The Obesity Society Newsletter: Fall 2009

In less than one short week, we will interrupt our busy lives to convene in Washington, DC for our annual scientific meeting. It promises to be an exciting and interesting meeting with a full and challenging program put together by the Annual Program Committee and a small army of volunteers. In preparation, we are able to provide not only a sneak peek at the Obesity 2009 Final Program, but also a link to the 2009 Itinerary Builder.

Most of the remainder of this issue of our newsletter is dedicated to select items of interest from the annual meeting. Please join with me in congratulating our 2009 Ethan Sims finalists, see an example of one of the highlighted symposia, learn more about the Advocacy Forum, one of two preconference events taking place on Saturday, October 24, and learn about our 1st 5K Fun Run. There's much more and I don't want to give it all away! Check out the program if you have time.

We are very pleased to announce the results of our council elections and I congratulate all the successful candidates.

I also wanted to update you briefly on the Physician Certification program, which is being built through a collaboration of thirteen professional, sister societies.

Finally, our new Executive Vice President Francesca Dea, offers some thoughts on the challenge she, and we, face in the months, years to come.

I hope to see you in Washington, DC.

Sincerely,

Robert Kushner, MD
President, The Obesity Society

Change Is Continual, But What Does That Mean For TOS?

A Note From Francesca M. Dea, CAE
Executive Vice President

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future."[1] Kennedy was accurate when he uttered these words but it's doubtful he had any concept of the exponential speed of change we are currently experiencing and that which is likely to occur going forward. The Obesity Society is no exception to the rapid and abundant changes occurring in the world. As scientists, your body of knowledge and understanding continues to evolve and progress. As clinicians, your ability to educate and better serve becomes greater with each new advancement. As a professional society, your opportunities for increased value and funding grow with each change in policy, regulation, media message and societal attitude.

I was hired as The Obesity Society's Executive Vice President to identify and pursue opportunities created by the changing world, with the aim of achieving financial growth and added membership value. Having spent the last 16 years in nonprofit management, my experience has spanned the gamut of operations, strategic planning facilitation and implementation, finance, resource development (fundraising), marketing, membership, education, advertising, and staff leadership. My goal is to fulfill the objectives set forth in the Strategic Plan to grow the scientific community, provide clinicians information, and help educate against discrimination.

After accepting this position, I began to recognize what a tremendous privilege it is to be involved with this topical issue having such profound effects on our society. I spent several weeks thinking about what it meant to me and developing a personal vision about how to enable TOS have an even greater impact. Currently there are three areas of focus that comprise my vision, which will likely evolve as external factors continuously change.

Enhance member benefits and value to make TOS an even stronger, more attractive professional society to all your non-member peers.
Increase media outreach efforts to heighten awareness of TOS, thus increasing opportunities for additional funding.
Develop and implement a robust resource development plan reaching prospective contributors, showing value to them (which is necessary in today's economy), building partnerships, and improving communication.

Achieving my goals will be vastly easier with the support of the stellar TOS staff that is working on your behalf. From the moment I arrived, I witnessed the intelligence and professionalism of this team and we are eager to work together in building an even stronger organization for you.

___________________

[1] John F. Kennedy

2009-2010 TOS Election Results

The following were elected by the members of The Obesity Society for Council and the Nominating Committee.

Council:
Patrick O'Neil, PhD - Vice President
Frank Greenway, MD - Clinical Care
Rebecca Puhl, PhD - Advocacy
Alison Field, ScD - At-Large
Steven Smith, MD - At-Large
Diane Finegood, PhD - At-Large Canada
Simon Barquera, MD, MPH - At-Large Mexico

Nominating Committee:
Rexford Ahima, MD, PhD;
Daniel Bessesen, MD
Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD
Naima Moustaid-Moussa, PhD

Hearty congratulations to all!

Thirteen Professional Societies Join Forces to Develop Obesity Medicine Certification Examination

In an unprecedented collaboration, thirteen professional societies have united to jointly develop a Certified Obesity Medicine Physician (COMP) Examination program. The 18-month process of establishing an examination was initiated by The Obesity Society in 2008 with an expected completion in March 2010.

The body of knowledge required by physicians of obesity medicine was begun by a Practice Analysis Task Force and reviewed by two focus group panels and 25 subject-matter experts in nutrition, exercise, psychology and medicine. An internet-based validation survey to assess importance and time spent for each item was subsequently completed by 238 physicians from internal medicine, pediatrics and family practice. The Steering Committee is now beginning phase II of the process - writing questions for the examination. Over the coming months, delegates from each society will be identifying item writers from their membership.

The thirteen member societies are: The Obesity Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Sports Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Heart Association, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society for Nutrition and The Endocrine Society.

For further information regarding COMP, please contact Bill Scott, Director of Education at: bscott@obesity.org.

Original Press Release

Get Ready for OBESITY 2009