Victor J. Bernet, MD Secretary/Chief Operating Officer

Secretary's Update
March 2018

Based on the calendar, Spring is here! Albeit you may not yet feel like it based on your local weather!

In regards to ATA activities, March was notable as the 2018 ATA Spring Satellite Symposia, The Spectrum of Thyroid Cancer, from Surveillance to Systemic Therapy was held at McCormick Place West in Chicago. We had a great turn out with 411 attendees who were very positive in feedback on-site, finding the sessions very informative as I know I did. Kudos to the Spring Program Committee led by Chairs Manisha Shah and Mike Tuttle and as always our wonderful ATA staff who help ensure these meetings run smoothly. Another symposia highlight was discussion of preliminary results from the 2018 American Thyroid Association Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Survey. As of now, 1933 patients have completed this survey the results of which can be expected to be published at a later date. These surveys have been a palpable means to reach out and support the patients for which we care and such activities fit well into our 2016 strategic plan.

ATA Spring symposia first started in February 2003 with the symposia entitled Public Health Strategies for Protecting the Thyroid with Potassium Iodine in the Event of a Nuclear Incident which was held in Washington DC. The symposia between 2003 – 2010 were held as independent events but, in a strategic move, ATA leadership decided to start holding the ATA symposia in conjunction with the Endocrine Society which we have done annually since April 2013. This partnership has seemed to work well and been associated with more robust attendance. In March 2019 at the Endocrine Society meeting in New Orleans, plans are underway for an ATA satellite symposia which will be entitled Diagnostic Imaging and Image-Guided Therapies for Thyroid Disease. We will provide membership more information on the specifics of this symposia in the not too distant future.

As my term as Secretary/COO concludes in Fall 2019, the ATA leadership initiated the process of identifying a candidate to affirm as the Secretary/COO-elect in October 2018. A selection task force was formed with a diverse and balanced group of ATA members including the Chair of the Nominating Committee, past presidents/secretaries, and directors from the Board. An association wide call for candidates occurred over 60-90 days and applications were received from excellent candidates. The task force first reviewed ATA needs in regards to the desired skills and characteristics for the next Secretary/COO-elect, packets for each of the candidates were then reviewed followed by phone interviews. The task force then held follow up discussions to review and deliberate the panel of candidates. It speaks volumes for the future of the ATA that all of the candidates were outstanding and felt to be up to the task which made the selection all the more difficult. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jaqueline Jonklaas, professor of medicine in the endocrinology division at MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center is being recommended to the membership for affirmation as the Secretary/COO-elect at the 2018 annual meeting. Special thanks to all the candidates and the task force members, capably chaired by past president, John Morris.

Please note that as Jerry Hershman is completing his term at the end of 2019, we are now in the process of identifying a new editor-in-chief for Clinical Thyroidology. It must be noted that Jerry has done a tremendous job with leading this publication since 2011. The selection task force will be led by Publications Committee Chair Brendan Stack and the application deadline for candidates is 30 April 2018. We intend to announce the new EIC for Clinical Thyroidology sometime this Summer. Additionally, we are still collecting nominations for candidates for the Board of Directors, President-elect, as well as our prestigious lectureship and recognition awards with a submission deadline of 31 March 2018.

On a sad note, it came to our attention that Dr. Theo Visser unexpectedly passed away earlier this month. On hearing the news, many members have commented that this is a tremendous loss for both the ETA and ATA families.

Thank you for your attention and wishes for some upcoming pleasant Spring weather.

Victor J. Bernet, MD
Secretary/Chief Operating Officer