American
Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology:
Founded in 1958, ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology
society in the world, with more than 8,000 members.
I think it is safe to say that most radiation oncologists
in the United States consider ASTRO to be the de
facto organization representing the interests of
our specialty. What many residents may not know is
that for many years, ASTRO functioned under the organizational
structure of the American College of Radiology, and
did not become a truly independent organization until
1998. For many years, ASTRO's traditional strengths
were in the educational and scientific realms. More
recently, ASTRO has grown into a comprehensive organization
with strong activity on the political and economic
fronts as well as on the scientific ones. For example,
ASTRO had an active role on the socioeconomic front
regarding radiation oncology reimbursement, and lobbied
successfully to maintain adequate reimbursement for
high technology treatments such as IMRT.
Junior
Membership is free for residents. This includes
a free subscription to the Red
Journal and meeting registration discounts.
The
American Brachytherapy Society: ABS
is a scientific society that seeks to provide insight
and research
into the use of brachytherapy
in malignant and benign conditions. Membership in
ABS is open to any physician, regardless of specialty,
with an interest in brachytherapy as a treatment
modality. In addition to their annual meeting, the
ABS provides guidelines regarding the use of various
types of brachytherapy.
Membership is free for residents and includes subscription to
Brachytherapy and discounts on meeting registration.
The
American College of Radiology: As most of
you know, before radiotherapists evolved into radiation
oncologists, we were all once radiologists. As a result,
ACR has also historically represented the interests of
radiation oncology, as well as diagnostic radiology.
Organizationally, ACR is comprised of 50 state chapters,
each of which can elect one councilor for each 100 ACR
members in that state. Radiation oncology is recognized
within the structure of the ACR through CARROS (see below),
which has the same standing within the structure of the
ACR as the state chapters. In addition, a member of ASTRO
is selected to serve on the executive branch of the ACR,
known as the board of chancellors.
Membership to
the ACR and Resident/Fellow Section is free of charge,
includes subscription to the Journal of the ACR, and
free meeting registration.
The
American College of Radiation Oncology: ACRO
began its life as an affiliation of the senior partners
of some large radiation oncology community practices.
At this point in time, ACRO concerns itself predominantly
with socioeconomic and political issues as they relate
to the specialty in general.
Membership is free of charge and includes discounts on meeting
registration.
The
American Radium Society: As the oldest
multidisciplinary cancer society in America, ARS
seeks "to promote the study of cancer in all
of its aspects; to encourage liaison among the
various medical specialists and allied scientists
concerned with the treatment of cancer." In
addition to its annual scientific meeting, ARS
publishes The Cancer Journal as its official journal.
It is worth noting that a member of the ARS also
sits on the board of chancellors of the ACR.
Candidate
Membership is free of charge.
The
American Society of Clinical Oncology: This
is the largest organization representing 20,000+
physicians who treat cancer. It is both a scientific
and economic organization with the majority of members
belonging to medical oncology. The organization's
publication is the Journal
of Clinical Oncology.
Associate
membership is free, and gives free online access
to JCO. Print copies of the journal cost $50.00 yearly
with membership.
Radiological
Society of North America: RSNA is
essentially the scientific and educational society
for diagnostic radiology and its related disciplines.
RSNA's annual meeting in Chicago has many radiation
oncology-specific refresher courses, and RSNA also
provides a number of research grants to radiation
oncologists. In particular, RSNA has been very
involved in developing radiobiology educational
resources.
Membership is
free for residents and includes free registration to
the annual meeting.
Radiation
Therapy Oncology Group: RTOG is a multi-institutional
cooperative organization, of which the principal
objectives include: A national cancer study research
group funded by NCI headquartered in Philadelphia
with almost 30 years of experience in running clinical
trials; comprised of 250 of the major research institutions
nationally and in Canada; Currently have 40+ active
studies that involve radiation therapy either alone
or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapeutic
drugs; Interested in quality of life issues and their
effects on the cancer patient.
Membership is institutional, but residents are encouraged
to attend meetings.
There are additional societies such as the European
Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology,
which is the European counterpart of ASTRO and publishes
Radiotherapy and
Oncology, the "Green Journal" and the American
Roentgen Ray Society.
Please note: Membership and society info is subject
to change and written by ARRO 8/04
