As part of this process, I reviewed the summary from our recent strategic planning meeting, reflected on highlights of the Annual Meeting and considered the remarkable efforts of our 20 committees and nine task forces. Our strategic plan focuses on four areas: Constituencies and Member Benefits, Publications and Guidelines, Meetings, and Communications and Technology. This year, I am planning to focus on research, diversity and visibility, which touch on all four areas of the strategic plan. Research is clearly a fundamental cornerstone to the success of the ATA in leading the thyroid field. Past-president Jim Fagin noted the importance of a foundation of basic and translational research within the ATA and he challenged us with strengthening our appeal to scientists. In order to comprehensively review the challenges and opportunities within the thyroid research community, I have asked Sheue-yann Cheng to lead a task force of scientists to explore ways the ATA can attract and retain scientists focused on thyroid research. An impressive task force has been assembled: scientists in diverse research areas to fulfill this charge and advise us moving forward. The list is posted to "About the ATA" at www.thyroid.org with all other ATA committee members for 2012-2013. Diversity is another critical element to the success of our Society. I am pleased to say that Virginia Sarapura and the Membership Panel have done an outstanding job of fostering increased diversity within the ATA. As was noted in our strategic planning, "The ATA has a narrow focus (thyroid), but reaches across the continuum from basic research to clinical practice and surgery." Surgery is an excellent example of growth and diversity within the ATA over the past 5-10 years; surgeons have greatly increased among our membership and the Surgical Affairs Committee is an incredibly vibrant and productive committee and collaborative effort between Endocrine Surgeons and Otolaryngology Surgeons. I believe we can and should apply this model to other areas of thyroid research and clinical care to broaden our constituencies and strengthen our Association. In addition, I would like to work to strengthen our visibility in the broader medical and scientific community throughout the world. To this end, we are exploring creative ways to enhance our publications, including Thyroid, Clinical Thyroidology and Clinical Thyroidology for Patients. We are also working on ideas to leverage and repurpose ATA guidelines, one of the organization's strongest assets. ATA guidelines for patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer have recently been published and are available on our website. Bob Smallridge and the task force are to be commended for developing such a comprehensive and innovative document. These guidelines will not only be useful to endocrinologists and surgeons, but will inform medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, patients and families, and palliative care teams. Our efforts on publications and guidelines development and distribution will address each of the four major focus areas from our strategic planning and solidify the ATA as the leading organization devoted to thyroid research, clinical care, education, and public health. In other news, the program for the 83rd Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association, which will be held October 16-20, 2013 in San Juan, Puerto Rico is already under development. It's not too early to save these dates on your calendar. Julie Ann Sosa and Ron Koenig are this year's co-chairs and are certain to develop a state-of-the-science program that no scientist, clinician, or trainee will want to miss. The spring symposium and research summit, "Hypothyroidism: Exploring the Possibilities," will be held April 25-26, 2013, in Washington, D.C. This is an excellent example of the ATA taking a fresh look at a common problem. Jacquie Jonklaas, Ken Burman and Tony Bianco have developed an impressive program that reaches across the continuum from basic research to clinical practice, and the program has ample time for wide-ranging discussions. As we go forward, I invite you to share this exciting time for the American Thyroid Association with me, the Board, and your fellow members, focusing on the horizon of continued leadership in thyroid research, clinical care, education, and public health. With best wishes,
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Over the past few months, many colleagues have asked me what I would like to accomplish during my tenure as ATA President. I have spent much time contemplating this question – reflecting not only on our history as an organization but setting my sights on the horizon to determine where we want to be and what we want to do over the next year. Our mission – The ATA is the leading organization devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health – was pivotal in these considerations.