To highlight one of the Endocrine Society’s valuable international partners, Endocrine News is featuring the history of the Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Turkey (SEMT). First created as combination of several regional Turkish groups, SEMT has taken its place among the leading endocrine organizations in the world.
Turkish endocrinologists have been organized since 1964 throught the country’s first official organization for the practice, the Society of Endocrinology. However, more than 30 years later, a joint society combining the Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Anatolia Endocrine Societies was formed and thus, the Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Turkey (SEMT) was born in 1995.
Like many similar professional societies throughout the world, SEMT’s primary mission has been to enhance the networking opportunities for Turkish endocrine scientists and clinicians. From organzing scientific events, SEMT has also been involved in coordinationg various research projects in the field of endocrinology. Today, as it approaches its 60th anniversary, SEMT proudly takes its place among other internationl societies and organizations and boasts 900 members on its roles.
Just as SEMT provides a valuable means for Turkish endocrinologists to collaborate, the organization itself collaborates with sister societies and is a member of the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), the International Society of Endocrinology (ISE), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the Union Europeenne Des Medecins Specialists (UEMS), as well as maintaining a partnership with the Endocrine Society.
Attendees to the 10th Annual EndoBridge Conference that took place in Antalya, Turkey, Oct. 20 – 23, 2022.
SEMT Member Engagement Activities
Despite the geographic differences from the Endocrine Society, SEMT’s scientific and social activities are remarkably similar:
- Scientific congresses and courses enabling knowledge exchange with national and international colleagues via scientific sessions;
- Publications that include books, a journal, and practice guidelines for physicians; and
- Continuing medical education for physicians and residents via a web-based education platform.
Furthermore, SEMT promotes its members’ career development through mentoring programs and early-career groups. SEMT also promotes increased awareness and education initiatives for the general public.
SEMT currently has nine scientific study groups in specific fields of endocrinology and metabolic diseases. These groups are: Adrenal and Gonadal Diseases; Diabetes; Pituitary; Obesity-Dyslipidemia-Hypertension; Osteoporosis and Other Metabolic Bone Diseases; Rare Metabolic Diseases; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Medical Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism; and Thyroid.
“[Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Turkey] plays a leading role in the field of endocrinology in Turkey by advocating for an evidence-based medical system, releasing local guidelines, and improving public communication through a variety of communications channels.”
Bridging the World of Endocrinology
SEMT has been organizing a national endocrinology and metabolism congress annually for 44 years with national and international speakers and representatives, welcoming up to 1,000 participants. SEMT also organizes an annual postgraduate training course, as well as a national thyroid congress every two years.
SEMT also hosts EndoBridge, an international meeting held annually in Antalya, Türkiye, in collaboration with the Endocrine Society, European Society of Endocrinology, American Thyroid Association, and Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism. In 2022, EndoBridge celebrated 10 years of “bridging the worlds of endocrinology” with a meeting that welcomed over 400 attendees from 36 countries.
Each year, EndoBridge is held in English with simultaneous translation into Russian, Arabic, and Turkish, and is accredited by the European Council. The abstracts of clinical cases presented by the delegates in oral and poster sessions were published as a supplement of JCEM Case Reports, the Endocrine Society’s newest journal, further strengthening the partnership between these two entities. The 11th Annual EndoBridge® will take place in Antalya, Turkey, October 19 – 22, 2023. Further information can be found at www.endobridge.org.
The SEMT Board of Directors (from l to r): General Secretary: Prof. Dr. Sibel Guldiken; Member: Prof. Dr. Melek Eda Ertorer; Research Secretary: Prof. Dr. Dilek Gogas Yavuz; Vice President: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Cesur; President: Prof. Dr. Aysegul Atmaca; Member: Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Sahin; and Treasurer: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kulaksizoglu
The Endocrine Society is not the only organiztion SEMT has a robust collaborative relationship with since it also partners with the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA) to organize scientific meetings. ENEA Congress was held in 2008 in Antalya and the European Congress of Endorinology (ECE) was held in 2009 and this past May in Istanbul.
