Foundations and Associations

Click here to see Societies for Health Professionals

For Consumer Health Information:

These organizations provide information on their Web sites, physician referrals, funding for research, and connections for support from other patients.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists [http://www.aace.com/]  Provides information and education to endocrine patients so that they can have access to the best
endocrine care possible.  Publishes a professional clinical journal, Clinical Guidelines for various endocrine conditions, and a comprehensive membership directory.
 
American Autoimmune Related Disease Association AARDA is headquartered in Detroit, MI.  [It takes a very long time to download its site.  It's quicker to get to some of their overview information through Intelihealth.com.]  Research fronts are presented such as development of vaccines and investigation of use of bone marrow/stem cell transplants for treatment of autoimmune disorders. There is a link to information about a NIH research grant. Their quarterly newsletter has additional articles of interest.

American Foundation of Thyroid Patients [www.thyroidfoundation.org] a national, non-profit organization for the awareness, education and support of thyroid patients,
their family members, healthcare providers, and interested parties. Support/Interest groups forming around America, low-cost public thyroid disease screenings, educational information/seminars, thyroid physician referrals.  Founder, M. Sara Rosenthal, has authored The Thyroid Sourcebook and proceeds go to the foundation.

American Thyroid Association [http://www.thyroid.org/]  A professional organization of physicians and scientists dedicated to scientific research on the thyroid. The association refers the public to member physicians in their geographic area on request.  Publishes a newsletter and informational pamphlets.

Endocrine Society [http://www.endo-society.org/index.htm] A professional organization of scientists,  educators, clinicians, practicing M.D.s, nurses and students representing all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology and devoted to research, study and clinical practice of endocrinology. The Society works to improve understanding of endocrinology among the  general public and medical practitioners and to promote the interests of endocrinologists at the national scientific research and health policy levels of  government.  Journal publications include Endocrine Reviews; Endocrinology; The Journal of  Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; and Molecular Endocrinology. Books include Molecular  and Cellular Research Syllabi; Program and Abstracts Book; Recent Progress in Hormone Research Conference Proceedings; Clinical Endocrinology Update Syllabi; Remembrances in  Endocrinology; and Endocrine Reviews Monograph Series. They also have a newsletter called Endocrine News.

The Magic Foundation [http://www.magicfoundation.org/clinhypo.html] for support of families of children with disorders or diseases that affect growth.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) [http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/endo/pubs/endorg/endorg.htm] Conducts clinical research on diabetes, other metabolic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, endocrine disorders, digestive diseases, nutrition, kidney diseases, and blood disorders.  Supports basic and clinical research and research training through investigator-initiated grants, program project and center grants, and career development and research training awards.

Thyroid Foundation of America http://www.clark.net/pub/tfa/

Thyroid Foundation International. [http://www.thyroid-fed.org/] Thyroid Disease in a global perspective, to support patient oriented thyroid organizations and support professional and patient education and research.

Thyroid Foundation of Canada. [http://home.ican.net/~thyroid/Canada.html] A lay organization to promote public education about thyroid disease. This site was recently updated, but the patient information pages were from as far back as the mid 1980s.  There is a patient page on Nutrition and Thyroid, which I have not seen addressed on other sites.

Thyroid Society for Education and Research [http://the-thyroid-society.org/faq/] is a not-for-profit organization for the prevention, treatment and cure of thyroid disease by means of public awareness and patient education.  Its 22 member volunteer board of directors includes 9 MDs.  The site lists the board of directors, the society's address and contact information with an email link.  The site was copyrighted in 1996, but no update information is given.

Societies for Health Professionals:

Researchers and clinicians in the fields of immunology and endocrinology that explore questions related to Hashimoto’s disease many find it helpful to belong to one or more of the following organizations.  These societies often prove to be excellent sources of information. In addition to the U.S. and multinational associations listed here, there are national societies in Bulgaria, Canada, Netherlands, and Poland.  For more information contact the organization directly or see the related entry in Encyclopedia of Associations, 34th ed. Detroit: Gale. 1998.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) limits its membership to clinical endocrinologists and physicians with special education in diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid illness, lipid-cholesterol problems, reproductive disorders, obesity and nutrition.  It seeks to enhance the practice of clinical endocrinology.

American Association of Immunologists (AAI) was formed in 1913 to advance knowledge of immunology and related disciplines. With a membership of 5,500 scientists engaged in immunological research, it promotes interaction and exchange of information between laboratory investigators and clinicians. American Association of Veterinary Immunologists [This site not working 12/18/98.] (AAVI), founded in 1979, has a membership of 260 devoted to developing and disseminating knowledge of veterinary immunology.  Hashimoto’s disease does occur in dogs and is an important factor in breeding. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Founded in 1936, this is a certification board for specialists in internal medicine.  U.S. physicians specializing in treatment of Hashimoto’s disease area are certified by the board in the subspecialty Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. American Society for Microbiology Founded in 1899, this society of 42,000 members promotes the advancement of scientific knowledge, encourages high professional and ethical standards and influences legislative and regulatory policies regarding the discipline of microbiology.  They maintain a reference library. American Thyroid Association Associated with Thyroid Foundation of America.  An international professional society of physicians and scientists founded in 1923 to improve quality of life by promoting understanding about biology and pathogenesis of the thyroid gland. British Society for Immunology [This link not working 12/18/98] is an international society of 4,200 members founded in 1956 to advance the science of immunology for the benefit of the public. Clinical Immunology Society (CIS), founded in 1986, has membership of 1,000 clinicians and investigators concerned with immunologic diseases, their causes, mechanisms, treatment, evaluation and prevention. Endocrine Society (CS) is a multinational organization founded in 1915 to promote excellence in research, education and clinical practice in endocrinology and related disciplines.  I has 8,000 members and maintains a placement service. European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) , founded in 1961, has 400 members and promotes discussion and collaboration between medical practitioners and scientific staff in research and clinical practice of pediatric endocrinology. European Thyroid Association (ETA) (Association Europeenne Thyroide - AET) is a multinational society founded in 1967 to promote research and to improve knowledge of the thyroid gland and its diseases.  Its 365 members are physicians and research scientists in 37 countries. International Society of Endocrinology (ISE) is a federation of 53 national endocrinology societies that facilitates collaboration between national endocrinological societies and persons interested in the field. International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) has 51 member professional societies.  It was founded in 1969 to encourage orderly development and utilization of the science of immunology.  It promotes the application of new developments to clinical and veterinary problems and standardizes reagents and nomenclature. National Hormone and Pituitary Program (NHPP), founded in 1963, collects pituitary glands from autopsies and extracts several hormones, among them human Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (hTSH), which are distributed to doctors in research centers for research in endocrinology.  Membership is not taken in this program, but it may prove useful to know about. Society for Endocrinology, with a membership of 1,700 clinicians and scientists in the field of hormones and hormone related disease, undertakes scientific and medical publishing and conferences. Women’s Caucus of the Endocrine Society (WE) was founded in 1975 to promote professional advancement of women and younger members of the Endocrine Society. It has 850 members.
· Publications: Letter to Membership
· Contact: Phyllis Wise, Sec.-Treas., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dept. of Physiology, 655 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201


Last updated Dec. 13, 1998
Developed by Mary O. Walker  mowalker@scils.rutgers.edu
for Information Resources for Medical and Health Sciences 610:581
School of Communication, Information and Library Studies
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1071