Dear Colleagues:
Starting this month, I would like to share with you the relevant and timely activities that the Society is working on to advance the field and expand the value of ASBMR membership. I have organized these activities utilizing the four priority areas that comprise the current ASBMR Strategic Plan.
Close the Treatment Gap in Osteoporosis
I am excited about the current momentum around the ASBMR Secondary Fracture Prevention Initiative, the recent publication of the consensus clinical recommendations in JBMR® last month and the dissemination campaign currently underway that includes editorials in a number of clinical journals.
Lead the Research Agenda in Musculoskeletal Science
Promoting and disseminating areas of emerging innovation to our membership is a key Society priority. One way which we are doing this is by expanding our education programming throughout the year and beyond our annual scientific meeting. For 2020, we have assembled a yearlong webinar program featuring diverse musculoskeletal topics in clinical, basic and translational research, clinical practice, as well as professional development. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to view the ASBMR 2020 Webinar Schedule. Council has also formed an Education Work Group to conduct a needs assessment around the Society’s non-Annual Meeting education programming in an effort to expand and improve them. The work group will present its recommendations to the Council later this month and I will share actions that come out of these recommendations in a future letter.
“One Global ASBMR Family”: Increase Membership Outreach, Engagement, and Benefits
Enhancing member benefits is another key area which our Society is actively pursuing.
- We recently started highlighting current job opportunities in the field in our weekly e-news. I encourage all members share such announcements with us by emailing them to asbmr@asbmr.org.
- Outreach to new constituents provides the Society opportunities to increase our reach and awareness. To this end, ASBMR members presented the latest cutting-edge research in the field at several meetings late last year, including the Argentinean Association of Osteobiology and Mineral Metabolism (AAOMM), the International Course on Bone and Mineral Metabolism of the Mexican Society of Nutrition and Endocrinology (SMNE) and the Brazilian Congress of Densitometry, Osteoporosis and Osteometabolismo (BRADOO).
- ASBMR Ambassadors have also been actively translating and presenting highlights from the 2019 Annual Meeting to scientists and clinicians across the globe.
- Finally, volunteer leadership positions are now open and all members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or even themselves for an opportunity to actively contribute to ASBMR’s strategic goals, develop crucial leadership skills and make important career connections. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
Develop New Revenue Streams to Continue to Invest in the Future of the Field
In 2019, The Fund raised $55,728 – a 34% increase from 2018, and 100% of which will be used to support research and the development of the next generation of researchers in our field. In 2020, we hope to increase the amount raised even further- many of your colleagues have already donated; have you? Why not? Please take a moment to learn more about this important Fund and make your donation today.
Sincerely,
Dr. Teresita Bellido, PhD
ASBMR President