NDA Course
NDA Course in Virtual / Digital Dermatopathology April 27 – 28, 2017, Reykjavik
Preparation for Future Changes
Ellen Mooney 1 and Ismini Vassilaki 2
1
Nordic Institute of Virtual Dermatopathology, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland and
2
Dermipath AB, Stockholm, Sweden
This course will serve as useful preparation for two important future changes:
• European Residency Training Requirements in Dermatology, implemented by the European Board of Dermato-Venereology( UEMS-EBDV), which will likely lead to a subsequent requirement for board examinations in dermatology in Europe.
• The pending approval by the US Food and Drug Administration( FDA), of whole slide imaging( WSI) for routine surgical pathological / dermatopathological diagnosis, to replace diagnosis using conventional light microscopy.
As mentioned in last year’ s Report from UEMS-EBDV Spring Meeting, Cyprus 2015, by Eva Backman( 1), the European Board of Dermato-Venereology( UEMS-EBDV) is the governing body, which is developing the requirements for specialty training and certification in Europe. Specialists who move between European countries will receive approval of their training and background, based on these requirements. There is a simultaneous effort to design a worldwide curriculum for Dermato-Venereology. Recently the UEMS-EBDV asked their delegates for written comments on a draft of European residency training requirements, which will be implemented in the near future. These requirements will include Histopathology of the Skin as one of the Basic Skills in dermatology residency. Also, dermatopathology of all major disease categories will be listed as a necessary part of dermatology residency training.
The UEMS-EBDV is steadily monitoring which European countries have implemented board exams for specialty approval and there is strong indication a board exam will be required, in order to be able to work throughout other countries in Europe. Currently, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway are among the only countries that have a residency program in dermatology, but do not require a board examination for specialty approval. These nationals have the option of taking the European Board Exam in Dermato-Venereology, run by the UEMS-EBDV, which has a strong emphasis on dermatopathology. that exam, continuous and authentic exposure to dermatopathology during the dermatology residency is required.
In the article from 2015 in Forum for Nordic Dermato-Venereology: A Change That Will Affect Our Professional Lives and Improve Patient Care( 2), Ellen Mooney discussed the fact that the US FDA is expected within the next few years to approve WSI for routine surgical pathological / dermatopathological diagnosis, to replace diagnosis using conventional light micro scopy. Once approved, regulatory agencies in other countries will certainly follow suit. Therefore, as with the change to digital radiological images, digital / virtual dermatopathology will become a worldwide phenomenon. In line with that, the American Board of Dermatology( ABD) intends to change entirely to digital slides for use in their board exams by 2020. The ABD is in charge of the board exam in dermatology and, jointly with the American Board of Pathology, they administer the American board exam in dermatopathology.
The International Committee for Dermatopathology( ICDP) collaborates with the UEMS on the ICDP-UEMS International Board Certification Exam in Dermatopathology. In order to sit
Forum for Nord Derm Ven 2016, Vol. 21, No. 4 101