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Past Meetings: A message to non-membersNational radiological societies such as SIR, RSNA, and ARRS are essential to the survival of our profession, especially in this era of government-mandated cost containment, managed care, and capitation. These organizations are the political voice of the radiological community at large, and they have done an excellent job in responding to many of the needs of our profession at the national level. Unquestionably, our support and participation in the work of these societies is in our best interest. However, in their effort to effectively represent the interests of all radiologists, these organizations have become enormous, complex, and impersonal institutions. The camaraderie that once cemented these societies together has largely been replaced by economic imperatives, and the prospect of attending their hectic national meetings has become more daunting each year. Local and regional organizations such as Mid-America Interventional Radiological Society (MIRS) fill an important void left by the national societies. They are a forum for discussion of regional and local issues such as turf battles and reimbursement. They afford their members the opportunity to interact with their colleagues in the region - to discuss troubling or difficult cases - to learn from one another. When their membership is strong, they are able to exert political influence at the state and local level. On a regional level, MIRS is what SIR once was - a close-knit group of professionals interested in applying the techniques of Interventional Radiology to the care of their patients. Since 1990, MIRS has sponsored semi-annual CME/CEU approved conferences at various locations in the four-state area served by the Society. These conferences have featured nationally-recognized experts in the field of Interventional Radiology. The topics presented at MIRS meetings are timely, practical, clinically relevant, and span the entire gamut of interventional radiological procedures. Another facet of our meetings is the Case Presentation Forum, a learning tool of enormous power. Here, individual members are encouraged to present their difficult or troubling cases and receive feedback and ideas both from their colleagues and from the invited guest lecturers. The MIRS Internet site, www.mirs.org, now in its second year, includes a variety of member service features such as Society news, meeting information, on-line application and meeting registration, a membership directory, a syllabus of Interventional Radiology, and Interventions, an on-line Interventional Radiology learning file that is updated frequently. We are currently looking into modifying the format of this section so that CME credits can be awarded. The MIRS site includes Information for Patients aimed at broadening the public's awareness of Interventional Radiology, and a referral page to help direct patients to member interventional radiologists in their community. If you are an interventional radiologist, cardiovascular technologist, or radiology nurse, MIRS is working for you. Our members are our most vital asset, and, without a strong membership, MIRS cannot exist. That is why we urge you to consider joining MIRS as a professional or associate member. Since much of our operational budget is underwritten by unrestricted corporate donations, annual dues in the Society are only $150 for physicians and $60 for allied health professionals. The Society imposes no initiation fee, and members may earn up to 8.5 CME/CEU hours each year. MIRS meeting registration fees are waived for all active Society members. Physicians practicing Interventional Radiology, Special Procedures and Cardiovascular Technologists and Radiology Nurses are encouraged to join. Interested? You can do it on-line. Click "Join MIRS" for further information. |
Upcoming Meetings: