Your two new ESE Executive Committee members, Elena Valassi and Gregory Kaltsas, were elected by an online vote earlier this year and they officially take office at the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2024.
Elena Valassi, Spain
Elena Valassi is an Associate Professor of Endocrinology at the International University of Catalonia (UIC), PI of competitive grants focused on pituitary diseases, and Coordinator of the Pituitary and Adrenal Clinic at the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and Research Institute in Barcelona, (Spain). She is responsible for data quality of the European Registry on Cushing’s syndrome (ERCUSYN).
After obtaining her medical degree at the University of Pavia (Italy) and specialisation at the University of Modena (Italy), she earned her PhD in Endocrinology from the University of Milan (Italy) and completed her formation at the Reproductive Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA). Subsequently, she joined the Research Centre for Pituitary Diseases at the Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona (Spain). Her major research interests include long-term physical/psychological consequences of pituitary hormone excess, patient-reported outcomes, medical therapy in Cushing’s syndrome and management of pregnancy in patients with pituitary adenomas.
Elena has authored 82 articles on indexed journals and received national and international awards, including the 2023 “Spanish Society of Endocrinology Adrenal Diseases Award” and the “2022 European Journal of Endocrinology Rising Star Award”. She is a member of the medical advisory board of national and international associations of patients with pituitary diseases.
In her election statement, Elena said:
As a longstanding collaborator in the “European Registry on Cushing Syndrome”, I had first-hand experience of the exceptional ability of European endocrinologists to pursue a shared goal and achieve excellence while overcoming regional differences. I would like to extend fruitful clinical and scientific collaborations across Europe, in a context of inclusivity and equity. To guarantee these values, which are deep-rooted in the European identity, it is important to promote an unbiased recognition of both individual merit and uniqueness that each country can bring to the table. Thus, I also consider important to establish strong relationships with national societies.
As reflected by my personal trajectory, I am firmly convinced that international mobility is paramount to foster individual and professional growth, face the fascinating challenges of modern endocrinology and spread high standards of care for the benefit of our patients.
To achieve these purposes, it is obviously important to further networking between researchers, clinicians, nurses and patients, and support educational opportunities for all these protagonists. I would also like to further promote the intra-European mobility of early-career and senior scientists alike and, as a medical advisor of national and international patient organisations, strengthen the involvement of patients advocates in the ESE initiatives.
Gregory Kaltsas, Greece
Gregory Kaltsas was born in, and lives in Athens. He received his Medical Degree at Aristotelio University, Thessaloniki and his PhD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece. He trained in General Medicine-Endocrinology in London UK and became a Member and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
From 1996-2001 he worked as a Senior Registrar at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and subsequently became a Visiting Senior Lecturer and Reader at Barts and Queen Mary’s University, London. He has developed particular interests in Neuroendocrinology, Pituitary Diseases and Endocrine Oncology and has been an active member of the European Society of Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS), European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA) and International Society of Endocrinology (ISE). In 2005 he became an Assistant Professor in General Medicine-Endocrinology at the NKUA and a Full Professor in 2016.
During his academic career he worked at the Department of Endocrine Oncology, Uppsala, Sweden and did his sabbatical at Churchill Hospital, Oxford and Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital (UHCW) UK and was appointed as a Visiting Professor at UHCW. He is the Head of the EKPA-LAIKO ENETS Center of Excellence in Athens and an active member of European Reference Network (ERN).
In his election statement, Gregory said:
Having represented ESE in ISE, I developed a close relationship with ESE leadership in promoting the interests and vision of ESE internationally. Through my experience of rare pathologies, I organised the 6th ENEA Workshop on parasellar lesions and, through my engagement with ENETS, I have contributed to writing multiple guidelines, developed specific databases, and employed a multidisciplinary approach model needed for Centers of Excellence locally and in ERN.
I believe I can assist the educational programs and develop the collaborative spirit in research, particularly in the field of rare diseases, encouraging younger researchers/clinicians in these exciting fields. The experience I have gathered in relation to administrative roles and editorship positions will help to serve as a member of this collaborative force.
My experience of having seen the administration and operational model can help to integrate with other colleagues and convey the know-how of important and successful initiatives.
Coming from the southeast of Europe, I have seen the need for many regional areas to advance their capacity to parallel the leading European areas, and I believe I can increase ESE visibility among endocrinologists in such areas.
