Abstract
Best wishes for 2023, as we celebrate and the beginning of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) Centennial! The ATA, originally known as the American Association for the Study of Goiter (and later the American Goiter Association), has evolved significantly since its inception in 1923. 1 The founding members were all surgeons from the United States and Canada, with the main focus being endemic goiter. 1 Over the past century, the membership has significantly expanded and diversified in terms of gender, profession, field of research, and nationality. Furthermore, the scope of thyroid-focused interest has broadened, from clinical, public health, advocacy, and research perspectives.
The history of the ATA is reflected in the success of the ATA publications, including Thyroid, Clinical Thyroidology, Video Endocrinology, and Clinical Thyroidology for the Public, as well as newsletters and other educational materials. Thyroid, the flagship journal, was first published in 1990 and our first editor-in-chief was Dr. Jerome Hershman, who served in that role until 1999. Dr. Hershman also later served as editor-in-chief of Clinical Thyroidology (2011–2018).
Sadly, Dr. Hershman passed away in July of 2022, just days before his 90th birthday. In this issue, Drs. Gregory Brent and Angela Leung and colleagues pay tribute to Dr. Hershman, whose life and accomplishments are an inspiration to us all, and especially to those of us in the ATA journal family. 2 The In Memoriam for Dr. Hershman is complemented by an article published by Dr. Terry Davies in Thyroid in 2021, reporting on reflections from Dr. Hershman, which were collected in detailed interviews. 3
Both of these important articles applaud Dr. Hershman's immense accomplishments in the field of thyroidology (including clinical, scientific, educational, and advocacy contributions), but also describe his caring nature, generosity, and warmth, which was appreciated by all who knew him. We share our deepest sympathies with his wife, Fleurette, and his family, and we greatly miss him.
In celebration of the ATA Centennial, in each issue of Thyroid this year, we feature a Centennial Special Article, authored by leaders in thyroidology. The Centennial Special Articles encapsulate the major scientific and clinical advances in thyroidology that have been discovered in the past century. The current and future clinical importance of these landmark discoveries is also highlighted. Our first Centennial Special Article in this issue is by Dr. Valerie Galton and Dr. Arturo Hernandez, entitled “Thyroid Hormone Metabolism: A Historical Perspective.” 4
It is important to acknowledge the extensive planning that has gone into the Centennial Special Article series and I would like to extend special thanks to the ATA Centennial Committee, especially the Cochairs Dr. Elizabeth Pearce and Dr. Peter Kopp, as well as Dr. Jerome Hershman and Dr. David Cooper, who were instrumental in the success of this project. I also express my sincere appreciation to Centennial Article authors for their fascinating historical synopses and the peer reviewers who provided valuable input on these articles. The Centennial Special Article series is a must read for anyone interested in thyroidology!
The success of Thyroid is of course a credit to our contributors, editors, editorial board members, peer reviewers, and staff (from the ATA and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.). A special thank you to our peer reviewers was published in the December, 2022, issue of Thyroid. My predecessor, Dr. Electron Kebebew, had initiated a tradition of recognizing several outstanding editorial board members and reviewers on a yearly basis…and this tradition continues.
I would like to pay special tribute to our Distinguished Editorial Board Member of the Year for 2022, Dr. Virginia Livolsi. Dr. Livolsi has served on the Thyroid Editorial Board since her appointment by Dr. Hershman in 1999. Dr. Livolsi has reviewed hundreds of articles for Thyroid in the past 24 years and her cumulative volume of exceptional reviews is unsurpassed. She continues to be an extremely active editorial board member, providing insightful timely reviews on all aspects of endocrine pathology.
In rounding out a Top 10 Editorial Board Members list for the year, I would like to acknowledge the excellent peer review contributions of the following additional individuals (in alphabetical order): Dr. Guisseppe Barbesino, Dr. Anita Boelen, Dr. Juan P. Brito, Dr. Giorgio Grani, Dr. Won Gu Kim, Dr. Naomi Kiyota, Dr. Don McLeod, Dr. Alvaro Sanabria, and Dr. Lori Wirth. Our Top 10 most outstanding peer reviewers from 2022 include (in alphabetical order): Dr. Henry B. Burch, Dr. Kenneth Burman, Dr. David Cooper, Dr. Whitney Goldner, Dr. Jacqueline Jonklaas, Dr. Angela Leung, Dr. Naykky Singh Ospina, Dr. Eyal Robenshtok, Dr. Peter Sadow, and Dr. Jonathan Wadsley.
Dr. Trevor Angell deserves honorable special mention for contributions to Thyroid as he is our social media editor but also one of our most hard working brilliant reviewers. It is far too difficult to select a single outstanding associate editor, as the entire team of leaders in thyroidology is phenomenal. I would, however, like to extend special thanks to several senior associate editors, including Drs. Sheue-yann Cheng, Leonidas Duntas, and Doug Ross, who have been especially helpful to me as a new editor, in sharing their expert advice, assisting with covering of associate editor absences (especially before our new associate editors began their term), and advising on strategies for improving our journal and its associated processes.
I also express my gratitude to Ms. Claudia Crail-Muñoz and Ms. Sharleene Cano in our editorial office, Ms. Sarah Andrus and Ms. Sophie Reisz as well as other staff at Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Ms. Amanda Montes de Oca at Westchester Publishing Services, and Ms. Amanda Perl (executive director, ATA) as well as other ATA leaders and staff.
In closing, I wish our entire Thyroid family, including readers, authors, editorial members, reviewers, and staff a happy, healthy, and scientifically prosperous new ATA Centennial year!