Letter from ASBMR President Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D.
February 11, 2021

Dear Colleagues:
 
2021 is in full swing so I want to highlight the numerous opportunities available to members to get involved with your Society in meaningful ways this year and the invaluable benefits the Society provides members.
 
First, the Nominating Committee will start accepting applications for volunteer leadership positions on February 17. I encourage each member to nominate a colleague or to self-nominate for an opportunity to actively contribute to moving ASBMR’s strategic goals forward. Volunteering has numerous benefits, including the ability to develop crucial leadership skills and making meaningful career connections with colleagues. Several improvements have been made to the nominations process in order to create more transparency and rigor around the volunteer leadership selection process. I encourage you to visit the volunteer leadership nominations page on the ASBMR website for more information, which includes the webinar: Navigate the ASBMR 2020 Volunteer Leadership Application Selection Process. The deadline to submit an applications is Friday, March 19.
 
Typically held in conjunction with the in-person Winter Council Meeting in Washington, DC, USA, the ASBMR Capitol Hill Day would give Society volunteer leaders the opportunity to meet with U.S. elected representatives and their staff to stress the importance of federal support for biomedical research. Due to the pandemic – this year we are not able to come together in-person so instead we have decided to implement a virtual Capitol Hill Day and open up participation to the entire U.S. based membership. The ASBMR Hill Day will be held April 13-14. Our goal is for members to meet with elected officials from each state which the Society has members (40+) to communicate the importance of federal biomedical research funding, especially to the local community. This is a great “micro volunteer” opportunity that I encourage you participate. Please visit the ASBMR website by Friday, March 12 to learn more and to sign-up. 
 
One of the greatest benefits of ASBMR membership is the ability to apply for the dozen plus award programs the Society offers each year. Did you know that in 2020 ASBMR provided over $500,000 in funding to over 200 members through these programs? As the application period for many of these programs is open or opening later this month, I want to utilize this letter to highlight them.
 
ASBMR Esteemed Awards are the most visible of Society award programs as the recipients are recognized at our Annual Meeting. The Society offers 10 esteemed award programs that recognize the contribution and impact that members have had in our field. I encourage you to review the criteria for the ASBMR Esteemed Awards and nominate a deserving colleague prior to the Friday, May 7 deadline.
 
Rising Star Award provides promising young scientists and physician-scientists that have been recognized by individual U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) “K awards” or other similar international professional development programs with funding to successfully implement their programs, to progress beyond the current specific aims in order to renew their project, and stay in the field and transition to independent investigators. Six awards of $50,000 each will be given in 2021. Further information about this award is available on the ASBMR website. The 2021 deadline to apply for this award is Friday, March 19.
 
Phoebe Leboy Professional Development Award provides the resources needed for a female recipient that resides outside the United States to attend the ASBMR Annual Meeting and matches them with female member mentors in related areas of research. Preference is given to applicants from emerging or developing countries. The application for this year’s award will open on February 15. Complete information about this award is available on the ASBMR website. The 2021 deadline to apply for this award is Friday, March 19.
 
NEW – Underrepresented Minority Mentorship Award is a program being launched in 2021 and aimed at increasing representation and participation from individuals identifying as underrepresented minorities (URMs) at the ASBMR Annual Meeting. Up to 10 selected applicants will receive $1,000 USD in funding to help offset costs associated with traveling to the Annual Meeting and receive one-on-one mentorship from an ASBMR member. Further information about this award is available on the ASBMR website. Recipients must submit an abstract to this year’s Annual Meeting and complete an application affirming their eligibility to receive this award by Friday, March 19.
 
Finally, I want to remind you that applications for the 2021 class of Fellows of the ASBMR will open on February 22. The fellows program recognizes long-term ASBMR members (10+ years) who have made outstanding contributions to the field of bone and mineral science. Complete details about this program are available on the ASBMR website. Nominations are due by Friday, April 16.
 
I encourage all of you to consider being a member volunteer for the Society, take advantage of all the benefits of your membership and make the most of your scientific home!
 
Sincerely,
Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D.
ASBMR President