In addition to the two new Executive Committee members, we also welcome new ex-officio representatives:
Walter Vena, Italy – ESE Young Endocrinologists and Scientists (EYES) Committee Co-Chair
Currently Walter Vena works as Endocrinology Research Assistant at Department of Biomedical Sciences of Humanitas University, based in Milan, Italy.
His main fields of clinical and research activities are male hypogonadism, reproductive disorders and sexual dysfunctions as well as bone metabolism disorders in the male population and in the context of cancer-treatment induced bone loss.
Kirsten Davidse , Netherlands – Nurse Committee Chair
Kirsten has been working as a registered nurse at Erasmus University Medical Center from 2014 until 2019. At the general endocrinology ward, she took care of patients admitted for diagnostic endocrine function tests. She got interested in the endocrine pathology, treatment, and guidance of patients with rare endocrine genetic disorders, like Prader Willi Syndrome.
In 2019, Kirsten got her master's degree Advanced Nursing Practice and was the first Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Netherlands who focused entirely on rare endocrine genetic syndromes. That makes Kirsten a real pioneer in endocrine nursing. Together with Dr. Laura de Graaff, Genetic and Developmental endocrinologist at Erasmus University Medical Center she started a multi-disciplinary outpatient clinic for adults with rare genetic syndromes, under the supervision of Professor AJ van der Lely.
To improve transition from paediatric care to adult endocrine care, Kirsten contributed to the launch of the Young Adults Clinic, a specialised transition clinic that was initiated to prevent dropout of patients with rare endocrine disorders during the transition phase.
With her efforts to improve (transition of) care for adults with rare diseases, Kirsten contributes significantly to patient care of Endo-ERN and ERN ITHACA.
Besides her work as a clinical nurse specialist and researcher, Kirsten has been a member of the Dutch Endocrine Society Nurses Working Group since 2018, and Chair of the group since 2021.
We are also pleased to be welcoming Charlotte Höybye, Sweden, as the incoming ECAS (ESE Council of Affiliated Societies) Representative later this year (in November 2024).
Charlotte graduated as MD 1986 from medical school, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Her current position is senior physician and associate professor at the Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden where she has worked for 30 years. Her main clinical and research interest and focus is on patients with hypothalamic-pituitary diseases, in particular adults with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disease.
Charlotte has taught and examined medical students for many years and organised several Swedish and international post-graduate courses in endocrinology. This year she was head of the local organising committee for ECE 2024 held in Stockholm. From 2005 to 2018 she taught and participated in the organisation of the European Society of Endocrinology’s postgraduate courses.
In addition to her clinical, scientific, and educational experiences she was Associate Editor for the journal Growth Hormone and IGF Research from 2006 to 2016 and was Senior Editor for Endocrine Connections from when it was launched 2012 to 2022. Since 2022 she has been Associate Editor for JCEM Case Reports and been a peer reviewer for several journals.
Charlotte has a clinical and scientific interest in Prader-Willi syndrome, and is a member of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, The International Prader-Willi Syndrome organisation since 2014 and Vice President since 2022. She is also a member of the PWS-Clinical Trial Consortium since 2015, the network INfoRMEd-PWS (the International Network for Research, Management & Education on adults with PWS) since 2019 and is the current President of the Swedish Endocrine Society.
In her election statement, Charlotte said:
I am honored to announce my candidacy for the position of ECAS Representative to the Executive Committee, ex-officio, as a dedicated and experienced endocrinologist. With a robust background in endocrinology and many years of service within ESE, I am committed to advancing the interests of our members and the field.
Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence in endocrinology. My clinical expertise, combined with research and education, positions me well to contribute effectively to the Executive Committee.
My key priorities will include: aiming to enhance opportunities for professional growth and collaboration among our members; advocating for increased support and resources to further endocrinological research initiatives; and promoting international collaboration, fostering connections and knowledge exchange within the endocrinology community.
I pledge to be an accessible representative, ensuring that your voices are heard. Open communication channels will be established to address your concerns and ideas effectively.
Our sincere thanks go to our departing Executive Committee members, Djuro Macut (Treasurer and ExCo 2020-2024), Mirjam Christ-Crain (Chair of the Education Committee and ExCo 2020-2024), Sherwin Criseno (Chair of the Nurse Committee and ExCo (ex-officio) 2019-2024) and Antoan Sojat (Co-Chair ESE Young Endocrinologists & Scientists (EYES) Committee and ExCo (ex-officio)). Their commitment to ESE has been unwavering and we look forward to working with them on other ESE initiatives.
Congratulations and a warm welcome to all our new Committee members.
A full list of the ESE Executive Committee can be found here.
29/05/2024