Victor J. Bernet, MD Secretary/Chief Operating Officer

Secretary's Update
January 2017

A belated Happy New Year. Believe it or not, but we are already almost through January. The Spring Program Committee led by Program Chairs Manisha Shah and Mike Tuttle with ATA staff support have been diligently preparing for the 2018 ATA Spring Satellite Symposia, The Spectrum of Thyroid Cancer, from Surveillance to Systemic Therapy to be held at McCormick Place West on 16 March in Chicago. You can learn more about the great agenda at https://www.thyroid.org/2018-ata-spring-satellite/. The ATA is pleased to partner with Eisai, Inc. to present an unbranded lunch symposium entitled: Diagnosis and Management of Advanced Thyroid Cancer just prior to start of the 2018 ATA Spring Satellite Symposia from 11:15am – 12:45pm. This additional, complimentary session is included with registration for the ATA Spring Satellite. Lunch will be available to registered attendees during the Eisai program. Based on the registrations to date, we expect a great showing and hope you will be able to join us.

Other updates are that the newly approved committee for ATA Guidelines and Statements capably lead by Jacquie Jonklaas and Anna Sawka are working on the finishing touches on proposed policies that will impact ATA guidelines and statements from initial proposal and concept approval to selection of committee chairs and members and extending to planning for deployment of these association products. Once complete, these policies will be available for member review and comment prior to final BOD approval and implementation.

Believe most members are aware that the 2015 ATA Guidelines for Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer stirred up some controversy particularly within the Nuclear Medicine community with concerns about recommendations related to the use of radioactive iodine. In 2016, representatives from the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) approached ATA leadership about holding a multilateral conference in Martinique to discuss issues in common between the ATA and our Nuclear Medicine colleagues. After lengthy negotiations and planning it was agreed to hold the Multilateral Conference on Differentiated Thyroid Cancer from 13-14 January 2018. Excellent arrangements for the meeting were made by our hosts Drs. Ciprian Draganescu and Patrick Bourguet. Attendees included representatives from EANM, SNMMI, ETA and ATA.

The activities included review and discussion of four topics: 1) formalizing dialogue and activities between the four societies; 2) indications for RAI adjuvant therapy; 3) optimal prescribed activity of RAI for adjuvant therapy and 4) definition and classification of radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer. The intent of this endeavor was to delineate common ground in these areas, define areas where controversy exists and identify clinical questions which require additional study to include potential future research efforts which would aid in answering the questions at hand.

The group held 2 days of presentations combined with associated, robust debate and discussions capably moderated by Dr Laszlo Hegedus. The group then synthesized the proceedings into what we are referring to as the "Martinique Principles" with a white paper with a summary of the proceedings being planned. The final list of Martinique Principles are undergoing some final revisions and are expected to consist of 9 major points on which the attendees agreed and are meant to define terminology, outline areas of controversy and aspirational goals for future study and collaboration.

The meeting attendees unanimously agreed that these proceedings were very valuable and successful. Representatives from all four societies feel strongly that continued collaborations are indicated and recommend that the leadership from our respective societies consider establishment of a formal framework which would support additional meetings.

Finally, a reminder that we are in the process of identifying the next Secretary-elect with nominations being due by 31 January, 2018 and it is also time for nominations of members to be candidates for President-elect and three open Board of Directors positions as well.

Victor J. Bernet, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer