-----Original Message-----
From: American Society for Clinical Pathology
[mailto:Broadcast@ascp.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 10:22 AM
To: James Watson
Subject: ASCP ACTION ALERT: Advocacy Needed for AFIP!!


  

ASCP Action Alert:
Advocacy Needed for AFIP!! 


	Marion James Watson; [Your ASCP ID is: 00973405]: 

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has been placed on the
Department of Defense's most recent base closure list. ASCP is concerned
about losing the future of the tissue repository and the valuable
training and education services that the AFIP provides. Over 7,400
medical and other health professionals were educated and trained in
2004. Additionally, Each year the AFIP issues hundreds of thousands of
hours in continuing medical education to a diverse group of medical
professionals that specialize in pathology, forensics, radiology,
emerging infectious disease, renal disease, ophthalmology, and urology.
At a minimum, the AFIP tissue repository must remain accessible to
experts in laboratory medicine. 

It would take five of the nine commissioners to remove a base from the
list. The nine-member BRAC must send its recommendations on closures and
realignments to the president by September 8, 2005. We need ASCP members
to join us in the fight to save this valuable resource. Contact the BRAC
and advoc ate for the removal of AFIP from the list of base closures.
Follow this link to provide commentary to the BRAC commissioners. ASCP
has included a sample letter with this message. You may use this letter
by cutting and pasting the entire letter, or by cutting portions of the
letter to supplement your personal information. Any personal insight
that you provide will only aid in our effort. Please write today!
http://www.brac.gov/feedback.aspx. 

Sample letter: 


The Honorable Anthony J. Principi
Chairman
Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) 
2521 South Clark Street, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22202


Dear Chairman Principi,

I am writing to urge the BRAC to remove the Armed Forces Institute of
Pathology (AFIP) from the list of military facilities slated for
closure. The AFIP is an irreplaceable resource for disease research and
patient care. This exceptional institution not only provides outstanding
service to our nation's military community, but also contributes
significant knowledge and education to the broader medical field's
understanding of human disease. 

The AFIP tissue repository is a valuable national treasure that must
remain accessible to researchers and experts in laboratory medicine. The
AFIP's collection of specimens has helped medical professionals
understand, develop vaccines and treatments for, and sometimes cure,
often-fatal diseases. Access to both archived material as well as newly
acquired specimens must be preserved. 

Each year the AFIP issues hundreds of thousands of hours in continuing
medical education to a diverse group of medical professionals that
specialize in pathology, forensics, radiology, emerging infectious
disease, renal disease, ophthalmology, and urology. In fact, over 7,400
medical and other health professionals alone were educated and trained
in 2004 through a variety of AFIP-sponsored venues including live
courses, seminars and Internet courses. 

The AFIP's leadership in the area of education and training advances the
knowledge base and ensures the competence of thousands of medical
professionals. It would be a major loss to both military and civilian
medicine, especially at this time, if AFIP's consultative services were
discontinued.

Should the AFIP be forced to close, our nation would lose a valuable
resource that plays a key role in the advancement of medicine and
contributes knowledge to improve the health of our nation's citizens.
First, I respectfully request, that the BRAC eliminate its
recommendation to dismantle the AFIP. Second, I urge the BRAC to ensure
that the integrity of the tissue repository is preserved.  

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sincerely, 


[Your name here]
 





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