Project
Thyroid Nodules: Forging a Clear Path to Diagnosis

Client
Veracyte
Prelaunch Education

In collaboration with opinion leaders at Johns Hopkins, NIH, and the University of Colorado, as well as our clients at Veracyte, Medical Minds developed prelaunch symposia materials to educate endocrinologists on the clinical situation, current testing options, and potential contribution of molecular cytology as a new and innovative test modality for the assessment of thyroid nodules.

Indeterminate results on thyroid FNA samples are a common and significant problem for physicians and their patients. FNA sample analyses can be challenging to interpret and produce inconclusive results in up to 30% of cases. Current guidelines recommend that most of these patients go to surgery. However, the majority of these cases (approximately 100,000 patients per year in the US) end up being benign.

Objectives

• Educate on the extent of the unmet need and potential contribution of molecular cytology to patient outcomes and cost savings to the healthcare system
  
• Increase awareness of Veracyte and the Afirma clinical program
  

Target Audiences

• Endocrinologists who diagnose and treat thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer
  
• Pathologists who perform current tests
  

Tactical Execution
The Medical Minds team produced a 120-slide library that was used in presentations in symposia at the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). These programs also involved the development of a program concept and invitation, speaker and attendee recruitment, meeting materials, and meeting logistics. We also helped to prepare poster presentations for the ATA, AACE, and the International Thyroid Congress.

Results
Both symposia were oversubscribed in terms of attendees. In addition, poster presentations were very well received.