President’s Message June 2017

Dear Members of the Hans Popper Hepatopathology Society,

In this president’s message, I want to bring up an important item for your consideration, one regarding the logo used by our society.  It has been brought to the attention of the Executive Committee that the Society’s logo perhaps should be reconsidered, for the reasons briefly outlined below.  

Such an important decision is best made after full consideration and feedback by the membership, so we are asking for your feedback on this question.  The HPHS website will soon post a poll and comment section for your feedback.  Please make any suggestions/comments by August 1, 2017, so that the Executive Committee can proceed accordingly.  

Also please note that the name of the society is not being reconsidered, only the logo.

First, the depiction of tobacco use by a medical society could appear to be out of touch with current understandings of the dangers of tobacco.   

Second, logos for medical societies in general tend to depict key aspects of the specialty (as opposed to an important founding member).

If the decision is made to redesign the logo, then the society would sponsor a friendly design competition/suggestion, where potential designs would be submitted by members.  Hopefully there would be enough interest (and artistic talent in the membership) so that the top 3-5 designs/suggestions could then be posted to the web for a vote. 

Nothing—the current logo would continue to be used.