Our History

In 2016, the ESP published Minds, Microscopes and Molecules: The First Fifty Years of the European Society of Pathology (Springer, 262 pages).

Set against a backdrop of scientific, political and social change, it features over 140 historical photos, and was drawn from interviews, published sources, the Societies’ archives and the contributions of many ESP members.

The European Society of Pathology (ESP) was created in 1963 by a small group of eminent practitioners. During the early years, the Society’s officers struggled to build its membership, hold well-attended and scientifically interesting Congresses, and publish a scientific journal, while coping with the political and social changes that shaped Europe. By the end of its first century, in the year 2014, it had become a highly respected professional organization with its headquarters in Brussels, a respected and profitable journal (Virchows Archiv) and a wide range of educational activities.

The story is divided into six chapters, which are summarized here. In addition, the current development of the European Society has been added below.

1963-1966

A Society is Born

The Society was established following correspondence between the Italian Alfonso Giordano and a group of pathologists across Europe in 1963. The first meeting of nine “founding fathers” (see photo) was held in Brussels at the Pathological Service of the St. Pierre Hospital on 30 March 1963. The meeting voted the Belgian Pierre Dustin to be its first president for a four-year term and began work on statutes. Europe was defined as the entire continent including the “eastern” (i.e. communist) countries, and English was adopted as the working language. The Society’s official launch was in Salzburg on 7 November 1964. An official journal, edited by Dustin and called Pathologia Europaea, was launched in mid-1966, and the first Congress was held in Warsaw on 1 June 1 with about 200 pathologists from around Europe attending.

1963-1966

1967-1978

Congresses and Coups d’états

This period saw slow growth in membership and an ongoing struggle to keep Pathologia Europaea going. After small and rather lack-lustre Congresses were held in Zurich (1969 – moved from Athens due to the April 1967 coup d’état) and Castrocare Terme (1971), the 1973 Congress in Budapest seemed to turn the Society’s fortunes around and was followed by successful Congresses in Vienna (1975) and London (1977). The first woman President, Alexandra Piringer-Kuchinka, served a four-year term from 1971 to 1975, and was followed by Christian Nezelof (1975-79). In 1978, Pathologia Europaea ceased publication and was replaced as the ESP’s official journal by Pathology Research and Practice.

1967-1978

1979-1987

Defending the Profession

Under President Christoph Hedinger, the ESP officer’s elected terms were reduced to two years, except for the Secretary and Treasurer. A regular newsletter, European Pathology, began to be produced several times a year. Limited participation by eastern European pathologists from eastern European countries led to an attempt to increase membership from these countries, which remained a challenge for the next two decades. The first Working Groups were formed. Successive Presidents noted external challenges that threatened the profession’s boundaries, the Society created a committee to investigate and promote pathology education across Europe.

1979-1987

1988-1999

A New Europe

This period was marked by the fall of the Iron Curtain and the expansion of the European Union. It also saw the only cancellation of an ESP Congress when the 1991 Ljubljana Congress could not go ahead due to fighting as Yugoslavia began to break up. The period also saw massive changes gathering speed in medical organization and management, as well as technological change in the field of pathology. As an organization, the ESP had to modernize, introducing more professional accounting and administrative practices, though still without an office or paid staff. There was increasing involvement with the European Union “machinery”, notably the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and attempts to standardize pathology training though these did not in the end succeed fully. Much more successful was the creation of three ESP-related “schools”: EuroCellPath, the European School of Pathology (EScoP), and the Ioannina University Post-Graduate Courses (IUCP). In 1999, Pathology Research and Practice was replaced as the Society’s official journal by Virchows Archiv.

1988-1999

2000-2007

Millennium Passed, Götterdämmerung Avoided

In the first decade of the millennium, the ESP held a number of “Inter-Congresses” and Intercontinental Congresses in addition to the biennial Congresses. In response to growing sub-specialization in pathology, Working Groups increased in number and in their scope of activity. The organization of the Society received two blows, first when the 2001 Berlin Congress barely broke even (most Congresses were important sources of ESP income, shared with the host national society) and second when the General Assembly at the 2003 Congress was unable to agree on a new president. The latter crisis was resolved by postal ballot, and led to changes in the Society’s statutes and “ground rules”, notably after the adoption of a 21-Point Plan for organizational renewal in 2006. The Society’s financial health massively improved in the same year when a profit-sharing arrangement was negotiated with Virchows Archiv publisher Springer.

2000-2007

2008-2014

The Face of European Pathology

The ESP finally gained a physical home in 2008 when it bought office space at 6 rue Bara near Brussels-Midi/Zuid Station. The offices also served as a training space following the purchase of video-microscopy equipment. In the same year, the Society moved towards direct involvement in medical practice when it began an External Quality Assurance (EQA) programme, beginning with KRAS mutation testing across the European Union. The Society also began to increase its influence within the machinery of European Union on issues such as tissue “biobanking” and EU support for research. Partnerships were initiated with other medical and scientific societies, notably those dealing with biomedical research and cancer research and treatment. At its 2014 “50th Anniversary” Congress in London, the Society could announce that it had over 3,000 members, assets of €2.2 million, and 19 Working Groups in fields from breast pathology to uropathology.

2008-2014

2015 - present

Entering a new era of Pathology

Since 2015, the European Society of Pathology (ESP) has experienced remarkable growth, both in terms of membership and its flagship event, the European Congress of Pathology (ECP). The society’s membership has steadily expanded, reflecting its growing influence and the increasing recognition of pathology as a vital medical discipline. The European Congress of Pathology has also evolved, with each edition attracting more participants, speakers, and exhibitors, solidifying its position as one of the largest and most important gatherings in the field.

A key focus of the ESP has been the expansion of its educational activities. Over the years, the society has developed a wide array of training programs, both online and onsite, making education a central pillar of its mission. The format of EScoP has been reworked, the ESP Masterclasses re-launched, and new types of onsite activities have been created. In addition, ESP has launched several Fellowship and Award programmes, like the Giordano Fellowship Programme and the ESP Academy. These initiatives aim to support the professional development of pathologists across Europe and beyond.

The European Society of Pathology (ESP) has fostered strong collaborations with a variety of medical and scientific societies, as well as corporate partners, to advance the field of pathology. These partnerships have allowed the ESP to expand its educational offerings, promote research, and support innovative initiatives that enhance the practice of pathology. Through joint events, research projects, and the exchange of knowledge, the ESP works closely with other professional organizations to ensure high standards and the latest developments in diagnostic and clinical pathology. Additionally, the society’s collaborations with corporate partners in the pharma and diagnostic sectors play a crucial role in advancing technological innovations, providing resources for educational programmes, and ensuring the continued growth and impact of the ESP’s activities on a global scale.

In 2024, the ESP moved to their new headquarters in the heart of Brussels’ EU quarter, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to enhancing services and fostering a dynamic community of pathologists.

2015 - present

Historical sources

The Brussels office is the current repository of the Society’s archive, and most of the physical documents cited in this book can be consulted there.
For access, please get in touch with the Brussels office.

In the interests of readability, and because of the sheer volume of documentation, Minds, Microscopes and Molecules: The First Fifty Years of the European Society of Pathology did not provide detailed footnoting or referencing. A fully referenced electronic copy of the text is available at the ESP headquarters in Brussels. It is hoped that this annotated text may eventually be available on the Society’s website.

Our History

A Society is Born

Congresses and Coups d’états

Defending the Profession

A New Europe

Millennium Passed, Götterdämmerung Avoided

The Face of European Pathology

Entering a new era of Pathology

Historical sources

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Virchows Archiv

Virchows Archiv