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Christian Kohler, the American Diabetes Association’s vice president of publications, has resigned, effective Nov. 30, amid an ongoing boycott. He said his immediate reason was the ADA’s plan for interim editors at Diabetes Care while most of the journal’s staff participates in the boycott; the ADA defended the experience of its interim editorial board.
The American Diabetes Association’s vice president of publications, Christian Kohler, has resigned, saying the organization’s plan to use interim editors at its flagship journal, Diabetes Care, during an ongoing boycott presents ethical and operational risks. Kohler’s resignation takes effect Nov. 30, according to his letter, reported by MedPage Today on Nov. 10.
Kohler, who had been with the ADA for 22 years, said he was deeply disappointed by the organization’s handling of events at its annual meeting in New Orleans. But he described the journal’s editorial arrangements as the immediate reason for leaving. Most of Diabetes Care’s staff are participating in the boycott, and the ADA has sought to bring in interim editors while it continues.
In his resignation letter, Kohler questioned how interim editors could carry out their work without an editor in chief taking ultimate responsibility for the journal. He also raised concerns about the lack of a formal process to assess whether interim editors are suited to handle the range and complexity of submissions. He argued that the arrangement could put the editors themselves in a difficult position and could further weaken confidence in the publication.
The ADA defended its approach in a statement to MedPage Today, describing its interim editorial board as made up of experienced and respected health professionals. The organization said the group includes endocrinologists, primary care physicians focused on diabetes and diabetes educators. It also said it is seeking a meeting with some boycott leaders and had previously outlined steps to learn from a review of the annual meeting events.
Editorial Strain at Diabetes Care
The resignation puts a senior publications leader’s concerns on the record as the ADA tries to keep its flagship journal operating through a staff boycott. Diabetes Care’s credibility matters to researchers, clinicians and readers who rely on it to assess and communicate diabetes research. Kohler’s criticism is his assessment, not a finding that the interim arrangement has caused specific editorial failures. Still, his departure highlights questions about who will carry editorial responsibility, how submissions will be handled and whether the temporary structure can maintain confidence in the journal.
The dispute also adds to a wider loss of leadership at the organization following its annual meeting. Those departures and the continuing boycott may complicate the ADA’s ability to restore relationships with researchers and volunteers. The practical effects on the journal’s submissions, review timelines and publication schedule have not been reported in the source material.
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Boycott and Leadership Departures
The boycott began in September and, according to Kohler, involves more than 1,200 people. The source report says participants include people who have volunteered for ADA programs over many years. The boycott followed controversy over the ADA’s annual meeting in New Orleans, including the removal of five researchers from the event and disagreement over the organization’s account of what happened.
The ADA’s final report drew criticism over its description of perceived threats to disrupt or protest the meeting. It also said members who were removed had not violated the organization’s code of conduct, reversing an earlier version of the report, according to MedPage Today. Other leaders had left around the release of the report or in the period after the researchers were removed, including Chief Science and Medical Officer Rita Kalyani, board chair James Tai, Scientific Sessions Planning Committee chair Mark Atkinson and president-elect Jennifer Green.
“Highly experienced and respected healthcare professionals”
— American Diabetes Association, in an emailed statement to MedPage Today
Questions About Interim Oversight
The source report does not say who will take over Kohler’s responsibilities after Nov. 30, how long the interim editorial arrangement is expected to last, or whether the ADA has appointed an editor in chief with ultimate responsibility during the boycott. It also does not provide details of the proposed process, if any, for evaluating interim editors’ qualifications.
The ADA’s statement says it is in conversations with some boycott leaders to schedule a meeting, but gives no date or confirmed outcome. The extent of the boycott’s effect on journal operations, including submission handling and publication timelines, remains unclear. Kohler’s concerns are attributed to him; the available account does not establish that the interim editors are unqualified or that the journal’s credibility has already been damaged.
ADA Response and November Departure
Kohler’s departure is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 30. The ADA says it is trying to arrange a meeting with some boycott leaders and has outlined steps to learn from the annual meeting review. Whether those discussions lead to changes in the journal’s editorial arrangements or address the concerns behind the boycott has not been announced.
Further developments to watch include whether the ADA names a successor or clarifies who will hold final editorial responsibility for Diabetes Care, and whether the organization publishes more detail about its process for selecting interim editors. Until then, the journal’s staffing and oversight plans remain unsettled in the reporting available.
Key Questions
Who resigned from the American Diabetes Association?
Christian Kohler, the ADA’s vice president of publications, announced his resignation. He had worked at the organization for 22 years.
When does Kohler’s resignation take effect?
Kohler said his resignation will be effective Nov. 30, 2026.
Why did Kohler say he was leaving?
He said his immediate reason was concern about the ADA’s plan to use interim editors at Diabetes Care while most of the journal’s staff participates in the boycott. He cited questions about oversight, editor suitability and risks to the journal’s reputation.
How has the ADA responded to the criticism?
The ADA told MedPage Today that its interim editorial board includes experienced health professionals, including endocrinologists, primary care physicians focused on diabetes and diabetes educators. It also said it was seeking a meeting with some boycott leaders.
What is still unknown about the journal’s plans?
The report does not identify Kohler’s successor or explain how long the interim editorial arrangement will continue. It also does not specify whether an editor in chief will hold ultimate responsibility while the boycott is underway.
Source: medpagetoday.com
