About us

The Belgian Society of Pathology (BSP) is an independent, non-profit medical society led by expert volunteers. The Society is founded upon unity in vision, communication and governance, bringing together pathologists, residents, cytotechnologists, molecular biologists and other scientists active in the field of pathology.

The BSP is formally recognised as a professional organisation representing certified pathologists. It is not a medical professional union. The Society operates independently, apolitically and non-confessionally, and is active throughout Belgium at all levels of healthcare policy and professional representation.

The BSP is also active or represented in international organizations with similar objectives such as the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP).

Our mission

The societal mandate of the Belgian Society of Pathology is set out in its statutes, which are publicly available on the Crossroads bank of Enterprises.

The BSP fulfils a dual role:

As a professional organisation, it studies, promotes, develops, defends and safeguards the professional and moral interests of its members. Particular emphasis is placed on maintaining professional dignity, solidarity and ethical standards in the relationships between members, other medical professionals, patients, healthcare stakeholders, professional organisations and public authorities. The Society represents Belgian pathologists in national and international organisations dedicated to Pathological Anatomy and related subspecialties.

The BSP also represents its members before all relevant authorities — including, where necessary, in legal proceedings — in matters concerning specialist training, the protection of the professional title, accreditation requirements for recognition as a specialist in Pathological Anatomy, conditions of professional practice and the institutions in which the specialty is exercised.

In its role as a scientific society, the BSP promotes the advancement of Pathological Anatomy in all its dimensions. This includes the study of pathological alterations caused by disease, the associated functional disturbances and the underlying causes and mechanisms responsible for disease processes. Alongside professional advocacy, the Society actively promotes and facilitates education and training in Pathological Anatomy.

Our activies

In pursuit of its mission, the BSP organises and facilitates a wide range of scientific and professional activities throughout the year. These include congresses, symposia, workshops, masterclasses, tutorials and webinars, delivered both in person and virtually. Particular attention is given to high-quality specialist training and continuing professional development.

The Society also works to enhance knowledge and awareness of Pathological Anatomy among healthcare professionals, patients, the wider public and policymakers. It participates in studies and working groups at both national and international level, including external quality assessment programmes organised by Sciensano. Professional advocacy forms an integral part of its activities, beginning at the stage of recognised specialist training.

Our Governance and Structure

The Belgian Society of Pathology is organised into four sections, supported by a central Governing Board and overseen by an Advisory Board.

The four sections comprise Professional Interests & Quality, Education & Training, the Belgian Week of Pathology (BWP) and the Young Pathologists Section (YPS). Each section operates with considerable autonomy under the leadership of a Chair, who may be supported by a Vice-Chair and Secretary. Section Chairs participate in meetings of the Governing Board, ensuring coherence in strategic direction.

The Advisory Board plays a pivotal role within the Society’s governance framework. It prepares substantive policy dossiers and formulates recommendations for the Governing Board, which is responsible for day-to-day management. In addition to its advisory function, the Advisory Board exercises a supervisory role to ensure that the Society’s mission and statutory objectives are effectively implemented. Its Chair and Vice-Chair enjoy organisational autonomy and participate in meetings of the Governing Board.

Beyond its formal sections, the BSP also hosts working groups and committees. Working groups generally focus on specific organ systems or subspecialties within pathology, whereas committees address broader thematic areas such as structured reporting and computational pathology. The Chair of each working group or committee is a member of the Advisory Board, thereby ensuring integration within the Society’s governance structure.

Participation in the Society’s activities and meetings is reserved for registered members who have paid their annual membership fee for the current calendar year. Section’s chairs are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Society’s internal regulations, which are aligned with the overarching governance framework.

Belgian Week of Pathology

The Society’s annual flagship congress, the Belgian Week of Pathology (BWP), brings together national and international experts and serves as a central forum for scientific exchange and professional networking. The congress is organised within a dedicated section of the Society with it’s own President.

Throughout the year, additional meetings and educational initiatives are organised, with particular attention to residents and early-career pathologists. Through these activities, the BSP maintains strong engagement with the international pathology community.

Young Pathologists Section 

Residents may join the BSP free of charge and automatically become member of the Young Pathologists Section (YPS). This section operates with its own budget and organisational structure, supported by the Society. Its Chair participates in meetings of the Governing Board, ensuring representation of early-career members within the Society’s leadership.

Our History and Development

The Belgian Society of Pathology was founded in 2012 by the Belgian Society of Pathologic Anatomy, the Belgian Society of Clinical Cytology and the Digestive Pathology Club. The founding members are recorded in the original articles of association.

Initially established as a scientific organisation, the BSP brought together pathologists from Belgium and neighbouring countries, as well as residents, cytotechnologists and molecular scientists active in Pathological Anatomy (AP).

From 2021 onwards, the BSP and the Professional Association VBS/GBS AP worked towards closer strategic alignment, with unity in vision, communication, governance and resources as their shared objective. The statutes of both organisations were progressively harmonised, culminating in a formal merger effective 1 January 2026. The Professional Association VBS/GBS AP was dissolved through a transfer of assets for free to the BSP, which continues as the sole remaining association and single point of contact (SPOC) of all matters related to Pathological Anatomy. The merger process was led by Dr Romaric Croes and Prof. Dr Koen Van de Vijver in their respective capacities as presidents of the Professional Association and the Scientific Society.