Other GI-Related Organizations
July 31, 1997
Dear Colleague:
We would like to bring to your attention the missions of the four
organizations that promote basic science research in gastrointestinal
biology. These are the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA), the
American Physiological Society-Gastrointestinal Section (APS-GI), the
Gastroenterology Research Group (GRG) and the Comparative Gastroenterology
Society (CGS). It is our hope that in doing so we can encourage your
participation in all of these organizations. Each has substantial and unique
benefits for members that warrant membership in each society. Below we
outline the missions, benefits and membership procedures for each society.
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Web site: http://www.gastro.org/
Address: 7910 Woodmont Avenue, 7th Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814-3015
Phone: 301-654-2055
FAX: 301-654-5920
MISSION
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), founded in 1897, is
the oldest non-profit specialty medical society in the country. Today more
than 8,400 gastroenterological physicians and scientists throughout the
world engaged in clinical practice, research, and education belong to the
AGA. Membership is limited to physicians, researchers and or educators whose
primary practice, research and/or teaching involves the functions and
disorders of the digestive system. Members can affiliate with up to three
special interest sections which include:
- Biliary Disorders
- Esophageal, Gastric and Duodenal Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Oncology
- Motility & Nerve-Gut Interactions
- Growth, Development & Nutrition
- Hormones & Receptors
- Immunology, Microbiology & Inflammatory Diseases
- Intestinal Disorders
- Pancreatic Disorders
- Clinical Practice
BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES
Benefits of membership in the AGA include annual subscription to
Gastroenterology; monthly AGA Newsletter; bimonthly issues of
Gastrointestinal Diseases Today; public policy advocacy; free
registration to the annual meeting at Digestive Disease Week (DDW), which is
held in May of each year; participation in AGA committees; access to
numerous funding opportunities including research and travel awards for
trainees, basic and clinical research grants, as well as funding for
specialty conferences. The AGA is a member of the Federated Societies of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, (FSGH) which sponsors a Career Development
Program for junior faculty and trainees. The AGA is a partner of the
American Digestive Health Foundation (ADHF) which advances digestive health
through support of research and education. Activities at the annual meeting
include oral and poster presentations, symposia and state of the art
lectures on new advances in gastroenteric biology. Full members have the
right to vote for Officers, Councilors, and Members of the Nominating
Committee and on any matter requiring action by the membership at the Annual
Business Meeting.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE AGA
Membership categories include Full, International and Trainee memberships
as well as four others. Full Membership is open to physicians and
scientists, and other persons residing in North America who have the
interest and appropriate qualifications in gastroenterology. Trainee
membership is open to individuals with a postbaccalaureate degree who are
engaged in postgraduate training. There is also an International Membership
category open to individuals residing outside of North America who are
engaged in gastrointestinal research or clinical activities. More
information on the qualifications for each category and application
procedures can be obtained at the AGA web site. Membership dues for Full
members is $250 and for Trainees is $100.
AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Gastrointestinal Section
Web sites: http://www.the-aps.org
Address: 9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3998
Phone: 301-634-7165
FAX: 301-634-8305
Email: members@the-aps.org
MISSION
The American Physiological Society (APS) is a devoted to fostering
education, scientific research, and the dissemination of information in the
physiological sciences. Founded in 1887, the APS was the first society in
the biomedical sciences. It now has more than 8,200 members. Members
affiliate as a primary member with one of 12 specialty sections, of which
the Gastrointestinal Section is one. The mission of the GI Section is to
foster professional activities of APS members with interests in
gastroenteric biology.
These activities are coordinated by a Steering Committee made up of 6
individuals, including a representative to the APS Program Advisory
Committee as well as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of
Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, who serves as an ex
officio member.
BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES
APS-GI members participate fully in the activities of the APS. Members
may participate in the society meeting held in conjunction with the
Experimental Biology Meeting at a reduced rate and are eligible for
discounts on APS publications, including the American Journal of
Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. All members receive
the society's publications, The Physiologist, News in Physiological
Sciences (NIPS) and Advances in Physiology Education, free
of charge. The APS offers numerous awards and fellowships in recognition of
excellence and to foster career development. Another benefit for junior
faculty and trainees is participation in the APS Mentoring Program. Since
the APS is a member of the Federation of American Societies for (FASEB), APS-GI
members also receive all benefits associated with that organization
including public policy advocacy and the FASEB Directory. The APS annual
meeting is held each year in April in conjunction with the Experimental
Biology meeting. The APS-GI section participates in the annual meeting of
the APS via symposia, oral and poster presentations, provision of graduate
and postdoctoral student research awards and two distinguished research
awards that highlight state of the art research by individuals whose work
has had significant impact on gastrointestinal biology. APS members have
significant input into programming symposia and other sessions at the annual
meeting, and in addition can organize and participate in specialized APS
conferences as well as FASEB Summer Conferences, one of which focuses on
enteric biology every other year. The APS also participates in a number of
international meetings designed to promote the development of international
exchange and collaboration in the physiological sciences.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE APS
Membership categories include Regular, Corresponding, Student and
Affiliate memberships. Regular membership is open to individuals who have an
advanced degree and have published original research in physiology or other
biomedical disciplines. Regular members can vote and hold office.
