ESA News

ESA Newsletter: November 2002

New ESA President's Report

In preparing this note of introduction, I undertook the occasionally risky task of reminding myself of why we have an ESA, and what we are trying to do. Two series of quotes from the Society's Webpage provide a perspective on what our primary aims should be:

"The Endocrine Society of Australia is a national non-profit organisation of scientists and clinicians who conduct research and practice in the field of Endocrinology."

And the Society's goals are:

• To promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in endocrinology.
  
• To promote interest in and improve the clinical practice of endocrinology.
  
• To promote basic and clinical research into endocrinology.
  
• To hold scientific meetings of basic and clinical endocrinologists.

I trust that your new ESA Council will be able to provide the necessary leadership to help us all achieve these simple, but fundamental, objectives.

I am fortunate to be able to assume the position of President of ESA at one of the strongest and most stable times in its history. Its membership and financial assets continue to grow; we continue to conduct vibrant and relevant scientific meetings, and the society is able to support the development of the careers of a number of our younger scientists through travel grants to national and international meetings. I can't let this opportunity pass with offering my considerable gratitude to Ken Ho and the previous council of the Society for helping us get to our current fortunate position. Ken's tenure as President was marked by his meticulous attention to detail, and his careful consideration of all matters before the Society. Ken always reminded me, and I suspect, the rest of council, that, whether it was in our research or clinical activities, it is the patients with endocrine conditions that must be prominent in our thinking.

Brendan Waddell and Sonia Stanton are also leaving council, both after serving two terms. Brendan assumed the position of Treasurer of the Society during his first term as councillor, while at the same time being newsletter editor, and subsequently served in the role of Vice-President. Sonia was convinced to take on the role of newsletter editor, having successfully overseen the organization of the archives of the Society, and was always a strong voice representing the views of recent Endocrine trainees. Their contributions to the society will be missed.

The new ESA council reflects a vital mix of the old and the new. Jeffrey Zajac has been re-elected to council and will assume the role of Vice-President, while Cathie Coulter and Ross Cuneo have been returned to Council and accepted the positions of Treasurer and Honorary Secretary, respectively. Bruce Robinson will continue to coordinate our relationships with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and Evan Simpson will continue assisting our liaison with related professional societies, both nationally and internationally. Two new members of council, Catherine Choong and John Burgess will also assist our endeavours, with Catherine playing a critical role in assisting the Honorary Secretary, particularly with the various awards of the Society, and John has responsibility for Medical Affairs. I have every confidence this council will enable the continued growth of the society.

Having basked in our fortunate position, the Society is not without challenges. First, the society must ensure that it takes a strategic and leadership position with regards to the coordination of the training of Endocrine Registrars. Many changes are afoot in the fields of education and research, both at an undergraduate and postgraduate level, and the continued success of the Society is, I believe, somewhat contingent on us maintaining our, at times, unique and vibrant interactions between clinicians and basic and clinical scientists. The Endocrine Trainees have provided a vital link for many of us to move between the bench and the bedside. Accordingly, the Society has a critical interest in ensuring that it continues to play a leading role in designing and assisting the training of future endocrinologists. Members with a special interest in this topic should communicate their ideas and concerns to the council.

Second, our Annual Scientific Meeting must continue to be of relevance and interest to the broadest possible range of our membership. I therefore encourage all members to interact with the council, and our Program Organising Committee (ably chaired by Leon Bach), to make sure that the topics and symposia that you would like to see at our meetings are considered and included. If we face and overcome these challenges, I believe we will have gone a considerable way to achieving the goals of the society.

I wish to thank the council for electing me to the position of President, and I look forward, with just a little trepidation, to serving it and the society.

Ben Canny, ESA President

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