Resources: Articles

AHCJ membership accepted as credential for medical meetings Date: 04/05/23

By Laura Beil, Jeanne Erdmann and Barbara Mantel

Attending meetings of medical associations and societies is a great way to search for story ideas, connect with sources or simply keep up with the latest news and research in a particular field.

The AHCJ Freelance Committee has an ongoing effort to allow freelancers to register for meetings without a specific assignment letter from an editor. Below is a list of organizations that have so far agreed to allow AHCJ membership to serve as credentialing. A few have additional requirements, such as submitting recent clips.

As of March 31, 2023:

• Alzheimer's Association  (requires clips)*

• American Academy of Neurology

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

• American Association for Cancer Research

• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (requires clips)

• American College of Chest Physicians

• American College of Emergency Physicians

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

• American College of Physicians

• American Diabetes Association

• American Gastroenterological Association

• American Pain Society

• American Public Health Association

• American Society of Clinical Oncology

• American Society of Hematology

• American Thoracic Society

• Americas Committee for Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis

• Association for Molecular Pathology

• Endocrine Society

• Gerontological Society of America

• Heart Rhythm Society

• Infectious Diseases Society of America

• International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society

• Medical Group Management Association

• Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

• World Vaccine Congress

*For Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference 2023, AHCJ members who are freelancers may apply for press credentials without an assignment letter. They must provide links to relevant bylined coverage on brain science, the biology of aging, neurology, neuroscience and/or dementia published within the last year. We will evaluate these individuals on a case-by-case basis. Credentials will be given only to those actually producing the news content, not to editors or those assigning stories to others. Application for credentials does not guarantee they will be granted. All applications must be submitted by June 26, 2023. No walk-ins onsite at AAIC will be allowed without an assignment letter.

Is there a organization that you would like to see on this list? Email laura@laurabeil.com and the AHCJ Freelance Committee will inquire about credentialing. We will update this list as we continue to add organizations that accept AHCJ membership for registration for their meetings.