The gulf association of endocrinology and diabetes is born: History in the making

The Board of Directors in its first quarterly communication on the “State of the Association” would like to announce the birth of the new Gulf Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes (GAED). The Board would like to give you a brief summary of some recent developments that happened in the second half of 2020 leading to this event.

It is well known that in 2012, the Gulf Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE) was established with great efforts from many physicians of the field in the Gulf region. The vision and pioneering work by Dr. Wiam Hussein from Bahrain cannot be overlooked. He did a great deal of work in adaptation of a regional version of the bylaws and gathering the required number of AACE members in the region toward the foundation meeting and also during his term as a secretary for the first couple of years of the life of the chapter. The Chapter has undoubtedly benefited from adopting the AACE bylaws regionally. The Chapter was a unique body in its governing structure, democratic principles, financial transparency, and its rapid turnover of leadership with fully elected board and officers.

The objectives of the Chapter were to encourage a standard of patients' care among physicians of the same specialty, enrich physicians with ongoing medical developments, improve public knowledge about diseases of the endocrine system and diabetes pertinent to the region's believes and traditions, and help to collaborate between different regional and local medical societies. To this point, the Chapter was conducted an annual congress that was acknowledged as the “endocrine event of the year in the region” between 2013 and 2020. The congress attracted many regional and world-class experts to share their expertise with its ever increasing audience. The congresses also created a venue not only for good-quality research to be presented and rewarded but also for senior endocrinologists to be recognized for their pioneering contributions to clinical practice, education, and research. In addition, the Chapter also held several periodic specialized seminars and courses across the Gulf States focusing on specific aspects of endocrine practice such as bone densitometry, thyroid ultrasound, lipids, obesity, and technology in diabetes care. In addition, the chapter introduced the Endocrine Board Review Course incepted by Dr. Ahmed Hassoun. And last but not the least, the Chapter created its own journal with the view of providing a platform for the publication of good-quality scientific research related to endocrinology and diabetes from the region and further afield. We recognize efforts of the founding Editor-in Chief (Dr. Ali Alzahrani) and founding editorial board (2017–2020). We welcome Dr. Salem Beshyah the new Editor-in-Chief for the new term 2021–2024 and we wish him all the best.

In 2020, unilaterally, the AACE decided to dissolve all domestic and international chapters including own Gulf Chapter. The Chapter Board met urgently and after many discussions with founding and active members, the board members, it was decided to establish GAED to represent the field's physicians and to continue the groups' work in delivering its professional and educational mission to serve endocrinologists in the Gulf States and the Middle East. We are pleased to confirm the official registration of GAED in Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was registered as a totally independent non-for-profit organization with no link whatsoever with any other organizations anywhere in the world. A new logo was adopted [[Figure 1]]. We also would like to introduce Amber Exhibition Organizers as our logistics manager and communications' representatives, which is replacing the previous company, DiaEdu Management Consultants, which ceased to represents us. We would like to express our gratitude to their work over the years between 2013 and 2020.

Figure 1: The newly adopted logo and the new organization colors

GAED is committed to its objectives and will strive to maintain a high-quality medical information to physicians of the region, encourage medical research and pledge to improve awareness in the field of endocrinology and diabetes. GAED will adhere, in letter and spirit, to its bylaws including electing the officers and board members of the association and the Board members and the number of years they serve as such serving the association. GAED is open to ideas and suggestions that could help its progress to a well-known scientific organization in the region. We also extend our hands to potential collaborations with other organizations (national, regional, and international) of similar and/or related objectives.

GAED would like to acknowledge the collaborations and support its predecessor organization (AACE Gulf Chapter) had from local societies, advisory board members, founding directors and officers, and all diabetes and endocrine physicians in the Gulf region. GAED is starting with a good financial position, yet we will continue with our prudent and transparent fiscal policies and practices to maintain this position. GAED membership will be free of charge for the year 2021. The foundation board members are shown in [[Table 1]].

Table 1: The Board of Directors of the Gulf Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes (2020-2021)

We look forward to support from the region's medical community with interest in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.

Authors contribution

Equal.

Compliance with ethical priciples

Ethical approval is not required.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Publication History

Received: 24 March 2021

Accepted: 25 March 2021

Article published online:
06 July 2022

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