New Professional Development Workshops Debut at ENDO 2024

What do podcasting, grant writing, microaggressions, and retirement all have in common? They are all topics covered by new Professional Development Workshops at ENDO 2024!

When attendees descend on Boston in June for ENDO 2024, they will have the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops that will enhance their visibility in the endocrine workforce and sharpen critical career skills.

The Endocrine Society Trainee and Career Development Core Committee created the Professional Development Workshops to strengthen the research pipeline in endocrinology and ensure a viable workforce for the future of the field.

According to Sean Hartig, PhD, associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, these workshops are vital for endocrinologists as their careers evolve. “The Professional Development Workshops expose attendees to networking opportunities and guidance as they pursue careers in industry and academia,” Hartig says, adding, “they especially provide essential information and interaction outlets for Endocrine Society members across career spectra.”

Tried and true workshops that tackle significant career challenges will continue to be offered. During the sessions, attendees can learn from experienced colleagues the essential strategies for long-term research support, operating a successful laboratory, establishing clinical practice, navigating microaggressions in professional settings, and career paths in endocrinology and related fields.

“The Professional Development Workshops expose attendees to networking opportunities and guidance as they pursue careers in industry and academia. They especially provide essential information and interaction outlets for Endocrine Society members across career spectra.”

Sean Hartig, PhD, associate professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

One brand new session for ENDO 2024 is “Stepping Up to the Plate: Grant Writing for Your K Award.” “The committee felt like these sessions span career development from beginning to end and sustain the Society’s commitment to all people, regardless of career stage,” adds Hartig who is also the faculty chair of the session that also includes Alison Affinati, MD, PhD; Clair Crewe, PhD; Yong Xu, PhD; and Zsu-Zsu Chen, MD. During this session, the panelists will share their own experiences in career development grant writing and share their tips creating specific aims as well as interactions with their teams and mentors, navigating the training component, and their career development milestones.

Another session making its bow in Boston is “Retiring as an Endocrinologist,” which will discuss opportunities for retirees to give back to the field by mentoring, reading grants for others or even stay involved with clinical care. One of the featured faculty for this session will be Richard J. Santen, MD, past president of the Endocrine Society, who commended the committee for expanding its scope to retirees and people near retirement: “Workshops provide targeted information focused on one’s needs,” he says. “This is particularly true for the workshop on retirement, a first for the Endocrine Society.”

Santen will be sharing the podium with session chair, Carolyn Becker, MD; Karen E. Friday, MD; and Alan Rogol, MD, PhD. According to Santen, data from more than 100 respondents to a survey on retirement will be presented as background information. “Each speaker will outline personal journeys that illustrate road maps for successful retirement with a goal of giving back to the profession,” he explains. “Questions posed in the survey will be discussed since the audience is expected to include retired endocrinologists and those planning to retire in the near future.”

ENDO 2024 will have its first session about podcasts called “Podcasting and Other Social Media Strategies to Increase Professional Visibility,” where panelists are fellow endocrinologists who will share their journey into digital media. “Even if you are not planning to be the next influencer, the ideas and best practices for maintaining your digital professional identity will be applicable to several career scenarios,” says Christine Krieger, PhD,* scientific program manager, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. “Although tools change,” she continues, “the underlying strategies don’t. Our society is used to the churn of technology and increasingly expect endocrinologists to keep up.” Krieger is the faculty chair of this workshop and will be joined by Kaniksha Desai, MD, host of the Thyroid Stimulating Podcast (sponsored by the American Thyroid Association); and Malini Gupta, MD, ECNU, an expert in using social media to promote education about endocrine diseases to the public.  

Endocrinologists will learn how to stay on stop of the everchanging technological landscape in the session, “Expanding Your Digital Reach,” which will focus on X, formerly known as Twitter. Use and perception of this platform continue to shift, and this year’s panel will include the Endocrine Society’s Jenni Gingery, director of Communications and Media Relations. “Social media can appear like a minefield to someone in endocrinology,” Krieger says. “Hearing from a communications professional will be a valuable addition to the actionable knowledge from Joy Wu, MD, PhD, and Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH.” This session will also discuss the most effective use of personal websites as well as Google Scholar and Research Gate, which will be of special interest to basic scientists, and anyone involved in endocrine research.  

Attendees will even have a variety of workshop choices, depending on their areas of interest and professional goals. The workshops tackle the most significant career challenges by providing networking and professional development opportunities for Endocrine Society members in small group environments.

*Krieger’s comments are strictly her own and do not represent the views of the NIDDK, the NIH, or the federal government.