Victor J. Bernet, MD Secretary/Chief Operating Officer

Secretary's Update
November 2017

Happy Thanksgiving wishes from the ATA leadership and office staff. It is traditional this time of year to take stock of our many blessings. In regards to the ATA, I am very appreciative of the role our association has played in my career development to include much mentorship and the forging of many wonderful friendships thru ATA activities. It is easy to be grateful for our terrific ATA office staff and Editors-in-Chief of our ATA journals. As mentioned at the annual meeting, I very much appreciate the opportunity to be ATA's Secretary/COO which affords the chance to work with our active and involved members, dedicated Board of Directors, industrious Committee Chairs and Members, Bobbi and the office staff and, of course, the patients and public that we serve.

Since the annual meeting in Victoria, the ATA Board of Directors has begun efforts for activities this governance year with the intent to build on the successes of last year. Our Program Chairs for 88th annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Mabel Ryder and Greg Randolph with the Program Committee members, have been hard at work making plans for 2018. From what we hear, this group is going to keep the meeting fresh and relevant for attendees. Not only is a repeat of the successful pediatric track in the works but a new track focused on the needs of advanced practice providers (NPs, PAs) is also being planned. Ideas for next year were submitted by members through the evaluation survey and are being considered now.

Please remember that the ATA will be holding a Satellite Symposium in concert with the Endocrine Society meeting in March 2018 entitled, "The Spectrum of Thyroid Cancer, from Surveillance to Systemic Therapy." The symposium will be held Friday, March 16 from 11:15 am until 5:30 pm at McCormick Place West in Chicago. Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits will be available. Co-chairs Manisha Shah and Mike Tuttle and the program committee are putting together a stimulating and informative learning opportunity, so please plan to join us.

In regards to upcoming leadership opportunities, as mentioned in my report at the business meeting in Victoria, it is time to identify a Secretary/COO- elect who is to be affirmed at our annual meeting in Oct 2018 and be prepared to take the reins in Fall 2019 when I complete my 4-year term. Additionally, we will be looking for a new Editor-in-Chief for Clinical Thyroidology to take over in January 2019. Jerry Hershman has done a superb job leading this journal and we appreciate his efforts these many years. Please note the call for candidates for Secretary/COO-elect in this edition of Signal and the call for EIC of Clinical Thyroidology in the near future. Also, in January it will be time to start thinking about submitting nominations for our 2018 ATA awards and also proposing candidates for open Director positions as well as President-elect.

This will be my last Signal message for 2017. Please accept my heartfelt wishes for a joyous holiday season and Happy New Year!

Victor J. Bernet, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer