NOF is seeking candidates to serve as the North American Editor-in-Chief ofOsteoporosis International for a 5-year term beginning in late 2015. Osteoporosis International is an international multi-disciplinary journal and a joint initiative of NOF and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

The journal provides a forum for the communication and exchange of current ideas concerning the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. The North American Editor-in-Chief of Osteoporosis International will also oversee the journal Archives in Osteoporosis in collaboration with IOF.

The Editor-in-Chief works closely with the journal’s publisher, Springer, and receives an annual stipend from NOF. Responsibilities of the North American Editor-in-Chief include managing the peer review and content development process for Osteoporosis International as well as:

• Selecting and supervising Editors and Editorial Review Board members;
• Identifying emerging areas of importance and soliciting papers for submission to the journal;
• Providing direction for the journal and its content;
• Directing the review process to ensure timely and efficient handling of manuscripts;
• Participating in meetings with the Publications Committee and NOF; and
• Participating in meetings with the publisher and European Editor-in-Chief.

NOF is seeking candidates who are highly distinguished members of the bone research community through clinical practice, research excellence, professional society involvement or other relevant activities and have a strategic vision and commitment to maintaining and enhancing the journal’s reputation as one of the nation’s leading bone health publications. Candidates should also have outstanding organizational and managerial skills, past experience and significant familiarity with academic editing as evidenced by prior editorial board service for a journal or editing of other scholarly volumes and be prepared to serve as Editor for five years, subject to potential reappointment after the initial term.

To apply, interested individuals should prepare a letter of application addressing the Selection Criteria to submit via e-mail. The application must include the following:

• Letter of Application that describes your qualifications for the role of Editor-in-Chief of Osteoporosis International.
• Vision Statement that provides a clear description of your vision for Osteoporosis International under your leadership.
• Vita or Resume that accurately portrays your experience and publication history, indicates your current affiliations and lists your current contact information.
• Evidence of strong institutional support, which may be a letter of support or other documentation from your academic institutional leadership, if applicable.

Applications are due by July 15, 2015. Email applications to: Susan.Randall@NOF.org. For additional details on the position and application process, please download the full Call for Applications.

Meeting to Feature the Latest, Clinically-Relevant Information on the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis and Explore Ways to Reduce the Two Million Bone Breaks Caused by Osteoporosis Every Year

The National Osteoporosis Foundation’s (NOF) annual meeting, the Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis 2015 (ISO15), taking place in Washington, DC from May 19-22, has attracted the world’s leading bone health experts to present the latest clinically-relevant and evidence-based information on the prevention, diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis. The meeting will also include a training and certificate program for the fracture liaison service (FLS) model of care, a coordinated preventive care model that operates under the supervision of a bone health specialist and seeks to prevent secondary fractures.

Osteoporosis is responsible for approximately two million broken bones every year, yet less than 25 percent of older women who suffer from a fracture are tested or treated for osteoporosis. Recognized as the solution to closing the nearly 75 percent osteoporosis care gap in existence today, the FLS model of care has been proven to improve patient outcomes and significantly reduce the incidence of secondary fractures.

“With 54 million U.S. adults, representing one-half of the total U.S. adult population, affected by osteoporosis and low bone mass, the need for effective programs to prevent broken bones is critical,” said Amy Porter, Executive Director and CEO of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. “Our comprehensive Fracture Prevention Curriculum offered throughout ISO15 will train healthcare professionals to implement an FLS model of care, which with widespread implementation, we know can spare millions of Americans from the pain and suffering of broken bones.”

Additional ISO15 highlights include:

• Keynote speaker: Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, FACP, Chief Scientific Officer, National Quality Forum;
• Raisz Memorial Lecture: Robert Recker, MD, MACP, FACP, Alegent Creighton Clinical Endocrinology;
• The Color of Osteoporosis: Exploring how cultural background influences a person’s approach to health and wellbeing;
• Controversies in osteoporosis care and challenges to medication therapy; and
• The impact of healthcare reform and quality reporting with details on how individual practitioners can meet the new requirements and improve their clinical outcomes.

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About the National Osteoporosis Foundation 

Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation is the nation’s leading bone health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, promoting strong bones for life and reducing human suffering through programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research. For more information on the National Osteoporosis Foundation, visit www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org.

NOF has been resurveyed by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and awarded Accreditation with Commendation as a provider of continuing medical education for physicians and is a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

NOF Offers Free Resources and a Bone Basics Webinar to Raise Awareness about Osteoporosis and Fractures

NOF is kicking off National Osteoporosis Month today and issuing a call to action to Break Free from Osteoporosis. As part of the awareness and educational initiative, NOF is offering free resources and a webinar to help raise awareness and encourage people to get to know their risk factors for osteoporosis and make the lifestyle changes needed to protect against broken bones.