For continuing medical education of endocrine fellows and residents, a postgraduate course called ‘Endokurs’ has been held annually since 2009 in different cities throughout Turkey. Subject-specific courses on thyroid, metabolic bone diseases, obesity, diabetes, pituitary, adrenal, and rare metabolic disorders are held locally in various cities and are live streamed online and archived on the SEMT website (www.temd.org.tr) and web-based education platform (www.endokrinakademi.org), and are available to all SEMT members.
Endocrine Academy is a free online education platform established during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 for broadcasting live webinars. Later on, it was enhanced with both live and on-demand education videos for physicians. It includes lectures from congresses, courses, and videos about popular endocrine topics for physicians.
In 2022, SEMT started collaborating with the Turkish Medical Association to provide accreditation to those centers that provide endocrinology training in accordance with the rules of UEMS. Three centers met the criteria for accreditation and received certificates. SEMT has a core education program in endocrinology, which is updated frequently and organizes a national board examination annually, which is held during the national congress.
A Robust Publishing Presence
Endocrinology Research and Practice – Endocrinology Research and Practice (Endocrinol Res Pract) is the official journal of SEMT. It is a scientific, open access, online-only periodical published quarterly in January, April, July, and October. Previously known as the Turkish Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, which had been published in English since 1997.
Online submission systems and digital archives are freely accessible to researchers worldwide. Processing and publication are free and no fees are requested from the authors at any point of open-access the evaluation and publication press.
Endocrinology Research and Practice is currently indexed in Web of Science – Emerging Sources Citation Index, Scopus, CINAHL, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), EBSCO, Embase, TUBITAK ULAKBIM TR Index, and Gale.
The SEMT’s official journal, Endocrinology Research and Practice, is an online-only open access journal that publishes quarterly, and was originally known as the Turkish Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Clinical Guidelines – SEMT publishes clinical practice guidelines that are valued and relied upon by clinicians who present available international evidence on a given clinical endocrinological problem and help optimize treatment.
These guidelines are updated every two years for diabetes mellitus and its complications, thyroid, osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases, obesity, adrenal and gonadal diseases, pituitary, medical nutrition and exercise, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and bariatric surgery.
Textbooks – In addition, SEMT encourages and supports the publishing of various textbooks which are released free of charge for physicians on the Society’s website.
SEMT Bulletin – To keep SEMT members up to date on the goings on with the Society, its members, as well as the fields of endocrine science and practice, SEMT publishes a newsletter called the SEMT Bulletin. Publishing quarterly, this newsletter lets SEMT members know about what their colleagues are doing, various scientific conferences taking place within Turkey and internationally, and the latest breakthroughs from a variety of journals from around the world.
Supporting Research and Future Leaders
To support outstanding researchers, especially those early in their careers, SEMT presents young investigator awards during the annual congress. The Society also provides funding for researchers, international education and research programs, and grants for notable Turkish researchers to attend both national and international scientific meetings.
To encourage networking and research among young endocrinologsits, SEMT has an Early Career Endocrinologists group which encourages its members to share knowledge, support research, and increase networking opportunities among our young colleagues.
Distinguished faculty for EndoBridge 2022 came from around the world to be a part of this remarkable event now in its tenth year.
Increasing Public Awareness of Endocrinology
SEMT has a web TV named “Endocrine TV” on the website and a Youtube channel to educate Turkish people and help them better understand endocrine diseases and conditions by broadcasting videos. SEMT also has social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn) for increasing professional and public awareness.
Looking Forward
SEMT plays a leading role in the field of endocrinology in Turkey by advocating for an evidence-based medical system, releasing local guidelines, and improving public communication through a variety of communications channels. Going forward, SEMT seeks to have a more global impact and enhance its presence through networking with academic societies around the world via various conferences as well as making significant contributions to cutting-edge endocrine research.
Firmly established as a well-respected endocrinology and metabolism organization, SEMT aims to be an important voice in the international endocrinology community for years to come.
Yavuz, Atmaca, and Cesur are all members of the SEMT Board of directors where Yavuz serves as research secretary, Atmaca is president, and Cesur is vice president. Atmaca is a professor at Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Samsun, Turkey. Yavuz is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Marmara University School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. Cesur is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Endocrinology at the Yuksek Ihtisas University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey.
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