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Council of Societies

AIMBE’s Council of Societies: A Collective Voice for Action

Since its formation in 1991, the AIMBE Council of Societies (CoS) has served as a coalition of scientific organizations in medical and biological engineering. By managing collaborative partnerships among its 9 current member societies, the AIMBE CoS is uniquely positioned to coordinate messaging, resource sharing, and strategic guidance for advancing collective advocacy efforts within our field. The primary goals of the CoS are to:

  • Provide a collaborative forum to define shared positions on pressing policy issues facing the field of medical and biological engineering;
  • Foster intersociety dialogue and partnerships to offer collective representation in medical and biological engineering;
  • Coordinate collaborative advocacy activities within and across member societies that engage stakeholders across academia, industry, the healthcare sector, government, and public and private biomedical communities

The CoS works towards these goals by addressing challenges facing medical and biological engineering by bringing together society leadership in pursuit of critical common objectives. The CoS, in fact, helps to set these priorities by identifying important issues from within its membership to offer tailored activities/benefits (see table below for a comprehensive list) that include:

Questions?
Contact Jason Marvin at AIMBE at outreach@aimbe.org.

  • Closed-door meetings for society leadership to discuss shared policy priorities and engage in strategic planning around shaping national initiatives during the AIMBE Annual Event and on an ad-hoc basis;
  • Networking opportunities through in-person receptions attended by Fellows, Emerging Leaders, CoS member society representatives, and AIMBE staff at scientific conferences and meetings;
  • Educational and advocacy training opportunities through in-person plenary talks, workshops, and symposia at scientific conferences and meetings;
  • National coalition building of biomedical research organizations to increase public awareness and support for federal health and science agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
  • Representation via liaisons from member society leadership in AIMBE coalition and roundtable activities to promote information exchange between stakeholders; and
  • Advocacy news and resources to effectively participate in letter writing campaigns, congressional visits, sign-on of public statements, and other strategies that increase awareness of policy issues pertinent to the field of medical and biological engineering

In recent years, the efforts of CoS members have helped AIMBE:

  • Assume a leading role in the formation, in 2000, of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB);
  • Lead advocacy on behalf of The FDA Modernization Act of 1997;
  • Press for passage of the Biomaterials Access Assurance Act of 1998; and
  • Advocate creation of the National Institutes of Health Bioengineering Consortium (BECON)

 

Over the past few years, Council of Societies members have represented AIMBE in policy-oriented discussions key with officials of:

  • National Science Foundation;
  • National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering;
  • Food and Drug Administration;
  • Medical Technology Leadership Caucus;
  • House of Representatives Appropriations Committee; and
  • Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

 

The CoS meets each spring during AIMBE’s Annual Event. Additional meetings are planned throughout the year at the discretion of the membership. Major initiatives undertaken at recent Annual Events have included the formulation of committees to address national workforce initiatives, implementing national innovation agendas, developing consensus statements regarding federal research funding levels and assessing the future of bioengineering through analyzing its economic impact.

 

The CoS and its mission are designed to evolve over time, adjusting to the needs and interests of AIMBE members, and to challenges and changes at all levels in the world of bioengineering.

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American Association of Physicists in Medicine

The AAPM is a scientific and professional organization, founded in 1958, composed of more than 7000 scientists whose clinical practice is dedicated to ensuring accuracy, safety and quality in the use of radiation in medical procedures such as medical imaging and radiation therapy.

AAPM Annual Meeting

Washington, DC | July 27-30, 2025
Vancouver, BC | July 19-22, 2026
Columbus, OH | July 25-28, 2027
Washington, DC | July 30-August 2, 2028


American Society of Biomechanics

The American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) was founded in October 1977 by a group of 53 scientists and clinicians. The mission of the ASB is to foster the advancement, communication, and application of biomechanics to benefit society.

Upcoming Events
ASB Annual Meeting | Pittsburgh, PA | August 13-16, 2025

American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery is the world’s largest scientific organization dedicated to promoting research, education and high standards of clinical care in the field of medical laser applications. It provides a forum for the exchange of scientific information and participates in communicating the latest developments in laser medicine and surgery to clinicians, research investigators, government and regulatory agencies, and the public.

Upcoming Event

ASLMS Annual Conference | Orlando, FL | April 24-26, 2025

ASLMS Annual Conference | Savannah, GA | May 7-10, 2026

American Society of Mechanical Engineers –  Bioengineering Division

ASME’s mission is to serve diverse global communities by advancing, disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life; and communicating the excitement of engineering.

Upcoming Events

  • Invitation-only

Biomedical Engineering Society

The Mission of the BMES is to build and support the biomedical engineering community, locally, nationally and internationally, with activities designed to communicate recent advances, discoveries, and inventions; promote education and professional development; and integrate the perspectives of the academic, medical, governmental, and business sectors.

BMES Upcoming Events

San Diego, CA | October 8-11, 2025
Orlando, FL | October 21-24, 2026
Columbus, OH | October 7-10, 2027
Philadelphia, PA | October 4-7, 2028

International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

The International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (formerly International Society for Analytical Cytology) is a scientific and educational organization that leads the way in development of cytometry, transfer of new methodologies, and exchange of cutting-edge scientific and technical information in quantitative cell sciences.

Upcoming Events

Denver, CO | May 31-June 4, 2025
West Palm Beach, FL | June 6-10, 2026
Helsinki, Finland | June 5-9, 2027

Orthopaedic Research Society

The Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) is the pre-eminent organization for the advancement of musculoskeletal research. Comprised of more than 2,500 members include biologist, engineers, and clinician scientists, the ORS seeks to transform the future through global multidisciplinary collaborations-focusing on the complex challenges of orthopaedic treatment.

Upcoming Events

Phoenix, AZ | February 7-11, 2025
Charlotte, NC | March 27-31, 2026
San Francisco, CA | February 19-23, 2027

Society For Biomaterials

The Society For Biomaterials is a professional society which promotes advances in all phases of materials research and development by encouragement of cooperative educational programs, clinical applications, and professional standards in the biomaterials field.

Upcoming Events

Chicago, IL | April 9-12, 2025
Atlanta, GA | March 25-28, 2026
Seattle, WA | April 27-May 1, 2027
Washington, DC | April 24-April 29, 2028