Secretary's Update, May 2016

Victor J. Bernet, MD Secretary/Chief Operating Officer

Dear ATA Colleagues,

The ATA has had a busy spring and we would like to update you on important actions by the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Awards Committees. As you are aware, the process of selecting a treasurer-elect was started in late 2015. A task force was formed to oversee the process and consisted of a diverse group of colleagues to represent the various constituencies within ATA membership. We were very fortunate to have six excellent candidates submit their names for consideration. It must be said that it is greatly appreciated that these individuals were willing to serve the ATA in such an important capacity. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that one of our present members of the Board of Directors, Julie Ann Sosa, has been selected to be the next Treasurer-elect. A vote of affirmation for this selection will occur during the 2016 election process in August/September. Julie Ann has been an active and dedicated member and I look forward to working with her in the years to come.

In addition, the membership will also be selecting a new President-elect and two Director positions as well. Alan Farwell and Charlie Emerson will be under consideration for the President-elect position while the selections for directors will include Woody Sistrunk, Ernest Asamoah, Ralph Tufano and Brendan Stack. Please be aware that the Nominating Committee and Board of Directors give thoughtful consideration to this process with a goal of ensuring representation on the ATA Board of Directors reflects ATA membership and is also strategic in nature.

The Awards Committee has been active as well carrying out their charge of selecting recipients for the award lectureships: Ingbar, Paul Starr, Braverman; the Stanbury Medal and Distinguished Service Award along with the Van Meter Award recipient, kept secret and announced at the time of the lecture.

The Program Chairs for our annual meeting in Denver, Peter Arvan and Stephanie Fish, have been in the process of putting together what we think members will find to be an excellent program. Please remember to register for the annual meeting soon. The Early bird registration deadline is 31 May 2016, regular abstract submission deadline is 25 May, 2016 with Short Call Abstracts are due by 10 August, 2016. When registering please remember to stay at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel and make hotel arrangements thru the ATA registration website so that we can meet our room block requirements.

Continued fund raising efforts include reaching endowment goals for the Braverman Mentorship Award and the Chester E. Ridgway Fellowship Track Fund. With this year's meeting being in Denver and the first regular ATA meeting since Chip Ridgway's passing, we plan to honor him by holding a fund raising event in his honor. Chip's dedication to the Fellow's track is well known to us all and being such an essential ATA mission, our goal is to raise the necessary funds to keep the Ridgway Trainee Conference viable for the long term.

Early this June, ATA leadership to include a wide-range group of selected ATA members will be participating in a work weekend to identify how to best move forward the four strategic goals that were defined in January 2015: solidifying ATA's global leadership, being patients preferred source for thyroid education, support of thyroid related research and achieving the financial means to reach these goals. Tony and I will report back on our progress in future editions of Signal.

Finally, as we approach the Memorial Day weekend, I think it appropriate to acknowledge appreciation for the many service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. In honor of them and their families, may we always remember their service and sacrifice!

Sincerely,

Victor J. Bernet, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer