Role Of Professional Societies Research Articles

The Role of Professional Societies in Advancing Inclusion in Chemistry: Through the Lens of the American Chemical Society

In response to a more heightened focus on social justice in recent years, many organizations have reflected on their values and on their role in championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR). The American Chemical Society (ACS) is no different. While historically there may have been an unspoken belief that the role of the ACS was to “stick to science,” it has become more well-understood that advancing our core values, including DEIR, is the right thing to do — both for our members and for the scientific community. Yet, the journey to progress has not been straight nor smooth, and there is still much work to be done.

A qualitative investigation of resilience and well-being among medical physics residents.

PurposeMedical physics residents (MPRs) will define and shape the future of physics in medicine. We sought to better understand the residency experience, as related to resilience and well‐being, through the lens of current MPRs and medical physicists (MPs) working with residents.Methods and materialsFrom February–May 2019, we conducted 32, 1‐h, confidential, semi‐structured interviews with MPs either currently enrolled in an accredited residency (n = 16) or currently employed by a department with an accredited residency (n = 16). Interviews centered on the topics of mentorship, work/life integration, and discrimination. Qualitative analysis methods were used to derive key themes from the interview transcripts.ResultsWith regard to the medical physics residency experience, four key themes emerged during qualitative analysis: the demanding nature of medical physics residencies, the negative impacts of residency on MPRs during training and beyond, strategies MPRs use to cope with residency stress, and the role of professional societies in addressing residency‐related change.ConclusionsResidency training is a stress‐inducing time in the path to becoming a board‐certified MP. By uncovering several sources of this stress, we have identified opportunities to support the resiliency and well‐being of MPs in training through recommendations by professional societies, programmatic changes, and interventions at the department and residency program director level for residency programs, as well as strategies that MPRs themselves can use to support well‐being on their career journey.

Role of Professional Societies on Increasing Indigenous Peoples’ Participation and Leadership in STEMM

Indigenous people are the most underrepresented racial/ethnic group in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) in the United States. Most prior research suggests this trend is the result broadly of settler colonialism, and more specifically of cultural differences between students and school/university environments; poor academic preparation in K-12 schools; vague constructs of educational or vocational goals; insufficient financial aid; unwelcoming school and university environments; prejudice and racism; and social isolation. There is also a vast body of published work on the unique epistemologies and knowledge systems held by Indigenous peoples, which are only recently being acknowledged within mainstream STEMM communities. One potential reason for lower participation in STEMM programs and professions by Indigenous people that has generally gone unexplored relates to unique cultural and spiritual factors that could deter Indigenous people from STEMM fields. Our research investigates the range and variation of cultural/spiritual/ethical practical issues that may be affecting Indigenous people’s success in STEMM. Our research provides valuable insights for policy and practices within higher education institutions and industry to provide flexible pathways for Indigenous people to reduce or eliminate barriers related to culturally- and spiritually-informed issues. In this paper, we explore how our findings can be used by professional societies to provide leadership to higher education institutions and industry in the area of changing some standard practices to be more inclusive of Indigenous people. An important mode of systemic change in STEMM fields is through professional societies that guide future practices in various STEMM disciplines.

Gender Differences in Work–Life Integration Among Medical Physicists

PurposeTo generate an understanding of the primary concerns facing medical physicists regarding integration of a demanding technical career with their personal lives. Methods and MaterialsIn 2019, we recruited 32 medical physics residents, faculty, and staff via emails to US medical physics residency program directors to participate in a 1-hour, semistructured interview that elicited their thoughts on several topics, including work–life integration. Standard techniques of qualitative thematic analysis were used to generate the research findings. ResultsOf the participants, 50% were women and 69% were non-Hispanic White individuals, with a mean (SD) age of 37.5 (7.4) years. They were evenly split between residents and faculty or staff. Participant responses centered around 5 primary themes: the gendered distribution of household responsibilities, the effect of career or work on home and family life, the effect of family on career or work, support and strategies for reconciling work–life conflicts, and the role of professional societies in addressing work–life integration. Participants expressed concern about the effect of heavy workloads on home life, with female respondents more likely to report carrying the majority of the household burden. ConclusionsMedical physicists experience challenges in managing work–life conflict amid a diverse array of personal and professional responsibilities. Further investigations are needed to quantitatively assess the division of work and household labor by gender in medical physics, particularly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this study's qualitative findings suggest that the profession should consider ways to address root causes of work–life conflict to promote the future success and well-being of all medical physicists, and perhaps women in particular.

Improving Vaccination Coverage in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Professional Societies.

Improving Vaccination Coverage in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Professional Societies.

Addressing Antibiotic Overuse in the Outpatient Setting: Lessons From Behavioral Economics

Addressing Antibiotic Overuse in the Outpatient Setting: Lessons From Behavioral Economics

Seismic Soundoff

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with SEG President Rick Miller to celebrate SEG’s 90th birthday. Rick reflects on the milestones of the organization, the role of professional societies in 2020, how the digital transformation has impacted the field, and his future vision for applied geophysics. This episode traces how far the field has come, its impact on society, and future opportunities. Hear the full episode at https://seg.org/podcast/post/9162 .

