BMJ No 7123 Volume 315
Clinical review Saturday 20/27 December Christmas 1997 issue
What's in a Gnome?
Peter J Scheuer
The Gnomes were conceived in Gothenburg in 1967 at the second meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) because of a need to regularise the then confused nomenclature of chronic hepatitis. A small group of interested hepatologists met and, after animated discussion, agreed to circulate slides of relevant liver biopsy specimens and to reconvene the following year.
The second meeting in Zürich led to the publication of the classification of chronic hepatitis used for the next 25 years.(1) Professor (now Dame) Sheila Sherlock commented that the members were manipulating the nomenclature of liver disease just as the "Gnomes of Zürich" were then said to be manipulating Europe's finances.
| The name stuck. Attempts to call the group by more formal titles
failed. After 1968 the Gnomes perceived a need to discuss other
hepatological topics, and have since written eight more guideline
papers. Each year relevant slides are circulated and discussed.
Presentations are frequently interrupted by one or other Gnome jumping
up excitedly to voice a point of view or to express a new idea. Most
importantly, each member has over the years felt free to express
ignorance as well as knowledge: reputations are not at stake. The
meetings provide an opportunity to share research data and to provide
an update on developments in hepatology. A few years ago one of my students, hearing about the group during an undergraduate tutorial, persuaded his mother to construct a hat suitable for gnomes to wear. This has since been passed from chairman to chairman (figure). |  | |
| Professor Roderick MacSween, currently president of the Royal College of Pathologists, wearing the ceremonial headgear (note bell on top). Next to him is Professor Amelia Baptista from Lisbon |
So much for Gnomes. What about Elves? A young American pathologist working with me at the time of the third London meeting of the Gnomes in 1989 was impressed by what he saw as a productive and enjoyable way of working. He and two European colleagues decided to start a new group along broadly similar lines. Once again, more cumbersome titles faded and the Elves were born.
Perhaps there are similar working groups out there discussing other organs and disciplines.
I thank my fellow Gnomes for facts and encouragement.
Department of
Histopathology,
Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine,
Pond Street,
London NW3 2QG
Peter J Scheuer,
professor
emeritus
References
1 De Groote J, Desmet V J, Gedigk P, Korb G, Popper
H, Poulsen H, et al. A classification of chronic hepatitis.
Lancet 1968;ii:626-8.
Home | Current issue | Past issues | Classified ads | Career Focus | Feedback
Collections | About this site | About the BMJ | BMA | Medline