Kenneth D. Burman, MD, Installed as American Thyroid Association (ATA) President for 2008-2009 Term

Newswise — Kenneth D. Burman, MD, of Kensington, Md., was installed as President of the American Thyroid Association during the 79th Annual Meeting of the ATA being held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. The Annual Meeting drew a record attendance of over 1000 endocrinologists, surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians, research scientists, one-third of the attendees coming from 40 countries around the world.

"It has been a privilege to be a member of the ATA since 1975, my most valued and important society," said Dr. Burman.. "I think our continued success as a society depends to a large degree on our ability to maintain and enhance our clinical and scientific interactions with various other disciplines and to attract young physicians and scientists to actively participate in the ATA. We strive to be the leaders in clinical, academic, social and political thought and action in matters relating to the thyroid and we value most highly our relationship with patient-oriented advocacy groups."

Dr. Burman is currently chief of the Endocrine Section in the Department of Medicine at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. He is also program director of the Integrated Georgetown University/ Washington Hospital Center Endocrine Fellowship Program and a professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

In 2007 Dr. Burman recently received the ATA's Paul Starr Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to clinical thyroidology. His research efforts are focused on thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroid disease and translational clinical thyroidology. Dr. Burman was honored with the ATA Van Meter Award in 1984. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, a master in the American College of Physicians and serves on the FDA's Endocrine Advisory Board.

An ATA member for 32 years, Dr. Burman has served on the board of directors and is currently on the editorial board of ATA's journal, Thyroid. He was a local arrangements co-chair of the ATA Annual Meetings held in Washington, DC in 1987 and 2001. Dr. Burman has served as a member and chair of the ATA's Public Health Committee and as a member of the Finance and Audit, Awards and Education Committees.

Dr. Burman obtained his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. and his medical degree from the University of Missouri. He took his Internal Medicine training at Barnes Hospital, Washington University and his Endocrine Fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

About the American Thyroid Association (ATA)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.

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 learn more about the ATA, visit: http://www.thyroid.org.