Graves' Disease Foundation -Speakers

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2009 Patient & Family Conference Speakers

	Terry J. Smith, M.D. Graves’ Disease Foundation, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer & Conference Program Chairman In addition to being a Presenter, Dr. Smith has recruited outstanding speakers for the 2009 Patient Conference. He is world-renowned for his expertise on Graves' disease and travels the world to make presentations. Terry J. Smith, M.D., an endocrinologist who has broken new ground in his research on thyroid eye disease, has joined the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center and Department of Internal Medicine. He holds the Frederick G.L. Huetwell Professorship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UM. Dr. Smith has advanced the understanding of Graves' eye disease, or thyroid eye disease, and specifically the process by which it causes inflammation of tissue surrounding the eye. Patients with this condition may experience severe swelling and bulging eyes, which, in advanced cases, can lead to loss of vision. Dr. Smith plans to evaluate several promising therapeutic agents that he has identified through his research including autoimmune thyroid disease, extracellular matrix, cell signaling, gene expression, ecosanoids, inflammation and cytokine action. Dr. Smith obtained his MD from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. He trained in internal medicine at the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL. He received his research and subspecialty training at the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL. He served as an Assistant Professor at Rockefeller University, Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he was Chief, Section of Endocrinology at the VA Medical Center. He was Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College, and Chief of Molecular Medicine. Prior to his appointment at the University of Michigan, he was Professor of Medicine, with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Milly & Steve Liu Scholar and Chief of Molecular Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
	David S. Cooper, MD Professor Medicine at John Hopkins University David S. Cooper received his B.A. with honors from The Johns Hopkins University and graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Barnes Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine, and completed his Endocrinology Fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Director of the Johns Hopkins Thyroid Clinic, and Professor of International Health at the Bloomberg Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He serves as an Editor-In-Chief for Endocrinology for Up-to-Date, as a Contributing Editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and as the Deputy Editor of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is the Chair of the Subspecialty Board for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Cooper is the past President the American Thyroid Association, and the recipient of the American Thyroid Association’s Distinguished Service Award. He has been the Chair of the American Thyroid Association’s Thyroid Nodule and Thyroid Cancer Guideline task force since 2004. He is the 2009 recipient of the Distinction in Clinical Endocrinology Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
	Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Douglas has a special interest in both the clinical care and research regarding Graves' orbitopathy. Also Orbital surgery, especially minimally invasive surgery, and decompressions for thyroid-associated eye disease and Cosmetic facial surgery including blepharoplasty, eyelid lift, midface lift, fillers for under-eye hollows and Botox injection. Dr. Douglas’ research focus is Graves' eye disease, autoimmune diseases of the orbit, minimally invasive approaches to the orbit. His current research, "Investigation the immune pathogenesis of orbital inflammatory disease," is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Thyroid Association. Dr. Douglas is examining new potential treatments for orbital and eyelid inflammatory diseases. Dr. Douglas is board-certified in Ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is also a member of the American Board of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Thyroid Association, Blepharoplasty Society, Aesthetic Society and American Academy of Ophthalmology. In addition, as a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Douglas is interested in the aesthetic reconstruction of functional orbital, ophthalmic and facial disorders. Dr. Raymond S. Douglas attended college at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Engineering, and completed his medical and post-doctoral degree in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine in Philadelphia.Dr. Douglas completed his residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, Scheie Eye Institute, and his fellowship in Orbital and Facial Plastic Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. His studies have garnered him many honors, including the Medical Scientist Training Program Award, Heed Foundation fellowship, Herman Knapp fellowship, Cooperman Fellowship, Cosmetic Surgery Foundation - Richard C. Webster Paper Contest Winner, and numerous other honors and awards. Dr. Douglas has been published in more than 25 scientific journals on topics including cellular immunology, cancer research, thyroid eye disease, facial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, and has contributed in two textbooks. For more information visit: http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/bios/douglas.html
	Ira Lesser M.D. Chair Dept. of Psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Dr. Ira M. Lesser is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. He is also Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Prior to becoming Chair of Psychiatry, he was the Director of Residency Training in the Department of Psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for 18 years. Dr. Lesser will discuss the emotional and psychological aspects of living with Graves’ thyroid disease for both the patient and caregiver. He will deliver his talk from a very personal perspective of his own involvement with Graves’ disease. He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry and is an examiner for the Board. Dr. Lesser received his BA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He did his psychiatric training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and has been on the faculty at Harbor and UCLA since 1978. Prior to becoming Chair at Harbor-UCLA, he was Program Director in the Department of Psychiatry for 18 years. Dr. Lesser has been an active investigator in the areas of depression and anxiety disorders and has been the Principal Investigator on many Federal, State and Industry grants and contracts. He has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-review articles and chapters in books, mostly in the fields of mood and anxiety disorders and depression in the geriatric age population. He is a member of the American College of Psychiatry, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, reviews manuscripts for major psychiatric journals, and participates in numerous CME and other educational programs.
	Alon Kahana, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, University of Michigan W.K. Kellogg Eye Center at Ann Arbor - Eye Plastic, Orbital and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Service Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Dr. Kahana’s clinical interests are Orbital diseases, including tumors, cancer, and thyroid-related eye disease, as well as small-incision facial cosmetic surgery and complex eyelid reconstructive surgery. Dr. Kahana helps both adults and children with oculofacial disorders. His research focus is on the biology and developmental genetics of neural crest-derived tissues in the orbit and their importance in orbital cancer, craniofacial syndromes, congenital eye disorders and thyroid-related eye disease. Dr. Kahana received his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois and his PhD from the University of Chicago, Illinois. He did his Ophthalmology Residency Oculofacial Plasticand Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, WI. For more information visit: http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/bios/kahana.html
	Nancy H. Patterson, ARNP, Ph.D. Chairman & Founder of the Graves' Disease Foundation Dr. Nancy Patterson founded the Graves’ Disease Foundation in 1990 after she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and wanted to help others who needed education and support. Dr. Patterson has a BA & MA in Psychology, plus a PhD in Counselor Education from University of Florida. She currently is a Hospice Nurse in NC. She is a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She co-authored “Graves’ Disease – in our own words,” and has written journal articles on stress, patient education and support. For more information see History of Graves' Foundation.
	Additional Speakers will be updated soon!