Kathryn Ackerman

Kicking off the #IOCATPC2025 in Senegal! So exciting to have so many African doctors from across the continent all in one place.

So pleased to be at the announcement of a new resource for female athletes. Thanks to the wonderful ⁦@DrKateAckerman⁩, Clara Wu ⁦@WuTsaiAlliance⁩ and Jane&David Ott for their foresight and generosity

@LouiseMBurke @KevinH_PhD Kevin, ignore our friend, Louise! She’ll be in my kitchen in a few hours and I’ll set her straight. 😜 Come to Boston! We need you HERE! 🙏

@KevinH_PhD I’m devastated for you. I’m devastated for the NIH. I’m jealous of your next workplace. Could we tempt you to Australia?

After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health. My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology. Lately, I’ve focused on unravelling the reasons why diets high in ultra-processed food are linked to epidemic proportions of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Our research leads the world on this topic. Given recent bipartisan goals to prevent diet-related chronic diseases, and new agency leadership professing to prioritize scientific investigation of ultra-processed foods, I had hoped to expand our research program with ambitious plans to more rapidly and efficiently determine how our food is likely making Americans chronically sick. Unfortunately, recent events have made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science. Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction. I was hoping this was an aberration. So, weeks ago I wrote to my agency’s leadership expressing my concerns and requested time to discuss these issues, but I never received a response. Without any reassurance there wouldn’t be continued censorship or meddling in our research, I felt compelled to accept early retirement to preserve health insurance for my family. (Resigning later in protest of any future meddling or censorship would result in losing that benefit.) Due to very tight deadlines to make this decision, I don’t yet have plans for my future career. The NIH has been a wonderful place because it allows scientists to take risks, form unique collaborations, and do studies difficult to conduct elsewhere. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m fortunate to have had such wonderful colleagues and scientific collaborators. I hope to someday return to government service and lead a research program that will continue to provide gold-standard science to make Americans healthy.

I stand with you Dr. Hall! Thank you for all the work you do! nytimes.com/2025/04/16/wel… via @NYTimes

I love to see progress around the globe!! Congrats, Loughborough! Excited to collaborate more to advance sports science for women! 💪🙌👏@WuTsaiAlliance @FemaleAthConf lboro.ac.uk/news-events/ne…

Only 20 tickets left 4 #2025FAC!We’ve never sold out during early bird before.It ends 2nite.THANK U 4 caring about advancing women’s sports med/science & int’l collaboration! Gathering, learning & cooperating r the only ways forward! 💪❤️🙌 femaleathleteconference.com

usopc.org/news/2025/marc… Glad this has finally come together! See u @FemaleAthConf !

@Dora_Sportmed Thank you, @Dora_Sportmed! It’s a labor of love from a great team who want to expand the network and make sure we’re doing right by our female athletes! Thanks for being a wonderful part of our community!

#FemaleAthleteHealth enthusiasts, clinicians & coaches! #nottobemissed One of the best conferences I have ever been the last 25 years 😁 There is virtual option as well ! With @DrKateAckerman as a director and a fantastic team this can only be a career boost!

If you know, you know. Let’s go! 🙌🏻

New research from @KristinWhitney @afdlempke @TStellingwerff @DrKateAckerman & co in @BJSM_BMJ has found that Low Energy Availability can impair running performance & increase risk of injury & race-day medical issues. Important messages for both clinicians & athletes 🔗 bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/…

Another great @iocmedia #ATPC2024! Thanks for letting us spread the word on recognizing and treating #REDs

@francescaconte_ @margomountjoy @iocmedia Glad it was helpful. Always grateful to be part of the IOC ATPC #ATPC2024!

Fantastic session about #REDSsyndrome at #IOCATPC2024 in Rome with @margomountjoy and @DrKateAckerman! 😍 #sportmedicine #sportdoctor @iocmedia #ATPC2024

@mackinprof Every day I receive at least one email requesting I peer review a paper. I am also asked to pay full price for paper publication- big discounts on open access publishing of our own papers would lessen the sting. But as a Deputy Journal Editor, I feel your pain.

34, count 'em, 34 reviewer requests. Two had accepted and then declined due to some legitimate reasons, I must admit, but 37... people are mad, overworked, and don't value peer review anymore (all of the above). This is for a good journal and—IMO—a good paper!

Or #ATPC2024 😊

Getting started in Rome at the #IOCATPC2024 with @JaneSThornton, our new IOC Medical and Scientific Director! Thank you @RoaldBahr, @larsengebretsen, and Richard Budgett for all your leadership and including us in this great event! Jane busting out her Italian! 👏Bravo! 😊

Thank you, @GSUN_Network, @uoregon, @WuTsaiAlliance for a great few days in Oregon to discuss how we can advance sports science research and advocacy for diverse populations here and abroad. The ideas, company, food & drink, and laughs were top notch! #vineyardpigs #vineyardshoes

@DrKateAckerman is in #Paris as team physician for U.S. Rowing at the #Olympics! She's also leading our Female Athlete Program at @BostonChildrens. Discover how we're pushing the boundaries of female athlete health & performance research: buff.ly/3LMVPF8

@EllenCaseyMD @LaTourEiffel @MonicaRhoMD @AAPMR @AAPhysiatrists @TheAMSSM @HSpecialSurgery @HSSPhysiatry @AbilityLab Congratulations, ladies! Well deserved!

Petit déjeuner @LaTourEiffel to celebrate being team physicians at the #Paris2024Olympics & recent promotion to Professors of #Physiatry. We’re so grateful to our mentors & for this opportunity. Being here together is icing on the cake. If our PGY2 selves could see us now❤️🤍💙

Arrivederci, Italy! Grazie! #Parisbound🇫🇷🇺🇸

Our new #editorial discussing the integration of updated terminology describing abnormal uterine bleeding in female athletes into sports medicine was published today in @BJSM_BMJ . Check it out here: tinyurl.com/5x3rv3kv