ASE Membership in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hanging out, Hanging on, Together.

Ritu Thamman, MD, FASE

Bonita Anderson, MApplSc, DMU, ACS, FASE, FASA

Strength in Numbers

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) comprises over 17,000 members and represents 106 countries, with international members accounting for 19% of the membership. With 18 committees, four councils, and four special interest groups (SIGs), ASE has something for everyone: advocacy, education, and practice diversity. These councils and SIG bring together members with similar professional interests and areas of expertise, allowing networking and providing a forum for interaction and knowledge exchange.

Mission Minded Advocacy

One of ASE's missions is advocacy, with ASE leaders speaking on your behalf to powerful groups such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Through ASE, you get access, which is critical in COVID-19 times. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASE was one of the first cardiovascular societies to publish a statement on patient protection, echocardiography, and POCUS to keep its members safe. , Since this first statement, published simultaneously by JASE and JACC, the ASE has provided numerous resources to keep us updated as the pandemic continues to evolve.

An Avenue for Change

Joining ASE, an organization that's working for your best interests, allows you to support the causes that matter to you and to listen to your professional voice. ASE represents you! Having an established group on your side – whose job is to listen to your concern, investigate the issue, and make your voice heard – gives you a powerful ally. A recent webinar on ergonomics based on a JASE publication emphasized take-home tips for sonographers to quickly incorporate into their routines. It provided data to advocate for proper ergonomics at the workplace.

A Physical Network

There's great value in engaging with a network of like-minded individuals. When we connect at the ASE, we learn that our self-interest is related to each other's interests. That gives us a common identity and sense of shared responsibility as cardiovascular ultrasound specialists. A virtual fundraiser for those ASE members affected by the Australian bushfires raised over $3000, revealing our community's shared depth. The ASE GEM “Going the Extra Mile” recognition introduced in October 2019, is an opportunity to recognize our peers.

ASE Cares Fight Burnout

ASE Cares began in May 2019 as a social media campaign to promote and to foster social connections with other ASE members. Twitter is its virtual lounge, providing an opportunity to access resources on well-being and burnout and a platform to collaborate with peers who may have similar experiences.

ASE Cares helps create a sense of place, purpose, and belonging. Physicians and sonographers can foster social connections with other ASE members and prioritize self-care to improve resiliency in the face of rising burnout in these COVID-19 times.

Online Community 24/7

Connect@ASE connects echo enthusiasts through private online forums, blogs, and communities. Besides, you can find an extensive image library and mentor matching. ASE membership also includes access to the ASE Learning Hub, a JASE subscription, and free CME on #ASEcho Journal Club.

Engagement and Opportunity

Engagement in ASE can help members expand their opportunities to advance personally and professionally. ASE awards hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for travel grants, student scholarships, and research: four travel grants, five researcher investigator support awards, and two student scholarships offered each year. The ASE Foundation, the ASE's charitable arm, funds these to support initiatives, such as training scholarships and scientific research.

ASE members who recruit five or more new members receive their next ASE membership for free as part of the Member Ambassador Program, created in 2017. As of May 31st, 2020, this referral program has brought in 1,417 new members, with 424 new members in 2020 alone and 17 ASE members recognized as ASE Ambassadors in 2020.

ASE membership can provide you with fulfilling relationships, professional networking, leadership opportunities, career advancement leads, and easy access to recommendations, resources, and advice on a wealth of business or patient care topics. We encourage you to share this article with your colleagues so they can get access to all that ASE has to offer.

Ritu Thamman, MD, FASE (Board of Directors, Member at Large, Past Co-Chair of Membership Committee, and ASE Social Media Strategist) and Bonita Anderson MApplSc, DMU, ACS, FASE, FASA (Chair of the ASE Membership Committee)

Special thanks to Natalya Read, Director of Membership, for providing data and graphics.