Corresponding members reside outside of the Americas. Student membership is
open to graduate students actively engaged in research. Affiliate members
are individuals interested in the physiology but do not hold, or are not
working towards, an advanced degree. Membership dues for Regular and
Corresponding members are $90, and $60 for Affiliate members. The first year
of student membership is free; additional years are $15. Regular members who
are within the first 5 years of their advanced degree can deduct $25 from
the Regular membership fee. Membership applications can be downloaded from
the APS web site.
GRG National Office
6900 Grove Road
Thorofare, NJ 08086
Phone: 609-848-1000, Ext. 370
FAX: 609-848-5274
Email: grg@slackinc.com
MISSION
The Gastroenterology Research Group (GRG) has more than 900 members. The
GRG promotes scientific research in gastroenterology by providing exchange
of information and promoting scientific communication between basic
scientists and clinical investigators working in gastroenterology. This goal
is achieved by sponsoring twice yearly state of the art symposia on topics
of interest to gastroenteric biologists and organizing regional workshops
for gastrointestinal researchers.
BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES
Benefits include free registration for state of the art GRG/AGA Research
Symposia held in November, typically in Chicago, and in May in conjunction
with the DDW meeting; free registration for regional workshops and free
spring and fall issues of the GRG Newsletter. Future activities include
development of an Internet mailing list to allow exchange of research
techniques and biological reagents among GRG investigators. A young
investigator, who shows outstanding promise in gastrointestinal research, is
honored each year by the Young Investigator Award.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE GRG
Active members are investigators in clinical and basic sciences related
to gastroenterology and hepatology. Trainee members include any trainee who
has completed at least two years of postdoctoral training. More information
on the qualifications for each category and application procedures can be
obtained at the GRG web site. Dues for Active Members are $20 and are free
for trainees.
COMPARATIVE GASTROENTEROLOGY SOCIETY
Deborah Davenport, Secretary-Treasurer
P.O. Box 8202
Topeka KS 66608
Phone: 913-286-8032
FAX: 913-286-8010
MISSION
The Comparative Gastroenterology Society was founded in 1970, and now
numbers about 100-150 members. Its goals are to advance patient care,
teaching and research in comparative gastroenterology and hepatology, to
sponsor scientific meetings and to encourage publication of scientific
papers.
BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES
The CGS provides a network linking veterinary gastroenterologists and
others interested in comparative gastroenterology through its quarterly
newsletter, `Gastrointestinal Viewpoints'. The publication summarizes new
advances in GI research, reviews books and proceedings of scientific
meetings, and provides a forum for interchange among members on issues
ranging from basic research to clinical practice. To encourage research
activity, the CGS also provides 1-2 competitive graduate student/resident
research grants per year in amounts up to $8,000. The annual meeting of the
CGS is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American College
of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) which typically occurs in early May.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE CGS
Membership categories include Full, Affiliate, Trainee and Honorary. Full
membership ($20/year) is open to individuals who hold the DVM, MD, PhD, MS
or DDS degrees in one of the biological sciences, or are otherwise
recognized by the CGS Board as active scientific contributors to comparative
gastroenterology. Full members can hold office, vote and sponsor a Society
research grant recipient. Trainee membership ($5/year) is open to interns
and residents, veterinary or human medical or dental students, or students
pursuing the MS or PhD degrees. Affiliate members reside in countries other
than the U.S. and must meet the requirements for full membership but are
exempt from paying dues. Honorary membership is granted by the Board to
individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to comparative
gastroenterology.
These are premier organizations that promote dissemination of new
discoveries in digestive physiology and pathophysiology by providing state
of the art lectures, symposia and workshops as well as financial support for
basic and clinical research. Each organization offers unique benefits that
complements those of the other organizations. We urge you to join each of
these organizations if you are not already a member.
Helen J. Cooke, PhD
Chair, PhD, MD/PhD, DVM Task Force of the AGA
Member, GRG Steering Committee
Member, APS Member, APS Long Range Planning Committee
Hannah V. Carey, PhD
Chair, APS/GI Steering Committee
Member, GRG Steering Committee
Member, PhD, MD/PhD, DVM Task Force of the AGA
Member, APS Awards Committee
Member, CGS
Please send me information on joining the AGA.
Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Mail to: AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
7910 Woodmont Avenue, 7th Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814-3015
Please send me information on joining the APS.
Name:
________________________________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Mail to: AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Membership Services
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814-3998
Please send me information on joining the GRG.
Name:
__________________________________________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Mail to: GASTROENTEROLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
GRG National Office
6900 Grove Road
Thorofare, NJ 08086
Please send me information on joining the CGS.
Name: _______________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Mail to: COMPARATIVE GASTROENTEROLOGY SOCIETY
P.O. Box 8202
Deborah Davenport, Secretary-Treasurer
Topeka KS 66608
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