After the stress of the past two years, 2022 felt like we were starting back into the world again. Despite ongoing pandemic pressures at work and home, we came together as a community this year to advance science and make a difference for patients.
We have so much to celebrate — our first in-person annual meeting in two years, the launch of our newest journal JCEM Case Reports, a new focused scientific meeting delving into the latest research in stress biology, a major advocacy win to reduce insulin costs, rising Impact Factors for our journals, and the launch of new Special Interest Groups dedicated to topics such as oncoendocrinology. But our most direct impact on public health came from our local EndoCares health fair events.
This year was a noteworthy one for events! We hosted our first hybrid ENDO program, with thousands of attendees joining us in person in Atlanta, Ga., for the first time in two years. It was thrilling to be face-to-face again at ENDO 2022 and at our new basic science events.
Our revitalized Patient Engagement initiative offered screenings and other health services to more than 500 people in Clarkston, Ga.; Seattle; Phoenix; and Baltimore this year. More than 100 people received COVID-19 vaccinations during our Clarkston EndoCares event alone. I am so proud of our inspiring EndoCares hosts and the impact their work is having in underserved communities: Nicole Ehrhardt, MD; Lorena Alarcon-Casas Wright, MD; Subbulaxmi Trikudanathan, MD, MRCP; Sonya Haw, MD; Priyathama Vellanki, MD; Melanie Haines, MD; Ricardo Correa, MD; and Rana Malek, MD.
This year was a noteworthy one for events! We hosted our first hybrid ENDO program, with thousands of attendees joining us in person in Atlanta, Ga., for the first time in two years. It was thrilling to be face-to-face again at ENDO 2022 and at our new basic science events.
Our Basic Science Advisory Group has championed the idea of holding intimate, in-depth meetings, and the group’s efforts resulted in us cohosting “The Mechanisms of Allostasis Conference: Stressed or Stressed Out” with FASEB this fall. The event yielded insightful discussions about the science of stress biology. In the new year, we will continue to facilitate conversations about emerging science and valuable networking among basic scientists.
Important conversations are also unfolding in the pages of our journals. In 2022, we launched JCEM Case Reports, an open access, online only journal spotlighting reports on clinical cases and clinical problem solving from across the endocrinology field. Past president William F. Young, Jr., is leading the new journal, which is a terrific addition to our journal portfolio. Endocrine Reviews, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, and Endocrinology all had significant gains in their Impact Factors this year.
We also made important strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion during 2022. Building on the long-time success of our FLARE program supporting researchers from underrepresented minorities, we held our first Excellence in Clinical Endocrinology Leadership (ExCEL) workshop in Washington, D.C., last spring. The ExCEL program is designed to provide comprehensive leadership training and mentorship to early-career physicians from underrepresented minorities. Our member leaders also published a policy perspective this year on the need to eradicate racism from the endocrine workforce and ensure equal access to care for patients. I commend our community’s commitment to DEI.
After the stress of the past two years, 2022 felt like we were starting back into the world again. Despite ongoing pandemic pressures at work and home, we came together as a community this year to advance science and make a difference for patients.
This year, our voices helped convince Congress to finally take action to address soaring insulin prices. The Inflation Reduction Act caps monthly insulin costs to $35 for Medicare beneficiaries. While this is a major advocacy win, we know expanding insulin caps to individuals with private insurance would improve insulin access for even more of our patients. I appreciate so many of our U.S.-based members taking a few minutes to participate in our campaign pressing Congress to do more for those with private insurance.
As we reach the end of 2022, we can be proud of our many accomplishments. When we come together, we can improve public health and elevate research. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead in 2023.
Loading ...