Association for the Behavioral Sciences
and Medical Education

ABSAME
A Forum for Interdisciplinary Exchange

Origins and History

ABSAME traces its origins to four invitational conferences sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in 1969 and 1970.

Medical school faculty representing sociology, psychology, anthropology, pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, preventive medicine, and psychiatry formed ABSAME as an interdisciplinary professional society dedicated to strengthening behavioral science teaching in medical schools, residency programs, and in continuing medical education.

Mission Statement

The purposes of the organization are as follows:

To promote the application of social and behavioral science knowledge, skill and perspectives in the education and training of physicians, nurses, and other professionals working in the field of health.
To improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of health care through the application of social and behavioral science knowledge, skills and perspectives.
To encourage the improvement of educational and training practices in the preparation of physicians, nurses, and other health professional.
To aid in the continuing education of teachers, clinicians, researchers and administrators involved in carrying out the above activities.

Membership

The core of ABSAME's membership consists of physicians and non-physician behavioral scientists whose primary interest lies in enhancing behavioral science teaching at all levels. ABSAME also welcomes membership from faculty members and students in schools of dentistry, public health, nursing, and allied health, as well as medical students, house staff, and graduate students in the behavioral sciences.

What distinguishes ABSAME members is their commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and colleagueship in the education of health professional.

ABSAME Activities

Annual Meeting
ABSAME at AAMC
Curriculum Task Force
Multicultural Task Force
Mentorship Task Force
Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education
ABSAME Newsletter
Electronic Communication
ABSAME-L Listserv

Member Benefits

Reduced registration rates for meetings
The ABSAME newsletter (published biannually)
The Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education which is the official journal of the organization (published biannually)
Reduced rates on ABSAME publications
An online membership roster

Membership run July 1 through June 30. The fee is $125 for faculty members, and $50 for student members. An institutional membership is available for $550 which includes up to five individual memberships.