Current state of under- and postgraduate education in abdominalultrasonography at German university hospitals. A panel study over 20 years

In Germany, there is no standardized ultrasound training. This study aims to provide a survey into the current state of abdominal ultrasonography training at German university hospitals as well as a comparative analysis of the results from studies conducted in 1999 and 2009. Chief gastroenterologists from Germany's 34 university hospitals were invited to respond to a postal survey asking about technical equipment, the number of ultrasound scans, the role of professional societies and undergraduate as well as postgraduate training. The response rate was 79 %. In addition, 1183 medical students from 34 faculties completed a complementary online teaching evaluation. At university hospitals, abdominal ultrasonography is conducted in an increasingly interdisciplinary context. Today, 29 % of university hospitals have interdisciplinary ultrasound centers. The study shows that the number of available ultrasound machines has increased - each hospital has an average of 5.2 systems. This is an increase of 30 % in comparison to 2009 and of 27 % in comparison to 1999. However, the willingness to invest in modern ultrasound machines has decreased. The total number of ultrasound scans as well as the number of contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans have steadily increased over the past years - with a maximum increase of 28 % between 2009 and 2018. The German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) is increasingly present at university hospitals. It has further strengthened its prominent role in quality assurance and specialist training. Today, 96 % of the chief gastroenterologists are members of DEGUM and 89 % have obtained further qualification offered by the society. Concerning the duration of the training, the number of mandatory examinations and the amount of supervision, there are still considerable differences among the departments. On average, more doctors are trained per department and year. A 6-month full-time training has been established at most hospitals. Sonography enjoys a high standing among students and the findings show a strong readiness for work in that field. The number of practical courses and students has been increasing over the past years. However, there is often an imbalance between the number of courses offered and students who want to enroll. Training conditions have improved for medical staff as well as students despite the fact that there are still considerable differences in quality among the hospitals. The number of ultrasound scans is steadily increasing in all departments. The study did not show any adequate improvement in the availability of technical equipment. The German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) has further strengthened its leading position in the field of sonography.

Paying Our Dues: The Role of Professional Societies in the Evolution of Mathematical Biology Education.

Mathematical biology education provides key foundational underpinnings for the scholarly work of mathematical biology. Professional societies support such education efforts via funding, public speaking opportunities, Web presence, publishing, workshops, prizes, opportunities to discuss curriculum design, and support of mentorship and other means of sustained communication among communities of scholars. Such programs have been critical to the broad expansion of the range and visibility of research and educational activities in mathematical biology. We review these efforts, past and present, across multiple societies-the Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB), the Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research (BEER), the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). We then proceed to suggest ways that professional societies can serve as advocates and community builders for mathematical biologists at all levels, noting that education continues throughout a career and also emphasizing the value of educating new generations of students. Our suggestions include collecting and disseminating data related to biomath education; developing and maintaining mentoring systems and research communities; and providing incentives and visibility for educational efforts within mathematical biology.

Front Cover: The Evolving Role of Professional Societies in International Collaboration: Partners for Progress and Prosperity (Chem. Asian J. 22/2019)

Front Cover: The Evolving Role of Professional Societies in International Collaboration: Partners for Progress and Prosperity (Chem. Asian J. 22/2019)

The Advocacy Journal Club.

To describe a method of educating pathologists about health policy. The Advocacy Journal Club was a series of six conferences. Topics were of those in the news or affecting local practice. Participants reviewed preparatory readings, completed a six- to 10-question pretest, attended an interactive presentation stressing advocacy groups' efforts, and completed a posttest. All were invited to complete a survey after the sessions. Faculty and residents had increased posttest scores following each presentation with a significant difference in four and three sessions, respectively. More than 80% agreed they could discuss the topics with others and understood how regulations affect practice. More than 90% agreed that they gained an understanding of how involvement in organizations' advocacy initiatives affects policy. We present a method for educating pathologists about policy and the role of professional societies that could be implemented by nearly all graduate medical education programs.

Long-term experience and analysis of data on diagnostic reference levels: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

To analyze 11-year data of France for temporal trends in dose indices and dose optimization and draw lessons for those who are willing to work on creation and update of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). The data from about 3000 radiology departments leading to about 750,000 imaging exams between 2004 and 2015 was analyzed, and patterns of reductions in dose for those below and above the DRLs were estimated and correlated with technology change. Dose optimization achieved was important and significant in departments which were above or just below the DRL (p = .006) but not in those which were around half of the DRL values. The decrease in 75th percentile value of Kerma air product (KAP) for chest radiography by 27.4% between 2004 and 2015 was observed with the number of flat panel detectors increase from 6 to 43%. A good correlation between the detector type distribution and the level of patient radiation exposure is observed. Otherwise, setting DRLs for standard-sized patient excludes patients lower and higher weighted than "standard." The concept of DRL may become obsolete unless lessons drawn from the experience of users are taken into account. While establishing DRLs should be part of the regulations, setting up and updating values should be governed by bodies whose decision-making cycle is short, at the most 1year. A local rather than national approach, taking into account body habitus and image quality, needs to be organized. • The technology changes faster than regulations. Requirement of DRL establishment should be part of the regulations; however, setting and updating values should be the role of professional societies. • The concept of DRL, highlighting the 75th percentile values and dedicated to standard-sized adult, misses optimization opportunities in the majority of patients who are below the 75th percentile value and outside the range of standard-sized adult. • The ugly aspects of the DRL concept include its non-applicability to individuals, no customization to clinical indications, and lack of consideration of image quality.

