The E. Chester Ridgway Trainee Conference (Ridgway) was founded and championed for two decades by Dr. E. Chester "Chip" Ridgway, former ATA President, and mentor and friend to so many endocrinologists. The trainee conference is supported through ongoing contributions from colleagues, past fellow participants, and friends to this very important campaign honoring Chip's memory and continuing his legacy. The Ridgway creates opportunities for trainees that have a lasting impact on their work and careers. For several decades, the ATA has supported young investigators who are first authors on abstracts submitted to the annual meeting program. The Trainees Track has matured over the past 10 years offering robust educational opportunities including interaction with many senior thyroid experts enthusiastically sharing knowledge and collegial experiences with clinical, basic, surgical and pediatric endocrine fellows.
The 2015 Ridgway Conference chairs Drs. Stephanie Fish, Andrew Gianoukakis, Theo Visser and Douglas Forrest constructed a trainee dedicated program that aimed to engage and nurture trainees through various mechanisms. The first day of the Ridgway offered sessions on the latest clinical and basic science research in thyroid disease accompanied by lunch round table discussions where trainees could meet and ask questions of the Ridgway presenters and leaders who have invested in the development of the early career program. Throughout the conference, the Ridgway sessions delivered practical lessons and resources for career development such as case discussion presentations, learning how to get published, and even an ultrasound lecture and practicum. In addition to the educational aspect of the Ridgway, a key aim is to involve the trainees in networking events with ATA clinician scientists, fostering important collaboration and collegiality, which leads to research initiatives and advances in thyroid discovery.
Over 150 early career trainees from 20 countries were selected to participate in the Trainee Grant Program. The program provided funding to support the participation of fellows, residents, and medical and graduate students at the 15th ITC. These early career members are first authors on research and cases that were presented at the thyroid congress. Over 300 of the 870 regular call abstracts noted that the first author was a trainee. A list of the 2015 Ridgway Grant Recipients can be found here http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/trainees-corner/trainee-recognition/
"We were excited and inspired to see our early career members participate in the Ridgway Conference and ITC and become involved in the ATA," says Antonio Bianco, MD, PhD, President of the American Thyroid Association and Professor of Medicine, Rush University, Chicago. "They bring new ideas and renewed energy and represent the next generation of potential leaders, and we encourage their continued attendance and participation."
Recognition for outstanding poster presentations is now an integral part of the trainee conference improved this year by having electronic posters uploaded and judged online in the first round pre-meeting, resulting in 80 top-scored submissions being further evaluated onsite. 15th ITC program leaders spoke to each of the presenters to evaluate scientific merit and presentation. The winning abstract posters are featured on the ATA website www.thyroid.org.
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