Charles H. Emerson, M.D. President, American Thyroid Association

President's Update
April 2018

In last month's ATA Signal our esteemed Secretary and COO, Vic Bernet noted the onset of Spring, the selection of Dr. Jacqueline Jonklaas as the ATA Board's recommendation to succeed him as ATA Secretary, the need for members to nominate worthy candidates for the ATA's awards, and the very successful recent ATA Spring Satellite Symposia that was held on March 16, 2018 in conjunction with the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. These and other activities, too numerous or in their embryonic stage to mention, all reflect not only the work of committee members, but also the diligent leadership of Dr. Bernet, the support of Bobbi Smith and the ATA staff, and the guidance provided by the Board's committee and task force liaisons.

My last newsletter promised to comment further on the nature of the 23 ATA committees. In doing so, I apologize for focusing only on a few, emphasize that this is not an effort to rank committees in importance, and note that these comments are simply opinions that are open to correction and refinement.

Whereas the idea of a so-called "working board" is well understood, less well developed is the notion of a "working committee". But the definition of a "working" committee can draw from that for a working board, provided it is recognized that boards have governing authority and fiduciary responsibilities; committees have an advisory function. In classifying the nature of ATA committees my first thought would be to have three categories: "working", "monitoring" and "strategic". The exercise of trying to assign a category to a particular ATA committee is useful in selecting a committee to join or one to seek advice from as long as it is understood that the function of committees may change in response to the demands of the moment.

The Patient Affairs & Education Committee (PAEC) and the Program Committee (PC) strike me as "working" committees. The PAEC spends a great deal of their time on developing patient education materials; the PC formulates in detail the schedules for the annual meeting and actively vets and recruits potential speakers. Working committees typically interact closely with staff on a week to week basis. Their calendars often differ, however. The PAEC works throughout the year; the PC starts before their term actually begins, and their work tapers as the annual meeting approaches. Other "working" committees are the Awards Committee (AC), the Nominating Committee, the Research Committee, and the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC), the last tending to be more of a year around responsibility.

The Bylaws Committee is at times a "working" committee and at other times a "monitoring" committee. Like a stream Bylaws has periods of quiet and apparent inactivity followed, often abruptly, by intense efforts when pressing issues become identified, usually by unforeseen events or the threat of them. Ideally the Bylaws committee would function as a "monitoring" committee that anticipates such events during the lulls between writing new and revising old bylaws.

Monitoring committees have their antenna trained to both the world of the ATA and the outside world. They must be alert to changes and new developments in their area of focus that call for responses by the ATA. Sometimes monitoring committees initiate changes; other times they respond to requests for advice from staff or the board. When this is sought it may trigger a "working" period to prepare a proposal or information piece for the Board. However, they are closer to the "strategic" category as they need to have a sense of important developing issues in society and within the ATA. The Clinical Affairs Committee seems to fit the "monitoring" mold. The Internet Communications Committee, Lab Service Committee, Public Health Committee, and Surgical Affairs Committee might all fall into the "monitoring" category. "Working" may be a better category for the Surgical Affairs Committee, however, considering its active role in advancing surgical Guidelines.

I am uncertain how to categorize the Trainees/Career, Publications and Membership committees. Perhaps a fourth category, "Service" would be most appropriate. And yet this is incomplete as each of these committees need to think about and make recommendations regarding trainee needs, the future and present status of ATA publications, and standards for membership respectively. As far as the newly constituted Guidelines Committee is concerned there is no doubt that "working", "monitoring" and "strategic thinking will all be a prominent part of their future.

Most committees of the ATA would probably not be considered "strategic". Those in this category focus on questions that require deep and for the most part time-insensitive contemplation. Clearly this is a major part of what the Ethics Advisory committee does but they are also involved in making recommendations for our societies' standards and educational efforts. The Development and the History and Archives Committees seem to fit best into the "strategic" category. One looks to the past as source of insight for living the present and the other to the future. "Strategic" committees have similarities to "Monitoring" Committees but they are far less compelled to reach rapid conclusions or transmit them to the Board and membership in an urgent fashion. The History and Archives Committee can and should take its time in unraveling the history of the ATA and identifying the most pivotal and important events and discoveries. The reason why the Development Committee is assigned to the "strategic" category may seem obscure. This choice was made because development efforts require long-term effort and commitment and balanced thinking as to how to nurture the growth and financial health of the ATA. Moreover, the ATA staff has been engaged in writing grants and soliciting funds to support its activities for many years, in a sense relieving the Development Committee from the "working" aspect of their charge. That said, I would be the last person to discourage the Development Committee from proposing new fund-raising activities or making recommendations regarding existing ones.

Of course, ATA development is not one person or one groups' business, it should involve every member as well as the entire staff. Fortunately, this is not only what should be, but also what is has occurred before and since becoming your President. One of the indications of this is the 100 percent participation of the ATA's staff and Board in annual giving. A coming newsletter will add more detail about ATA's development history. For now, I hope that these comments regarding its committees will stimulate an even greater commitment to contribute some of your time and intellectual capital to the ATA.

Charles H. Emerson, M.D.
President, American Thyroid Association