An estimated 54 million U.S adults are at risk for osteoporosis and low bone mass. That means more than one-half of the U.S. adult population over age 50 is at risk of breaking a bone and should be concerned about bone health. For women, the incidence of osteoporosis is greater than that of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.

“We know osteoporosis causes two million broken bones every year in the U.S., yet the majority of patients get their fracture fixed without ever being tested or treated for osteoporosis,” said Amy Porter, executive director and CEO, National Osteoporosis Foundation. “That’s why we’re continuing the Break Free from Osteoporosis initiative to make the connection between broken bones and osteoporosis with the goal of preventing repeat fractures and improving the overall bone health of Americans.”

In honor of National Osteoporosis Month, NOF is offering a free webinar to help people better understand their bone biology and the importance of bone density testing. Throughout the month of May, healthcare professionals and the public alike can register for the webinar, Bone Basics – What’s New in Bone Biology and Skeletal Assessment, for free. The webinar aims to help participants grasp the basic biology and physiology of bone cells and the skeleton and understand the importance of using appropriate diagnostic tools, like DXA, to assess bone density and fracture risk.

This month and throughout the year, NOF is also offering free downloadable resources, like our 2015 campaign poster, on the five steps you can take to Break Free from Osteoporosis and encouraging everyone to take action and protect against broken bones.

5 Steps to Break Free from Osteoporosis

1. Get to know your risk factors: Many factors play a role in your risk for osteoporosis, including age, gender, lifestyle, medical history, family history and whether you take any medication or have medical conditions that can lead to bone loss.
2. Get active: Doing regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise is one of the best ways to protect against osteoporosis and broken bones.
3. Eat Your Way to Healthy Bones: Calcium, vitamin D, lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats are the key to eating for healthy bones.
4. Ask your healthcare provider when you should get a bone density test: The painless, 10-minute test will help predict your risk of breaking a bone.
5. Don’t smoke and don’t drink too much alcohol: No more than two drinks a day is best for bone health.

To learn more about the Break Free from Osteoporosis campaign and how to build and maintain strong bones for life, please visit www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org.

Dr. Burstin to Kickoff NOF’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 20 in Washington, DC

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announced Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, FACP, Chief Scientific Officer of The National Quality Forum, as the keynote speaker for the 2015 Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15). Dr. Burstin will deliver the keynote address, “Opportunities for Performance Improvement in Osteoporosis and Post-Fracture Patient Management,” to open NOF’s annual meeting on Wednesday, May 20 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

ISO15 is the premier clinical conference for healthcare professionals who treat patients with and at-risk for osteoporosis and fractures. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 attendees interested in learning how to better care for patients with osteoporosis and fractures and to protect those at-risk of breaking bones due to osteoporosis.

“We are thrilled to confirm Dr. Burstin as the keynote speaker for ISO15,” said Deborah T. Gold, PhD, Duke University Medical Center, and Co-Chair, ISO15 Planning Committee. “As an expert in quality measurement and performance improvement, we’re looking forward to hearing her insights on our efforts to improve post-fracture patient care.”

“With 54 million Americans over age 50 at-risk for osteoporosis and broken bones, the need for effective post-fracture prevention and care coordination programs in the U.S. is clear,” said Mary Oates, MD, Marian Regional Medical Center and Co-Chair, ISO Planning Committee. “With Dr. Burstin’s keynote and ISO15’s focus on improving post-fracture care, we’re aiming to ensure all patients over 50 who suffer a fracture are tested for osteoporosis and receive treatment, if needed.”

Osteoporosis is responsible for approximately two million fractures every year, yet less than 25 percent of older women who suffer a fracture are tested or treated for osteoporosis. The solution to changing the nearly 75 percent care gap in existence today is the widespread implementation of fracture liaison service (FLS) programs. Over the past 15 years of operation in the U.S. and internationally, the FLS model of care has been proven to improve patient outcomes and significantly reduce the incidence of secondary fractures.

“We can’t improve what we don’t measure and quality measurement and improvement in osteoporosis can make a real difference,” said Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, FACP, Chief Scientific Officer of The National Quality Forum. “I look forward to hearing from the experts at NOF to improve care for at-risk Americans.”

Dr. Burstin is a seasoned veteran in healthcare improvement. As the Chief Scientific Officer for The National Quality Forum, a not-for-profit membership organization that works to catalyze healthcare improvement through quality measurement and reporting, Dr. Burstin is responsible for advancing the science of quality measurement and improvement. She provides scientific oversight for the evaluation, endorsement and selection of quality measures and the transition to electronic performance measurement. Prior to joining NQF in 2007, she was the Director of the Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), where she oversaw the development of an extensive research portfolio at the intersection of health information technology and quality of care.

