Professional societies

Professional medical societies are organizations that are composed of physicians and other healthcare professionals who share a common interest in a particular medical specialty or area of practice. These societies serve a number of functions, including:

Purpose

1. Providing educational opportunities: Medical societies often offer educational programs, conferences, and workshops to help members stay up-to-date on the latest research, treatments, and clinical practices in their field.
2. Setting professional standards: Many medical societies develop guidelines and standards of care for their specialty, and these can be used to inform the practices of individual practitioners and healthcare organizations.
3. Advocating for the profession: Medical societies may advocate on behalf of their members and the patients they serve, working to shape healthcare policy and legislation at the local, state, and national level.
4. Networking opportunities: Medical societies provide a platform for the members to network with their peers, to share their experiences, get support, and collaborate.

List of professional societies (US)

• American Medical Association (AMA) for general practice
• American College of Surgeons (ACS) for surgery
• American College of Cardiology (ACC) for cardiology
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for pediatrics
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) for dermatology
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for obstetrics and gynecology.

Each society usually focus on a specific area of medicine and has its own structure, dues, and membership requirements.

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