The role of professional society in quality of perinatal care: Experience from Estonia

Introduction: Estonian Medical Birth Registry collects data about all births in Estonia since 1992. Estonian Gynecologists’ Society has analysed perinatal quality indicators in different clinics and at national level to improve quality of perinatal care. In 2016, five perinatal quality indicators were chosen by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund as national quality indicators for obstetrical care.

Journalists in Switzerland: Structures and attitudes revisited

It is often stated that journalism and the media are going through some fundamental changes. In this article, we present a description of the journalists in Switzerland, based on a nation-wide survey conducted in 2015. This data gives a quantitative description of journalists in Switzerland. Furthermore, this article makes comparison between various groups of journalists, for example between the different language regions in Switzerland, in order to give a differentiated picture of who the journalists are, what their working situation looks like and how they perceive their own professional role in society.

Preparing Students for Success in STEM: Role of Professional Societies

Professional societies play a critical role in the preparation and support of students for success in STEM. Outlined in this essay is an example of how the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) t...

The Role of Professional Societies in STEM Diversity

The overall percentages of African American scientists indicate underrepresentation in most science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the percentages appear to be declining over the last three decades. We will share insights on how professional societies can directly impact the broadening of participation as well as the persistence of racial groups in the STEM fields and hence, strengthen and sustain the Nation's future workforce.

Energy efficiency as an example of cross-discipline collaboration in chemical engineering

This paper summarizes the round-table discussion that was held during the European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE) in Nice, France, in October 2015 on this topic. The panellists come from different fields of chemical engineering and have thus brought in different perspectives. The objective was to determine paths for developing innovative approaches in view of process optimization.The terminology is a first obstacle that was clarified. Energy efficiency can be envisaged either by optimizing thermodynamic functions (entropy or exergy), more pragmatically by selecting the adequate unit operation or in a very general vision by considering all decision variables (i.e. including economic and political) that may have an impact on the final service provided to society.The second issue relates to improving collaboration among various actors. These may be defined in terms of type of responsibility (industrials, mostly market-driven, or academic), or in terms of discipline. The role of professional societies as the European Federation for Chemical Engineers (EFCE) is stressed as a promotor of collaboration between disciplines.Finally, once willingness for collaboration is identified, the final question is how it can lead to true innovation. The largest innovation potential is often found at the interface between fields. Yet, it often requires both an effort to explain the mutual challenges in a didactic manner, and the development of tools that make it possible to each partner to be efficient in his own field while being aware of the global goal and of the constraints of the others.

The role of professional societies in limiting indication creep.

New technology is a major driver of health care inflation. One contributor to this inflation is indication creep, the diffusion of interventions that have been proven beneficial in specific patient populations into untested broader populations who may be less likely to benefit. Professional societies sometimes promote indication creep, as we illustrate with the case of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. Professional societies are in a unique position to limit indication creep. We propose that, at a minimum, professional societies should refrain from recommending new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in their guidelines until they have been proven beneficial in the targeted populations. In some circumstances, professional societies could be more active in combatting indication creep, either recommending against expanded use of clinical interventions when evidence is lacking, or coordinating efforts to collect data in these broader populations.

Career development for early career academics: Benefits of networking and the role of professional societies

Whilst effective networking is vitally important for early career academics, understanding and establishing useful networks is challenging. This paper provides an overview of the benefits and challenges of networking in the academic field, particularly for early career academics, and reflects on the role of professional societies in facilitating networking.

The role of professional societies in the professional formation of specialists in computer sciences: experience of Japan

ABSTRACT The most urgent problem of training competitive specialists in higher educational establishments in the conditions of socio-economical dynamics of transformation of Ukraine and its entry into the world society has been considered. On the basis of professional requirements’ analysis the row of contradictions and disparities among the specialists in computer sciences in the current conditions of swift development of informative society has been traced. It has been stated that labor market growing demands, rapid technological changes require the use of the competency-building approach to future IT specialists for improving their professional level. The process of professional formation of a specialist in the context of modern theoretical-methodological principles has been comprehensively characterized. Peculiarities of leading Japan professional associations of specialists in information technologies activities in the aspect of assisting continuity and consistency of professional formation of experts in computer sciences have been defined. Special attention has been paid to the importance of creative analysis and implementation of foreign experience in the specialists’ training for the professional activity in the sphere of information technologies on the territory of Ukraine. Directions for upgrading higher education in our country and the prospects for subsequent research of the professional training practice of specialists in computer sciences have been outlined.