Abstract
The WTF has been established to embody a broader vision and therefore has manifold objectives. Beyond the organization of the ITC, the WTF aspires to support all sister societies in the formulation of internationally correlated and harmonized education and research programs.
In a globally integrated world the WTF will thus represent a crucial reference point for coordinating and joining forces to deal with the present day dramatic increase of thyroid disease in many parts of the world, most frequently arising from nutritional deficiencies and other environmental influences.
It is an alignment for action that is likely to expand both our efforts and our capabilities, thus adding greater dimension and power to the sum total of our scientific endeavors. This concerted focus on closer collaboration among scientists via the sister associations will tighten the bonds of scientific exchange and team effort. The result will be a greatly enhanced interchange of experience, leading to swifter and better outcomes. At the same time, the intensification of our efforts will fundamentally help maximize global awareness of thyroid disease and the vital role of the thyroid gland in overall health.
To this end, the Advisory Board will propose to the Executive Committee a strategy for organizing activities and events to promote the newly instituted World Thyroid Day espoused and supported by all intercontinental societies.
The Advisory Committee will need to undertake a number of essential tasks. These include the quest for appropriate international activities (outlining epidemiological programs and research projects, defining worldwide guidelines, establishing relevant task forces, etc.), examination of promising ideas and concepts and selection of the most suitable persons to help realize them, determining potential sites for presentation of the events, and obtaining the economic resources for these purposes. With regard to the last, our very best efforts must be rallied in these distressing and cash-strapped times.
The members of both the Executive and the Advisory Committees have recently had the privilege of being the initiators of this drive, which has, at its launching, been so successfully coordinated by Hugo Niepomniszcze.