The Southern Medical Association recognizes that osteoporosis and low bone mass are a major public health threat for almost 44 million US women and men aged 50 and older. In the US today, over 10 million people are estimated to already have osteoporosis, with 80% being women. The statistics are staggering. By the year 2020, it is estimated that half of all Americans over age 50 will be at risk for low bone mass, or have osteoporosis. It is a fact that osteoporosis is not part of normal aging, and can be largely prevented with lifestyle considerations and treatment. For 11 years, SMA has provided quality, evidence-based education on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this under-diagnosed and under-treated disease, and has again joined forces with the International Society for Clinical Densitometry to present the 12th Annual Conference on Osteoporosis.