Presidential Address: Reflections of a Non-Establishmentarian

I believe my ascending to the Presidency of The Endocrine Society is the final step in the general recognition that women have come of age in the authors' Society and now participate with full equality in all its functions.

Abstract

Since I am not a clinician I cannot address myself to the clinical syndrome, ESPAS (The Endocrine Society Presidential Address Syndrome), so eloquently described by my predecessor. Since I am not a comedian I cannot spontaneously or even with considerable forethought deliver clever “one-liners” to titillate you after a pleasant evening of camaraderie. Of course I do not feel the constraint of a previous president who noted that “he must remember that there are ladies present.” I believe my ascending to the Presidency of The Endocrine Society is the final step in the general recognition that women have come of age in our Society and now participate with full equality in all its functions. I think it unfortunate that the Women’s Caucus of the Society has chosen to remain a special interest group rather than changing its name and function so as to serve a developmental role for our entire membership.