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In Focus Detail

Awareness...

From the ASTDA President

Awareness

On this first day of this National STD Awareness Month, I was asked to schedule a talk in June to discuss the 2015 CDC STD Treatment Guidelines. This is now one of a half dozen presentations on the topic I have agreed to do in the next 6 months or so. Never mind that the Guidelines have not been officially published yet!* However, word on the street is that their publication is imminent and it would be nice if this STD Awareness Month would be graced by CDC’s release of what is generally considered to be one of the most important periodic publications in our field.

Once released, the new Guidelines will herald a very busy time for ASTDA members as they will be asked to parse an increasingly hefty document into bullet points and Power Points for the many presentations they will give to inform STD clinicians in their area about the most important recommendations and changes.  Let me already recognize the incredibly important assistance in support of these efforts that will be given by our colleagues in the Regional STD Prevention Training Centers, many of them ASTDA members.  

Indeed, my own awareness this month centers on the fact that the strength of our Association is in our membership. Unlike other organizations, we do not have a paid staff or executive office. We do support the Journal’s Editorial Office, but the Association’s administrative duties are handled under a small contract by the American Sexual Health Organization (ASHA) – thanks, Lynn Barclay!

Thus, we solely rely on the voluntary efforts of our members to serve on ASTDA committees or on the STD Journal’s Editorial Board. This is a big commitment and my continued gratefulness goes out to all who serve. As president, I feel obliged to reciprocate in any way I can to support our members.  In the next few months, I plan to reach out for the continued support of current members; for the renewed support of former members, and I will also reach out to colleagues who I think should join the Association. I hope that this activity will give me the opportunity to have a dialogue on what ASTDA members expect from the Association and to solicit suggestions on how to grow the organization both in terms of membership as well as in terms of the things we do.

Enjoy the Spring!

Best Regards,

Kees Rietmeijer, MD, PhD

President, 

American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association

*A draft of the STD Guidelines has been available for public comment since August, 2014 and is available at this link.


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