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News — WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society, the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions, announced it is merging with the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (APDEM).

APDEM represents the academic leaders of more than 135 training programs that prepare fellows for clinical and research careers in endocrinology and metabolism.

“The Endocrine Society and APDEM share a commitment to investing in and nurturing the endocrinology workforce,” said Endocrine Society President John Newell-Price, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P. “Together, we offer a unified voice to support and advocate for clinical practitioners, endocrine researchers, and trainees through all stages of their careers. We are grateful to the Endocrine Society’s Past-President Stephen Hammes, M.D., Ph.D., and APDEM Past-President Odelia Cooper, M.D., for their leadership and strategic vision in overseeing the merger.”

For more than 25 years, the organizations have partnered together to serve APDEM’s community of endocrine program directors and the next generation of endocrinologists. The Endocrine Society functioned as APDEM’s association manager beginning in 1998.

The next stage of the evolving relationship will allow the combined organization to increase efficiencies and fulfill a shared commitment to supporting the endocrinology workforce. APDEM will maintain its independent identity, governing Council and committee structure as a division of the Endocrine Society.

“By strengthening our relationship, we will be able to connect with larger audiences and strengthen the pipeline of people entering the endocrine field,” said APDEM Council President Matthew J. Levine, M.D. “As a unified organization, we look forward being able to achieve far more than we could before.”

The organizations have a strong record of working together on important issues impacting education and preparation of the future workforce. This merger represents a continuation of that pre-existing relationship.

“As we implement operational changes over the coming months to effectively integrate APDEM into the Endocrine Society, the changes will enhance our members’ experience,” Levine said.

The Endocrine Society and APDEM’s new relationship will be aligned with similar organizations serving other medical subspecialties. Eighteen of the 20 American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) subspecialty parent organizations directly manage their corresponding fellowship programs.

“The advancement of our partnership comes at a crucial time,” Newell-Price said. “The endocrine field is facing a workforce shortage needed to treat the rapidly growing population with endocrine conditions such as diabetes, obesity, thyroid conditions, and osteoporosis. For our field to thrive, the larger endocrine community needs to unite to address these issues and to recruit more of our students and trainees to become our colleagues.”

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. 

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at . Follow us on Twitter at and .