Introducing The Latin American Society of Cytopathology (SLAC)

Interview with Dr. Milagros Abad – SLAC’s president.

Nominated as SLAC since April 2017 and giving continuity to the pre-existing society of exfoliative cytology (Vienna, 1961), it is composed by 20 affiliated countries and seeks to promote the knowledge, dissemination and application of Cytopathology and the use of international and standardized reporting systems across Latin America. SLAC also counts with an official theoretical and practical exam for both, cytotechnologists and cytopathologists and every 3 years organizes a congress whose host country rotates.

This interview highlights Dr. Milagros Abad’s strategy on cytopathology education, with a vision grounded in accessibility and equity, promoting access to continuous formation, despite major economic and technological limitations in some Latin American countries.

Her tenure, focusing efforts and prioritizing global partnerships worldwide with other scientific societies in the cytology field, allowed the consolidation of major synergy projects, developing joint educational modules with a multicenter participation, in the format of co-host conferences. These collaborations elevate Latin America’s contributions on the global stage and foster a united cytology community committed to excellence. These alliances are led by the International Academy of Cytology (IAC), the ASC (American Association of Cytopathology) and the Spanish Society of Cytopathology (SEC)

The goal is to share and combine ideas, resources, knowledge and efforts to enhance the impact of the actions, while being inclusive and aligned with the dynamic nature of cytopathology, reducing disparities in access to high-quality training by promoting standardized curricula, multilingual resources, and the use of virtual platforms to reach professionals in even the most remote areas.

Virtual education has allowed SLAC to transcend geographical and economic barriers, fostering a culture of continuous learning through webinars, regional workshops, and worldwide. These digital tools ensure that education is not only accessible but also up-to-date with global standards.

Participation has grown significantly, especially among young cytopathologists and technologists who are eager for mentorship and global engagement. Scientific societies are essential pillars of advancement. They foster research, set practice standards, and provide a forum for multidisciplinary collaboration. Globally, societies like SLAC, ASC, IAC and SEC are instrumental in harmonizing diagnostic criteria, promoting quality control, and advocating for the role of cytopathology.

These results would not be possible without the teamwork and support of the entire steering SLAC committee, to whom she is deeply grateful.


Dr. Milagros Abad’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and international collaboration. Under her guidance, the Latin American Society of Cytology is not only advancing education but redefining the role of cytopathology in global health.

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XXXII Congress of The Latin American Society of Cytology – XXVI Argentine Congress of Cytology – Buenos Aires, Argentina. August 5th– 8th, 2025

Interview with Dr. Andrea Gerstein, President of the Argentine Society of Cytopathology (SAC) and President of the congress.
With the motto: Cytopathology: Diagnostic Advances and Future Perspectives, the XXXII Congress of The Latin American Society of Cytology – XXVI Argentinian Congress of Cytology will be held in the city of Buenos Aires from August 5th to 8th, 2025. The congress will have an in-person format with simultaneous translation (English-Spanish) in all sessions.
This event represents an exceptional opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences among professionals and experts in the field of cytology, while establishing new links, strengthening professional ties, making new connections, finding partners and building alliances worldwide.
There will be a comprehensive scientific program, with key topics ranging from gynecological cytology, to the expanding role of interventional and molecular cytopathology. Conferences, seminars, round tables, workshops and interactive sessions are included in the program covering all the main fields, such as pulmonary, breast thyroid, salivary gland, urine, lymph node, pancreatic cytopathology, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization etc. with the participation of recognized local and international experts, as well as several members of the International Academy of Cytology (IAC), SLAC, American Society of Cytology (ASC), European Federation of Cytology Societies (EFCS) and Spanish Society of Cytology (SEC).
Thanks to different working groups and international alliances with other societies, there will be also a companion IAC meeting, a round table with the SEC, a slide seminar cyto-histo correlation module with the SLAP (Latin American Society of Pathology) and three main pre-congress activities, such as:

Gynecologic cytology workshop: Reviewing concepts and diagnostic criteria, as well as differential diagnoses of gynecologic cytology, with a maximum capacity of 60 participants, covering squamous and glandular lesions with interactive cases and SAC-SLAC certification.

Interventional cytology workshop: Theoretical and practical program on the principles and clinical application of interventional cytology, FNA technique, cyto-histological correlation and simulated practice of CNB (core needle biopsy), etc., with a maximum capacity of 40 participants and SAC-SLAC certification.

International Academy of Cytology (IAC) pre-congress tutorial: For the first time in Argentina and included in the congress registration, the IAC tutorial will be also held, with no additional with an extensive program and recognized international experts as speakers, followed by the academy exam for cytotechnologists and cytopathologists.
The program goes beyond the usual, as it also includes a conference dedicated to quality control management in cytology and a round table focused on the role of scientific societies in cytopathology education.
The president of the congress emphasizes gratitude to all the cytology scientific societies worldwide, besides the previously mentioned, also the International Academy of Pathology-Argentine Division (AIP) and the Latin American Society of Pathology (SLAP) for being part of this congress, as well as to all the distinguished Latin American and local speakers whose presence will undoubtedly enhance the prestige of the meeting.
Dr. Gerstein, as president of the Argentine Society of Cytopathology, highlights her commitment to education in cytopathology and her constant efforts to offer free distance activities to members,
which has been reflected in a greater number of the relay generation (residents and junior consultants) in recent years (especially after the pandemic). Leaving a final message to the cytology community worldwide, Dr. Gerstein, sends a call to the cytology community worldwide to work together and collaborate among different societies, strengthening our specialty hand in hand with closeness and human quality.
Buenos Aires, with its rich history, vibrant culture and unparalleled hospitality, will be the perfect setting for this first class scientific meeting. We look forward to your valuable participation and hope you enjoy all the academic and social activities we have prepared for you.

Important:

  • Submission of communications and papers : deadline June 27th
  • Pre-congress courses registration : deadline July 11th
  • IAC exam application deadline : July 17th
  • Congress registration deadline: July 5th

Congress: https://citologiala.org/congreso-SAC-SLAC-2025/home/
IAC exam: https://www.cytology-iac.org/application-for-the-iac-international-board-of-cytopathology-examination/
Dr. Cioly Rivero Colmenarez, MD, MIAC. Head of Cytology Unit – LNS Luxembourg. Young EFCS Committee Co-Chair.

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