Together, these scientists, educators, clinicians, practicing MDs, nurses and students who make up the organization's membership represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The human body has 11 major endocrine glands, including the thyroid, pancreas, stomach, adrenal, pituitary and thymus. The endocrine glands and tissues secrete hormones, the substances that regulate the body's reproduction, growth and development, its response to the environment, and the provision of the energy and nutrients needed for cell function. Society members are engaged in research on the fundamental physiology and clinical aspects of endocrine glands and disorders. Endocrinologists conduct research and provide treatment for a wide range of functions and disorders of the human body, including infertility, metabolism, glandular cancers, birth control, dwarfism, genetic dysfunction, diabetes, heart disease, and hormonal imbalances.
Endocrinologists also develop new drugs and treatments through biogenetic and synthetic techniques.
The Endocrine Society works to foster a greater understanding of endocrinology amongst the general public and practitioners of complementary medical disciplines and to promote the interests of all endocrinologists at the national scientific research and health policy levels of government. The meetings and courses for continuing medical education offered through the Society help to keep the scientific and medical communities current with the latest research findings and treatments in the field. More than 6,000 endocrinologists attend the Society's Annual Meeting at which over 2,300 scientific and clinical papers are presented. The Clinical Endocrinology Update provides the practicing endocrinologists with a review of the diagnosis and management of all major components of contemporary endocrinology. The Society also offers a yearly Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Research course, and a Recent Progress in Hormone Research conference.