Medicine & Technology Meet at ENDO 2017

ORLANDO -- From novel diabetes technology to the evolution of steroids, there's something for everyone at the 99th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, kicking off here on Saturday.

Held through midday April 4th, ENDO 2017 will feature joint sessions hosted by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, with a wide range of pre-conference workshops beginning Friday, including a satellite symposium hosted by the American Thyroid Association. The vast array of topics will include using telemedicine for rural diabetes care, the artificial pancreas for kids, BPA and pesticide exposure associations, as well as men's health and hormones.

"Sessions have been created for endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons to learn from each other through case-based presentations and debates about thyroid cancer, adrenal disorders, and much more," the meeting's Steering Committee Chair, Gary D. Hammer, MD, PhD, told MedPage Today.

Innovations in technology will also be at the forefront of the meeting regarding continuous glucose monitoring, telementoring for osteoporosis treatment training, and a meet-and-greet held by the authors of the diabetes technology guidelines ready to answer questions during a "curbside consultation." These specialty "Science Hub" sessions will also be held in the exhibit hall for the first time throughout the meeting.

During a late-breaking session held Saturday afternoon, researchers will present findings on pediatric growth disorders, including pharmacologic treatment for growth hormone deficiency. Information about thyroid disorders will also be prevalent at the meeting, with several late-breaking and oral sessions regarding racial disparities among thyroid cancer trends, looking beyond thyrotropin, and thyroid function during pregnancy.

Other highlights of ENDO 2017 will include a Saturday morning "Presidential Plenary" session, featuring Jeffrey Gordon, MD, and Martin Blaser, MD, which will include an in-depth talk on the gut microbiome and associations with diabetes, obesity, and more. "The topics of the plenaries are dramatically varied, ranging from the evolution of steroids and their receptors to the science and social issues surrounding transgender medicine," Hammer said.

Other plenary session topics he says to look out for include "the biology of gender and the care of associated disorders of gender identity, oxytocin as a hormone of love and attachment, steroid abuse in athletes, coming of age of the teenage brain, and the long and short of steroids, their receptors, and Mendelian hypertension."

Early-career healthcare professionals and trainees are advised to attend the "Knockout Rounds," on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, which will provide coaching on presentation and communication skills. "With a single slide each, 15 presenters will describe the impact of their research on enhancing health outcomes. The audience, along with an esteemed panel of judges, will vote for their favorite presentation," said Hammer.

Another not-to-be-missed highlight of the meeting will include a much-anticipated endocrine debate held on Sunday afternoon. It will feature "titans of the diabetes field" Daniel J. Drucker, MD, and David M. Nathan, MD, in a face-off on the value of new drugs for type 2 diabetes, answering the question, "Are we benefiting anyone other than pharma?"

"Meet the NIH Program Directors," held Monday afternoon, will provide tips on seeking federal funding for research, with the opportunity to meet with representatives from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Boasting itself as "the world's largest event" for catching the latest endocrinology research, the meeting will hold over 300 conference sessions, with over 7,000 endocrine healthcare professionals expected to turn out to the Orange County Convention Center. This year's meeting is offering up to 32.5 American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points, as well as up to 20 American Board of Pediatric MOC points to attending healthcare professionals.

Follow ENDO 2017 coverage on MedPage Today, and on Twitter @TheEndoSociety, along with the hashtag #ENDO2017.

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