeromonas,
Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Serratia. His work has contributed
to our understanding of this group of organisms by elucidating the best
methods for their isolation and identification., their clinical significance,
their potential for acting as opportunistic pathogens, and their mechanisms
of spread in the hospital environment. Most recently he has turned his
attention to clarifying the taxonomy of a diverse group of gram-positive
bacilli known as coryneforms. With his laboratory colleagues he continues
to explain the etiologic role of this group of organisms in human infections.
He has a well established tradition of conducting carefully executed studies
to answer highly relevant questions in diagnostic microbiology.
Dr. von Graevenitz received his M.D. degree in 1955 from the University of Bonn, Germany. His postdoctoral training included a research fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Bonn, internships in Medicine at the University of Hamburg and at the Milwaukee Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and several research fellowships including one at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut. In 1963 he was named the Director of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at Yale-New Haven Hospital, a post he held until 1980 when he returned to Europe to assume the Directorship of the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, a position he continues to hold. A Professor of Laboratory Medicine at Yale University from 1973 to 1980, Dr. von Graevenitz also is presently the Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Microbiology.
In the closing paragraph of her nomination letter, Dr. Marie Coyle from the University of Washington, Seattle, states that "Alexander von Graevenitz has spent his research efforts challenging old assumptions and discovering practical answers to new questions as the role the clinical microbiology laboratory continuously evolves with changing practice in healthcare. He is a scholar in our field and a mayor contributor of new information based on his laboratory studies. All his colleagues have benefited from his efforts and he epitomizes the ideal candidate for which the Becton Dickinson Award is designed. His gift for clinical bacteriology, skilled research, and efforts as a teacher, mentor, writer, and editor all make him a most deserving recipient of the 1996 Becton Dickinson and Company Award."
Dr. von Graevenitz will present the Becton Dickinson and Company Award in Clinical Microbiology Lecture at 8 AM Tuesday, (Session #78). The title of his presentation is "The Genus Corynebacterium in 1996 ."
- The 96th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology will
be held in New Orleans, May 19-23. Other than the exciting venue for the
meeting with its music, food, and ambiance, an exciting menu of scientific
programs and other offerings will be available. A special thanks to Mary
Jane Ferraro, Division Chair, and Daniel Sahm, Chair-elect, for their efforts
for organizing the Division programs for this year's meeting!! Printed
on the last two pages of this newsletter is a partial block schedule of
the scientific program of the meeting. We have included all Division C
symposia, seminars, roundtables, lectures, and poster sessions as well
as a number of other sessions from other divisions that we believe would
be of interest to clinical microbiologists. We hope that you can use this
in your planning for your week in New Orleans.