In addition to Dr. Burstin’s keynote address, ISO15 will feature in-depth educational sessions on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, led by world renowned experts. ISO15 encompasses all medical disciplines and specialties involved in treating patients with and at-risk for osteoporosis and fractures and will include a full-day pre-conference workshop and Certificate of Completion in the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) Model of Care. ISO15 will also update attendees on the impact of healthcare reform and quality reporting on individual practitioners to help improve clinical patient outcomes. The information shared at ISO15 will provide clinicians with the most up-to-date, clinically relevant and evidence-based information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

“By providing healthcare professionals with the latest information on implementing the FLS model of care to better treat their patients with and at-risk for osteoporosis, we have the opportunity to spare millions of Americans from the pain and suffering of osteoporosis and the broken bones it causes,” said Amy Porter, executive director and CEO of NOF.

For additional details on ISO15, please visit www.nof-iso.org.

Dr. Robert Recker to Kickoff NOF’s Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15)

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) announced Dr. Robert Recker, Immediate Past President and long-term NOF Board of Trustees member as the recipient of its 2015 Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award. Dr. Recker will present at the opening session of NOF’s Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15), the premier clinical conference for healthcare professionals who treat patients with and at risk for osteoporosis and fractures. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 attendees interested in learning how to better care for patients with osteoporosis and how to protect those at risk from breaking bones.

The Raisz Lecture is NOF’s highest scientific award and recognizes Dr. Recker for the significant contributions he has made to the bone health field and to NOF. As an internationally recognized expert in the field of metabolic bone disease and clinical care with a 40-year career as a physician-scientist spanning laboratory and clinical research, teaching, patient care and professional leadership, Dr. Recker is a natural fit for the award.

“We are thrilled to announce Dr. Recker as the 2015 recipient of the Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award. With osteoporosis currently causing an estimated two million broken bones every year, we’re looking forward to hearing Dr. Recker’s clinical insights on how to better treat and prevent this disease,” said Amy Porter, executive director and CEO, National Osteoporosis Foundation. “As a long time champion for bone health and one of the nation’s top osteoporosis clinicians, Dr. Recker’s lecture will help accomplish our goal that all ISO attendees gain new information and insights they can apply in clinical practice to better treat and diagnose their patients.”

Named in honor of the late Lawrence G. Raisz, MD, the Lawrence G. Raisz, MD Memorial Lecture Award recognizes a clinical scientist who is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and has made a significant contribution to the osteoporosis and bone metabolism field of study. As a longtime member of NOF’s Board of Trustees and the organization’s Vice President, Dr. Raisz’ service to NOF was extensive and invaluable.

He served as Chair of NOF’s first Scientific Advisory Board and subsequently was appointed to the Board of Trustees. While serving as NOF Vice President, Dr. Raisz chaired the Science and Research Committee and worked hard to raise awareness of osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases among physicians and the public. His unwavering dedication to scientific excellence and patient care helped shape NOF’s mission and outreach and education programs. Dr. Raisz also invested in the next generation of physician-scientists, helping ensure the continued growth and success of the osteoporosis and bone metabolism field.

As seen by his long-standing commitment to advancing osteoporosis care and treatment, Dr. Recker follows the example set by Dr. Raisz and stood out as the leading choice to receive NOF’s prestigious award. Dr. Recker serves as director of Creighton University’s world-renowned Osteoporosis Research Center and chief of endocrinology. He holds the ranks of Master, American College of Physicians and Fellow, American College of Endocrinology. Dr. Recker is a past governor of the Nebraska Chapter of the American College of Physicians, past president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and immediate past president of NOF. Dr. Recker continues to serve as a member of NOF’s Board of Trustees and chairs its Research Grants Subcommittee. He is also an Associate Editor of BONE, serves on the editorial boards of several medical journals and is a journal referee for the leading medical and research publications in the field.

In addition to Dr. Recker’s opening session, ISO15 will feature in-depth educational sessions on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis led by world renowned experts. ISO15 encompasses all medical disciplines and specialties involved in treating patients with and at risk for osteoporosis and fractures and will include a full-day pre-conference workshop and Certificate of Completion in the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) Model of Care. ISO15 will also update attendees on the impact of healthcare reform and quality reporting on individual practitioners to help improve clinical patient outcomes. The information shared at ISO15 will provide clinicians with the most up-to-date, clinically relevant and evidence-based information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

For additional details on ISO15, please visit www.nof-iso.org.