Membership Benefits - Scientists

A complete list of membership benefits can be found by viewing the general benefits; however, the opportunities and options listed below may be of particular interest to scientists and engineers.

Special affiliation rate for UMB subscription | AIUM members have the opportunity to subscribe to Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (UMB), the official journal of the World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB), at a special discounted rate of only $135 per year. The journal publishes original contributions of significant advancements in clinical, diagnostic, interventional, and therapeutic applications; new and improved clinical techniques; the physics, engineering and technology of ultrasound in medicine and biology; and the interactions between ultrasound and biological materials, including bioeffects. Extended reviews of contemporary subjects of interest in the field are also published in addition to occasional editorial articles, clinical and technical notes, letters to the editor, and a calendar of forthcoming meetings. UMB aims to meet the information and publication requirements of the scientists, engineers, clinicians, and other professionals who constitute the biomedical ultrasonic community.

Bioeffects Committee | Consisting primarily of basic scientists but also including clinical representatives, this committee is charged with the responsibility of providing information to the ultrasound community on matters relating to the biological effects of ultrasound, especially when these matters relate to the safety of clinical ultrasound. The committee meets formally twice a year, communicating by e-mail the rest of the year. The committee encouragesand welcomes noncommittee members to attend meetings and contribute their thoughts and expertise.

The Bioeffects Committee has produced numerous publications, including the very important and popular Medical Ultrasound Safety, which is distributed with almost every ultrasound machine sold in the United States. Committee members prepare official statements on topics ranging from "Mammalian In Vivo Ultrasonic Biological Effects" to "Clinical Safety." The committee regularly undertakes literature reviews to place relevant papers pertaining to bioeffects literature within the context of questions relating to health and safety. And, the committee also conducts major conferences on topics such as mechanical bioeffects and on the effects of nonlinear propagation on the measurement of acoustic parameters relevant to the Thermal and Mechanical Indexes.

Technical Standards Committee | Consisting primarily of basic scientists but also including physicians and sonographers, this committee develops standardized approaches to instrument performance measurements, as well as other aspects of medical ultrasound, including presentation and labeling, phantoms, and nonmenclature. This committee provides reviews of documents, manuals, and standards produced by other organizations, government bodies, and individuals, especially those related to the physics, engineering, performance testing, and clinical use of ultrasound equipment.

The Technical Standards Committee has produced many publications of significant interest to the scientific and manufacturing communities. The committee engages in multiple projects ranging from "Inter-Lab Comparison of Backscatter Attenuation" to "Education Regarding the Availability of Contrast Agents" to "Inter-Lab Comparison of Power Measurements." The committee meets formally twice a year, communicating by e-mail through the remainder of the year. The committee urges noncommittee members with an interest in technical standards to participate in its committee meetings and contribute their thoughts and ideas.

Basic Science and Instrumentation Section | This professional interest section includes any AIUM members with an interest in the science and technology associated with the use of ultrasound in medicine. Participants contribute technical advice, determine program content, and identify speakers and moderators for the annual convention. All researchers, physicists, engineers, and others with an interest are urged to attend the section meeting held in conjunction with the annual AIUM annual convention, as well as communicate throughout the year on the AIUM listserv established specifically for those with an engineering or scientific interest in ultrasound.

Publications | Scientists, engineers, and physicists may find publications, such as the Quality Assurance Manual for Gray Scale Ultrasound Scanners: Stage 2 and Methods for Specifying Acoustic Properties of Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms and Objects: Stage 1, of particular interest. Visit the AIUM's online store for a complete listing of publications; members save up to 50 percent.

Networking | A multitude of opportunities are available to network with other scientists and engineers, as well as physicians from all specialties, sonographers, and other ultrasound professionals.