President update, April 2020

I very much hope that this finds you in good health and that you are managing with the numerous challenging priorities at this time.

As you know, we had to take the very difficult decision to postpone our Annual Meeting in Liverpool from this September into 2021. We appreciate the patience you have shown while we have been busy undertaking the necessary work to postpone a meeting of this size. I’m very pleased to let you know that we’ve been able to secure new dates with the venue and ESPE Liverpool will now be held from 7-9 May 2021. Please note that these dates are Friday to Sunday and not our usual Thursday to Saturday format. Securing dates at congress venues across Europe is extremely challenging as all events are facing the same issues and we feel incredibly lucky to have secured the venue so close to our existing May 2021 Meeting dates.

The Programme Organising Committee and our colleagues at Bioscientifica are working hard to transfer the programme and other arrangements and we very much look forward to meeting, learning and sharing with you in May next year. Please keep an eye on our website, social media channels and emails for all the latest information, including details regarding registration and abstract submission. The ESPE Meeting due to take place in Copenhagen next year will now be moved to a future year. Further details will be announced in due course. Our thanks go to Anders Juul and Katharina Main for their support and understanding.

Meanwhile, we have of course had to consider our many other activities taking place over the course of this year. After careful deliberation and discussion with our activity convenors, we have decided not to host any events in 2020, including our popular schools. While this is extremely disappointing, we do not wish to risk the health and safety of our colleagues by asking any of you to travel or gather in large groups prematurely. We also know that your workload will be high and your time stretched over the coming months. Our Summer School and Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism (DOM) School will take place in May 2021 alongside the postponed Liverpool Meeting and the plans for other schools and events still under discussion, we will share updates with you as soon as possible. All applications will be carried over to next year and we very much hope candidates will be able to make the new dates as we know these are important opportunities.

Despite the extraordinary impact COVID-19 is having across all aspects of our lives, we are delighted to continue to receive excellent grant applications and look forward to funding and supporting high quality projects and fellowships over the course of this year. We will of course ensure that the timescales for project completion are appropriate and feasible in the circumstances.

While we are not able to meet this year, I hope you take comfort in being part of a close global community of paediatric endocrinologists and a strong society that continues to support the field. I would like to remind you of all the information that continues to be available online for you to access:

We very much look forward to reconvening in person next year, but will continue to support our members and the field of paediatric endocrinology in the meantime. Our lines of contact are still open as usual so please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need anything.

My sincere thanks go to all of my colleagues who continue to progress our activities and my very best wishes go to all of you.

Anita
ESPE Secretary General