SECRETARY'S UPDATE
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Victor J. Bernet, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer |
Dear ATA Colleagues,
Spring is here!! Although the weather forecast as I write this message indicates many of us still have some Winter like weather with which to deal. We are also within 6 months of our annual meeting and a call for meeting registration will be out before you know it. This time of year many of us have also probably started to plan family Summer vacations as well. Have you ever organized a family beach vacation for an extended group of family members? Maybe representing several generations and including immediate family members and some cousins as well. You try to pick a place to everyone's liking but a few think the house is too small, a few others think it is too far from the beach, another group wants a house on the beach with a pool and most everyone wants to keep the cost of the trip down as well. What if after making the final reservations for the group some family members decide to stay at an alternate place? Now the expense is more for those remaining, such an occurrence would be frustrating and expensive wouldn't it?
So how does the previous story correlate with the ATA meeting? Well, each year's annual meeting is a culmination of years of planning and effort. Bobbi and Adonia, with leadership oversight, identify hotels that have the facilities which meet the ATA's needs for a successful annual meeting. Contracts are negotiated ~ 5-8 years prior to the meeting being held. To hold down costs, the ATA negotiates for use of rooms for the plenary and other various meeting sessions. To avoid paying directly for the use of these rooms which would be very expensive, agreements are made where the hotel provides the meeting rooms as a credit for attendees staying at the hotel. If we fall short of our contracted and required quota of room nights, the ATA is left open to paying an attrition penalty to the hotel.
2016 Call for ATA Awards Nominations
The American Thyroid Association is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Awards. Nominate a colleague who exemplifies outstanding professionalism, dedication and contributions in the field of thyroidology. The awards will be presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association in Denver, Colorado September 21 - 25, 2016.
The deadline for nominations is March 31. Awards description, criteria and nomination forms are available online. For more information contact jpaige@thyroid.org.
Past Award Recipients (PDF File, 129 KB)
Call for Nominations for Awards (PDF File, 134 KB)
Nominate Colleagues for the ATA Board
 The American Thyroid Association is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Officers.
In accordance with the Bylaws of the American Thyroid Association, the Nominating Committee is soliciting nominations from the membership for candidates for the offices of President and Directors (2) to serve on the ATA Board of Directors. Candidates will be selected by the Nominating Committee and submitted to the ATA Board for final approval.
All nominations must be submitted to the Executive Director, Bobbi Smith, by letter, fax, or e-mail bsmith@thyroid.org by March 31, 2016.
Call for Nominations for Board of Directors and Officers (PDF File, 91 KB)
Abstract Submission Site – Now Live
Regular Call:
Site Opens – Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Site Closes – Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Short Call:
Site Opens – Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Site Closes – Wednesday, August 10, 2016
86th Annual Meeting Call for Abstracts (PDF File, 159 KB)
Abstract Submission & Presentation Guide (PDF File, 829 KB)
March is Medullary Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
# G I V E 2 T H Y R O I D
The American Thyroid Association® provides outstanding leadership in thyroidology by promoting excellence and innovation in clinical management, research, education, and patient care. Help support thyroid specialists and the development of resources that advance our understanding of thyroid disorders and cancer including:
- clinical practice guidelines
- position statements
- early career training
- research and education grants
- leadership & service awards
- community for collaboration
- continuing education programs
- peer-review biomedical journals
- summarized medical literature
- up to date thyroid news & publications
- patient education
Attention Trainees E. Chester Ridgway Trainee Conference
The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is pleased to announce that the E. Chester Ridgway Trainee Conference, the "Ridgway", will begin the morning of Wednesday, September 21, 2016 and continue through Saturday of the 86th Annual Meeting of the ATA at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Colorado. The "Ridgway" is designed to advance basic and clinical trainee knowledge and understanding of thyroid physiology, disease and treatment.
ATA Career Link offers next opportunities
ATA Career Link is the industry's top online job board for thyroid specialists. To learn more about this valuable resource and ways to advance your career, visit and register as a job seeker to get started!
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