Membership types
Full ASAS member
Full ASAS membership is provided for experts with an established record in the field of spondyloarthritis. Full members receive all mailing and information from the ASAS Executive Committee, are entitled to attend ASAS meetings and events and are able to vote in general meetings, to propose new projects, to participate in existing ASAS activities and to be elected in the ASAS Executive Committee. Full members are also included in voting processes and Delphi exercises. Full membership needs to be renewed every five years.
Associate ASAS member
Associate members are either trainees in rheumatology or those persons who are developing a scientific record in the study of spondyloarthritis. Associate members are receiving all mailing and information from the ASAS Executive Committee, are entitled to attend ASAS meetings and events, and to participate in existing ASAS activities including some Delphi exercises. They do not have the ability to conduct independent research projects within ASAS, and are not able to vote in general meetings. Associate membership can be upgraded to a full membership after 2 years or extended for another 2 years (a maximum of 2 renewals is allowed) if the upgrade criteria are not fulfilled.
New applications
Criteria for a new application for the ASAS membership are:
Full ASAS member candidates
1) Authorship of at least 3 publications in the area of spondyloarthritis, published in peer reviewed journals in English during the last 5 years.
2) Letters of support from two current full ASAS members.
Please submit your application using the application form.
Associate ASAS member candidates
1) Authorship of at least 1 publication in the area of spondyloarthritis, published in peer reviewed journal in English during the last 5 years.
2) Letters of support from two current full ASAS members.
3) Associate member candidates must also name a ‘mentor’ who will be overseeing their scientific development during the associate membership time.
Please submit your application using the application form.
Membership renewal
Criteria for the prolongation of ASAS membership are:
Full ASAS member
1) attendance of at least 3 annual meetings and participation in ASAS activities (surveys and studies) over the last 5 years and
2) participation in all ASAS questionnaires/surveys (should this not be possible or feasible for any reasons, a notification has to be sent by email to the persons conducting the Delphi exercise) and
3) authorship in at least 3 publications in the area of spondyloarthritis, published in peer reviewed journals in English during the last 5 years.
Associate ASAS member
1) a letter of support from the previously mentioned mentor.
Membership upgrade
For upgrade of associate to full membership the following is required:
1) Authorship in at least 3 publications in the area of spondyloarthritis, published in peer reviewed journals and
2) A letter of support of previously named ‘mentor’ submitted together with the application for membership upgrade.
Please submit your upgrade request using the application form.
Decisions
Applications for a new membership are reviewed by the Executive Committee (usually at ASAS Meetings adjacent to EULAR, ACR Annual Meeting or International Congress on Spondyloarthritis in Gent and at ASAS annual meeting in January). Deadline for membership applications are May 15, October 15, and December 15 each calendar year.
Number of members
The number of members is currently not limited.
Costs
ASAS membership is provided free of charge.
Policy on Employees of pharmaceutical companies
Persons in industry may not apply for membership outside that included in the Corporate Partner Program.
