ADA Leaders Mark Atkinson, Jennifer Green Resign as 5 Members' Expulsion Sparks 5,900-Signature Revolt
Updated
Updated · STAT · Jun 9
ADA Leaders Mark Atkinson, Jennifer Green Resign as 5 Members' Expulsion Sparks 5,900-Signature Revolt
1 articles · Updated · STAT · Jun 9
Summary
Mark Atkinson and President-Elect Jennifer Green resigned a day after members condemned the American Diabetes Association for ejecting five diabetes experts from its New Orleans meeting.
Five researchers were escorted out by security for handing out an editorial criticizing federal biomedical-research cuts; the NIH said Monday it was not involved, and Bhattacharya had already canceled his keynote.
45 former ADA presidents and board chairs sent the board a protest letter saying the crackdown threatened the future of Scientific Sessions, the journals and the organization itself.
ADA defended the expulsions by citing 501(c)(3) nonpartisanship rules, but critics said the editorial explicitly reflected the authors' personal views, not the association's position.
5,900 people have signed an open letter demanding accountability, while one author said the once-obscure editorial jumped from about 300 page views to a top-50 most-viewed paper worldwide.
When a health organization expels its own experts, who is left to speak for science?
Can a nonprofit's rules on neutrality justify silencing debate on vital research funding?
Crisis at the American Diabetes Association: Leadership Turmoil, Community Backlash, and the Fight for Scientific Integrity in 2026
Overview
In June 2026, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) faced intense internal disruption and public pressure after a major controversy. Strong demands for accountability and leadership changes emerged, with prominent figures like Jeffrey Flier insisting on either an official apology or a complete leadership overhaul. The ADA responded by canceling key internal meetings, signaling organizational instability as resources shifted to crisis management. Widespread condemnation from the scientific and medical communities highlighted the urgency for decisive action to restore trust and integrity. As the broader community awaited a clear response, the ADA grappled with the internal and external fallout of the ongoing crisis.