The fate of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) remains uncertain in the wake of the latest news on U.S. military base closings, but the radiology program will continue, according to an AFIP source.
The Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) released its recommendations for base closing and consolidation today. BRAC will deliberate on the recommendations through August 27 before taking a final vote. The bill must be sent to President George W. Bush on September 8.
A section in the BRAC bill pertaining to medical services calls for "disestablish(ing) all elements of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology except the National Medical Museum and the Tissue Repository" ("Medical Joint Cross Service Group Recommendations," chapter VIII, p. 169).
Carl Williams, course coordinator for the RadPath program, told AuntMinnie.com that representatives from AFIP are scheduled to meet with BRAC committee members in the first week of September to clarify what "disestablish" means. But whatever happens to AFIP, the RadPath program will go on, he said.
"The radiology program will be around," Williams said. "It's just not certain where it will be (located)."
The BRAC recommendations call for shutting down the Washington DC-based Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the current home of AFIP and Radpath, and consolidating its various departments with other military medical facilities in Bethesda, MD; Fort Belvoir, VA; and Fort Sam Houston, TX.
Any relocation of RadPath could take from six to eight years, Williams said. But the fact that RadPath is financially self-sustaining is one reason why it will survive over other military-based medical programs, he added.
AFIP's six-week RadPath course fulfills training requirements for over 310 radiology residency programs. AFIP also offers one-week categorical courses and weekend classes as continuing medical education.
By Shalmali Pal
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
August 24, 2005
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