Update from the ATA President James Fagin At the recently concluded meeting of the American Thyroid Association we have once again witnessed the excellent progress being made in many facets of thyroidology. The scientific presentations at the 81st annual meeting in Palm Springs described important advances in topics of great clinical relevance. One example that illustrates how our organization responds to new research discoveries concerns the growing understanding of the mechanisms of thyroid hormone transport, metabolism and action. We now know that the effects of thyroid hormone are exquisitely modulated in a tissue-specific manner, and the precise steps involved in its regulation are now being unraveled. In addition, the development of thyroid hormone analogs with selectivity for the individual thyroid hormone receptor isoforms holds promise for the treatment of diseases not previously thought to be within the scope of our field. These advances come at a time when there is a continued ferment in the media about the appropriate approach to thyroid hormone replacement therapy in patients with hypothyroidism. Because of this, the ATA has commissioned a task force, to be led by Drs. Antonio Bianco and Jacqueline Jonklaas, with the charge of providing updated recommendations on thyroid hormone therapy based on these new discoveries, and on the clinical trials published in the literature. The ATA is a vibrant organization precisely because our meetings and publications are the primary venues where new advances in the science and practice of thyroidology are presented and debated. This, in turn, allows us to leverage the unique expertise of our members to guide clinical practice, educate the public, and influence policy. In this regard, the ATA, which was at its origins a surgical society, welcomes the growing role that our surgical colleagues are playing in the organization. They represent a rapidly expanding constituency at the ATA. Moreover, they are already making important contributions to our clinical guideline efforts in thyroid cancer, and actively participating in the leadership of the society. Although we only just returned from Palm Springs, we are already beginning to plan the next annual meeting, which will take place in the fall of 2012 at a beautiful venue in Quebec City. Drs. Elizabeth Pearce and Douglas Forrest will co-chair the Program Committee, and I am sure they will welcome advice and input from the membership on possible topics to be covered. With best wishes, James A. Fagin, MD |
