PNA was founded in 1992 by a group of acromegalic patients in order to communicate and share their experiences and concerns. PNA has rapidly grown to become the world's largest and fastest growing patient advocacy organization devoted to the treatment and cure of pituitary disorders.

PNA is supported by an international network of the world's finest physicians and surgeons. Our goal is to reach every patient who may be forgotten, abandoned, or worse yet, undiagnosed after many years of suffering. We are doing this in three ways: (1) By providing public awareness programs and educational seminars, (2) By assisting the medical community in developing uniform standards for early diagnosis, surgery, radiation, pharmacological treatment and follow-up, and (3) by having interactive Web sites and referral program on these Web sites.

Achievements

Entities of the United States Government, such as the National Institutes of Health, as well as the private National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD), the Endocrine Society, medical centers, hospitals, and private physicians now refer patients to PNA for membership, information, and peer-counseling.

In the brief time since its inception, PNA has served more than 630,000 pituitary tumor patients, and lectured to /communicated with, more than 35,000 doctors, nurses, and other professionals on three continents.

The PNA has had some of the world's leading scientists, endocrinologists, and neurosurgeons write information booklets and brochures, in layman's language. These materials were produced by the U.S. National Health Service and are not copyrighted. Therefore, they are available to every nation's health services and private organizations for translation and dissemination worldwide. The first four, on acromegaly, Cushing's, prolactinomas, and pediatric tumors, were produced in 1994.

The PNA distributes timely and pertinent information regarding new testing procedures, medications and treatment to thousands of members and interested individuals, via it's newsletter, NETWORK, now read in nearly 100 countries by physicians and patients alike.

The PNA, and the subject of acromegaly, were featured in a half-hour segment on Lifetime Television's Physician's Journal Update. A one hour video titled The Experts Discuss Pituitary Tumors ™ was released in 1997. We helped develop/create "Pituitary Hormone Imbalances" a 30 minute video in 2000. Our web site www.pituitary.org and nearly 20 other domain names brings us the largest worldwide audience for the free, world-class information we provide. (Our members/supporters, of course, get some more services), but every patient who has access to a computer through their work, place of worship, public library or at home or through neighbors, receive help, advice, referral services with phone numbers and e-mail and can communicate worldwide with other patients or even specialists/doctors. We live by the motto; "Patients First".

In 2001 we published the 3rd edition of the Pituitary Patient Resource Guide™, the only comprehensive reference guide for patients, their physicians, and their families. More publications are being developed every year and we target new audiences for new issues at every opportunity.

The Goal

The PNA believes there is strength in numbers. Since it is known that nearly a quarter of the world's adult population develops pituitary tumors in their lifetimes (22.4% actually), the need for joint cooperation and education is vital even though only a small fraction of patients are diagnosed with "clinically significant" tumors.

The aim of PNA is to work in a close and cooperative way with the research, medical, governmental, and patient population for the common good.

As patients, we hope to cooperate in research and experiments to better our own, and, thereby, others' lots in life.

We do not believe one must play only the cards one is initially dealt; we believe it is possible to discard the bad ones and draw anew.

Our Mission:

To support, pursue, encourage, promote and where possible, fund research on Pituitary Disorders in a sustained and full time effort to find a cure for these illnesses.  The PNA will disseminate information helpful to the Medical Community, the public and to pituitary patients and their families on matters regarding early detection, symptoms, treatments and resources available to patients with pituitary disease.
Note: The PNA does not receive Federal or State Funding for any of its work, projects or studies.