Secretary's Update, March 2014
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| John C. Morris, M.D. ATA Secretary/ Chief Operating Officer |
I am happy to announce that spring has arrived. Not in terms of the weather in Minnesota or the Northern Hemisphere but, at least, the days are longer and the light on the snow is heartening.
ATA Satellite
As you are making plans to attend the International Congress of Endocrinology (ICE) / Endocrine Society Meeting in Chicago, don't forget to arrive in time for the afternoon ATA symposium on Friday, June 20, 2014 "American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer — Highlights, Consensus, and Controversies". This event, which is being presented as a satellite of the ICE/Endocrine Society meeting is a new concept for the ATA and will serve as a roll out of the anticipated and updated thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer guidelines. In presenting our most high-profile guideline at this international endocrine meeting, we expect to generate great interest from a large audience of specialists who utilize these guidelines in everyday clinical practice. This symposium will be the culmination of a long process of revision as the task force, chaired by Bryan Haugen, has updated the guidelines with the latest evidence and recommendations. The task force faculty will highlight areas of the guidelines that have changed significantly since 2009 and include discussions of new evidence which gives the rationale for recommendations. Conveniently, the meeting location is combined with the ICE/ENDO program and registration in the convention center. ATA members who do not belong to the Endocrine Society should use a code (ATAMEM) or, if a trainee (ATATRN) to receive a member discount as you register online http://registration3.experientevent.com/showend141/. For information about the program, go to https://endo.confex.com/endo/2014endo/webprogram/Session4038.html
Transition
More than 20 years ago, past President Dr. E. Chester Ridgway founded the Endocrine Fellows Conference; and, with colleagues at the University of Colorado sponsored and produced this conference just prior to our annual ATA meeting. This has been a tremendously effective collaboration for bringing young potential members to our meetings and showing them what the ATA has to offer. Many of you who are reading this may have first been introduced to our great scientific programs, social events, and camaraderie through the Endocrine Fellows' Conference. However, due to changes that are occurring in industry sponsorship of meetings, the Colorado group will no longer be able to support this meeting. Because of the importance of these efforts to our future, the ATA Board of Directors has decided to expand our Trainees Educational Tracks to start on the advance day, and use ATA resources to produce, program and finance. The Trainees and Career Advancement Committee, chaired by Andrew Gianoukakis, has already begun work on the transition and program for a newly named Trainees Educational Conference. Clinical, surgical and basic trainees are invited with support of housing and expenses throughout the annual meeting. The ATA has designated special discretionary funds for this year, but plans to develop an endowment mechanism as part of a longer term funding strategy for the future. You may look forward to hearing more about this over the next few months.
84th Annual Meeting
Speaking of the annual meeting, start planning now to be with us at the historic and beautiful Hotel Del Coronado in southern California from October 29 – November 2 for our 84th get together. The program chairs, Mike Tuttle and Fred Wondisford, and members of the program committee are hard at work putting together an outstanding scientific program, which will of course be the highlight of your fall. You will not want to miss it!
Hope to see you at the ATA satellite in June!
John C. Morris, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer