Five days after five members of the American Diabetes Association were ushered out of its annual scientific sessions in New Orleans for handing out an editorial criticizing federal research cuts, ADA chief executive officer Charles Henderson on Wednesday apologized to the people expelled and to the broader diabetes community.
“First and foremost, I want to personally apologize to Dr. Steven Kahn, Dr. Desmond Schatz, Dr. Aaron Kelly, Dr. Maureen Gannon, and Dr. Justin Ryder, who were escorted out and denied access to scientific sessions, regardless of the circumstances that led to those events,” Henderson said in the three-minute video. “I recognize the impact that experience had on each of you. I am deeply sorry for the hurt, frustration, and the pain that resulted.”
The editorial in question, published in one of ADA’s journals and labeled as the views of its authors and not the ADA, expressed concern about diminished funding and changes to the grant-making process at the National Institutes of Health. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya was originally the conference’s keynote speaker before backing out; in his place, NIH senior adviser Richard Woychik was speaking in the hall outside which copies of the editorial were being handed out.
Henderson’s message underscored ADA’s work to maintain NIH support.
“The ADA will continue to advocate for robust NIH funding, support the pursuit of scientific discovery, and advocate for the broader research community whose work advances knowledge, drives innovation, and ultimately improves the lives of people living with diabetes, obesity, and related conditions.”
People at the conference were stunned by the scene that unfolded, when police and security officers marched the five people out of the conference center. As word spread of what happened, many people expressed disbelief and shock. They said they deplored censorship that did not allow for viewpoints critical of Trump administration actions to be expressed, either onstage or in the hallways.
“I actually, literally, when I heard that this happened, I thought it was a joke,” John Buse, a former president of the ADA, told STAT on Monday. “To me, it was inconceivable.”
“It is a great first step,” Buse said Wednesday about the ADA apology. “Follow-through on the steps outlined will be the next step. And explicit clarification of the rights of ADA members and policies of ADA staff will seal the deal.”
Mark Atkinson, who resigned his position as chair of the scientific session committee on Saturday, was also cautious after seeing Henderson’s video. He is the ADA eminent scholar for diabetes research and a professor of pathology at the University of Florida.
“Time will tell if these responses will offset the concerns from ADA members and its constituency,” he told STAT Wednesday. “Perhaps through an unfortunate situation, some long-term good will come from this. It’s a wake-up call for the community, and we need to find better ways to work together as a team to make our voices heard for the interests of those with diabetes.”
Henderson also apologized to the many members whom he said were disturbed, disappointed, and concerned by what occurred. “I have heard your voices, I understand your concerns, and I know that trust, once shaken, must be earned back through actions and not just words,” he said.
The ADA has commissioned a review of the Friday events and the response to it that followed over the weekend, when messages first defended its actions and then cited IRS rules governing 501(c)(3) organizations.
“I believe we must also begin the work of healing,” he said. “What transpired is not reflective of who I am, the values I hold, or the way I was raised. I will work hard to bring our community back together to build on the progress we have collectively made for those affected by diabetes.”
Jay Skyler, an endocrinologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said “I am underwhelmed. Too little, and way too late.”
STAT’s coverage of chronic health issues is supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Our financial supporters are not involved in any decisions about our journalism.