ATA Gives Ernest L. Mazzaferri, MD, Distinguished Service Award

Newswise — The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has awarded its 2009 Distinguished Service Award to Ernest L. Mazzaferri, MD, who has been a member of the ATA for 25 years and has served as member and chair of the Awards Committee, member and chair of the Development Committee and member of the Public Health Committee.

He is the recipient of the ATA’s Paul Star Award, The Robert Graves’ Award and the Light of Life Award. The ATA's Distinguished Service Award recognizes an ATA member who has made important and continuing contributions to the association.

Dr. Mazzaferri graduated from John Carroll University in 1958 and the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1962, where he trained in internal medicine and endocrinology. He served as Chair of Medicine and Dean at the University of Nevada from 1978 to 1984 and as Professor of Medicine and Physiology, and Chair of Medicine at Ohio State University from 1984 to 1999.

He is currently Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida.

Dr. Mazzaferri served as a member (1995-1999) and Chair (1999-2003) of the American Board of Internal Medicine Endocrine Board and as a member of the ABIM Board of Directors from 1999 to 2003.

His research interests include the clinical management of thyroid disease, especially thyroid cancer, and, in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Sissy Jhiang, the genetic factors influencing thyroid cancer and basic mechanisms concerning the sodium-iodide symporter. Dr. Mazzaferri will receive his award at the ATA’s Annual Meeting held in Palm Beach, Florida September 23-27 2009.

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the lead organization in promoting thyroid health and understanding thyroid biology. The ATA values scientific inquiry, clinical excellence, public service, education, collaboration, and collegiality.

A non-profit medical society founded in 1923, the ATA fulfills its mission through supporting excellence and innovation in research, clinical care, education, and public health. ATA members are physicians and scientists who work to enhance the understanding of thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, improve the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, and promote the education of physicians, patients, and the public about thyroid disorders. The official journal “Thyroid” of the ATA is published monthly. “Clinical Thyroidology” is published online monthly for the benefit of clinicians and scientists around the world.

Thyroid diseases are among the most common disorders of the endocrine system, affecting almost 13 million Americans alone. The ATA has extensive online information for patients on thyroid disease (in English and Spanish) serving the clinician as a resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the internet. To further benefit patients, the ATA publishes an online journal “Clinical Thyroidology for Patients.” The Alliance for Patient Education was formed in 2002 to offer an exchange of information between the ATA and patient education groups: ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.; the Light of Life Foundation, and the Graves’ Disease Foundation. A public forum is held each year in conjunction with the ATA annual meeting.

The 80th Annual Meeting of the ATA will be in Palm Beach, Florida, from September 23-27, 2009 at The Breakers Hotel. All registration and program information is available at http://www.thyroid.org. We welcome your participation.

ATA 6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550, Falls Church, VA 22041 * (703) 998-8890 (Fax) (703) 998-8893 * http://www.thyroid.org