Global Achievement Award

Shirley Siew

During the late 1950s, the need for South Africa to have a National Pathology Group was recognized but this objective could not readily be achieved. Under the leadership of Professor Basil James Becker, head of Anatomical Pathology at the South African Institute for Medical Research, an inaugural meeting was called at the National Hospital in Bloemfontein on August 6, 1960. The 34 delegates agreed upon the formation of the South African Society of Pathologists (SASP) and prepared a working constitution.

At the time of the formation of SASP, there was only one pathology discipline on the registry of specialties of the South African Medical and Dental Council so SASP was called upon to represent laboratory-based professionals on a wide spectrum of issues. The initial objectives of the society were to "advance pathology and to facilitate contact between those interested in pathology and related subjects".

In 1962 in Zurich, Switzerland, the society became affiliated to the International Council of Societies of Pathology. The society avoided being involved in national politics but had to represent the profession in several organizations. The old SASP had a number of distinguished characters who influenced the practice of laboratory medicine. Among these was Dr. Shirley Siew, from Johannesburg. Although she was a refugee from Russia, Dr. Siew developed an interest and skill in electron microscopy when this was still in its infancy. During 1986 and 1987, the society made a significant change and became a federation of four independent professional groupings.

Dr. Siew earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. from Witwatersrand University, South Africa, in 1963. She has since gone on as a Professor at Michigan State University teaching integrated clinical science in systems courses, cardiology and pathology for over 20 years. Dr. Siew has received 64 teaching awards and received a "Distinguished Faculty Award" from the Michigan State College of Human Medicine in 1988. She has written 90 articles. In addition, she has also written three book chapters. Dr. Siew is a Fellow with The American College of Cardiology and a member of The American Medical Association from whom she received two Gold Medals.