Rongjia Liu
University of Alberta, Canada
Title: Consensus generation in pathology. Mentoring aspects and how rules are established, the example of Banff Transplant Pathology Meeting discussions
Biography
Biography: Rongjia Liu
Abstract
From its beginnings in 1991 the Banff Transplant Pathology meetings have used physician led consensus generation which is very different from the professional facilitator led consensus generation usually employed. The success of this approach over twenty-four years speaks for itself. There is a literature on such expert led consensus generation which outlines the approach which has been taken in the meeting. Kaner’s 2007 book Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-making, 2nd ed page 59 "Listening with a Point of View", states that these steps should be employed by the expert facilitator: 1) Raise the issue. State your position, 2) Ask for reactions, 3) Respond as a facilitator would by drawing people out and paraphrasing what they are saying; err on the side of more drawing people out, 4) After at least two moves of facilitative listening, give yourself the floor to speak, explain your perspective, answer questions, explain, advocate as needed, 5) Repeat steps 2-4 as needed remembering to balance your own point of view with at least twice as much facilitative listening. These skills and how to follow these five steps are now being passed on the new generations of pathologists as the Banff consensus generating process continues to evolve and expand through successive meetings and mentoring cycles within the framework of the newly formed Banff Foundation for Allograft Pathology.
