ADA publications chief resigns amid boycott of the organization

Christian Kohler, the American Diabetes Association’s vice president of publications, has resigned amid a boycott of the organization, MedPage Today reported. Kohler, who had been with the ADA for 22 years, said his decision was tied to the organization’s plan to bring in interim editors at its journal Diabetes Care while most of the journal’s staff is participating in the boycott. His resignation takes effect Nov. 30.

Kohler said he was concerned the arrangement would proceed without an editor in chief who assumes ultimate responsibility, and without a formal process to assess interim editors. The ADA told MedPage Today that the interim editorial board includes experienced health professionals and that it is in conversations with some boycott leaders about a meeting. The New York Times reported that the boycott followed a protest at an ADA conference and has caused a scientific slowdown, with no end in sight.