Uscap 2012

[SLUsagar]

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Why did uscap move to allowing pics this year? Not only is this a pain for reviewers, but what are you going to be biased by a pretty (vs fuggly) pic? This turns the whole process into a beauty contest (ala others like ASCP, CAP which allow pics). What's next? A space to put in your cup size?

 

[tco]

Why did uscap move to allowing pics this year? Not only is this a pain for reviewers, but what are you going to be biased by a pretty (vs fuggly) pic? This turns the whole process into a beauty contest (ala others like ASCP, CAP which allow pics). What's next? A space to put in your cup size?

If we're going by cup size, the other posters may as well not even show up. Mine wins.

 

[yaah]

Pictures of what? In your abstract? I thought you could have submitted them before. What has changed?

 

[Gene_]

Pictures and cup size: USCAP 2012 sounds even more interesting this year than in years past! The Vancouver weather should be great in late March.

 

[tco]

Pictures and cup size: USCAP 2012 sounds even more interesting this year than in years past! The Vancouver weather should be great in late March.

I heard there might be strippers, too.

 

[BierstiefelAndy]

Why did uscap move to allowing pics this year? Not only is this a pain for reviewers, but what are you going to be biased by a pretty (vs fuggly) pic? This turns the whole process into a beauty contest (ala others like ASCP, CAP which allow pics). What's next? A space to put in your cup size?

Although this could turn the abstract evaluation process into some sort of pageant, ultimately I don't particularly care. Platforms are fine and all but in the end, the most important thing is publishing the work. It doesn't take long to **** out these little abstracts and I don't care enough about platforms enough to go to great lengths by making beautiful color figures for these abstracts. If not including figures causes the abstract to be rejected for some reason (because the bar is set higher), so be it. Still, that's not going to stop me from going to Vancouver this spring anyway. I'll worry about nice, cosmetically-appealing figures when I prepare the manuscripts for these abstracts next week.

 

[lipomas]

Isn't acceptance of USCAP abstracts based almost entirely on who the senior author is?

 

[BierstiefelAndy]

Isn't acceptance of USCAP abstracts based almost entirely on who the senior author is?

It may seem that way from looking at the list of platforms each year. The review process for abstracts is supposed to be blinded as to the authors and institutions. There is an art, though, to sneaking in code words or phrases into your abstract that could give away the identity of the senior author. But that takes too much thought if efforts are deliberate; probably happens inadvertently anyway.

 

[yaah]

It may seem that way from looking at the list of platforms each year. The review process for abstracts is supposed to be blinded as to the authors and institutions. There is an art, though, to sneaking in code words or phrases into your abstract that could give away the identity of the senior author. But that takes too much thought if efforts are deliberate; probably happens inadvertently anyway.

I tend to wonder if while even though the abstract review process is blinded, the decision about which to pick for platforms is not. But I may be wrong.

Plus, as you said, if you have a lot of experience, you can often tell who the author is just by reading the abstract. The key part is usually the methods part for me.

 

[anaphylactoid]

Do abstracts count for anything? Say, for example, in promotion and tenure decisions are abstracts even considered? If so, would you estimate that 10 abstracts = 1 full publication?

 

[Sulfinator]

Do abstracts count for anything? Say, for example, in promotion and tenure decisions are abstracts even considered? If so, would you estimate that 10 abstracts = 1 full publication?

For residents abstracts do "count" in the sense that they show interest in given field and demonstrate a willingness/ability to contribute to one of the missions of academia. They are, generally, not as impressive as a publication in a respected peer-reviewed journal; and I would not venture to try to equate x number of abstracts to 1 publication. In fact, having tons of abstracts with no/few publications would suggest an inability to translate your fundamental academic efforts into a substantial contribution, especially for faculty.

And for purposes of faculty promotion, I would say that abstracts take a major backseat to journal publications. Abstracts are nice to have, but without peer-reviewed journal publications, it would be difficult (or nearly impossible) to advance through the academic ranks. Abstracts are sort of like icing on the cake . . . and not even the icing, just a little extra decorative touch of icing.

 

[SLUsagar]

Pictures of what? In your abstract? I thought you could have submitted them before. What has changed?

H&E (or immuno) pics. You could always incorporate tables into USCAP abstracts in the previous years, but this year is the first time they have allowed images -- a wrong move.

 

[SLUsagar]

I tend to wonder if while even though the abstract review process is blinded, the decision about which to pick for platforms is not. But I may be wrong.

You are correct. First round abstract review is blinded to authors/institution. Once those accepted (those that scored above whatever cut-point value is determined based on pre-determined # of available slots, a lot of which has to do with space in the venue) pass this first sound, 2nd round abstract review with authors/institutions NO LONGER blinded is performed by mini-group subspecialty experts to determine posters vs platforms.

 

[sirenomelia]

Isn't acceptance of USCAP abstracts based almost entirely on who the senior author is?

I heard Betsy Bennet is submitting an abstract that was accepted polling homeless people on Kennedy Blvd asking whether they would prefer their Pathologists to recertify every 5 years instead of 10.

 

[lipomas]

H&E (or immuno) pics. You could always incorporate tables into USCAP abstracts in the previous years, but this year is the first time they have allowed images -- a wrong move.

Abstracts don't need images. I don't get it. If the image is the tipping points towards accepting your abstract then the abstract reviewer sucks and needs to be changed.

Are you sure they aren't doing this so that you can essentially submit your poster online with images? So that the poster/abstract can be viewed online beforehand?

 

[GlassPusherJack]

viewing uscap posters online isn't anything new:

http://www.posters2view.com/uscap11/

Abstracts don't need images. I don't get it. If the image is the tipping points towards accepting your abstract then the abstract reviewer sucks and needs to be changed.

Are you sure they aren't doing this so that you can essentially submit your poster online with images? So that the poster/abstract can be viewed online beforehand?

 

[4392]

Hi,
I have a hotel booked for 7 days in vancouver at a great price. Its 20 min from the convention center. I don't need it and its non-refundable. If anyone's interested, I can send more details.
Thanks!

 

[smellycat]

I met with Bruce Smoller. Abstracts are blinded and they ask that you don't include the institution in the abstract. However, the platforms are not. Abstracts get a score, but I'm not sure if platforms get chosen based on this score.