Establishing the Organization's Mission, Activities, and Leadership

Outlined below are examples of basic state society activities: 

• Medical Education
  • Almost all state societies have medical education activities. These may range from informal meetings for case presentations to formal didactic programs. These meetings also provide a venue for developing collegial encounters and relationships.
• Public Education: Disease Awareness and Prevention
  • Some societies also engage in activities for public education. These can revolve around general health awareness and participation in local or statewide healthy living groups. Awareness and prevention can also be issue-specific, raising awareness and knowledge about rheumatological and auto-immune diseases.
• Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy
  • The state society is one of the most important advocates for physician issues in each state. As the collective voice of the physicians, state rheumatology societies help advance physician practice, lower regulatory burden, and provide access to critical medications. Advocacy activities include establishing legislative relationships and providing information regarding topics pertinent to rheumatologists and their patients.
• Payer Advocacy
  • Additionally, many societies are interacting with regional payers/insurance companies. Activities include responses to payor policies or directives and proactive stances such as position papers or meetings with medical directors.
• Member Meetings
  • State societies often host gatherings of members and interested groups at meetings. These gatherings can be held as conferences to bring groups and resources together for networking and education, meetings to connect physicians and medical professionals across the state, or even advocacy days that bring together patient advocates in your state's Capitol.

If you would like more information or support in setting up activities for your state society, email us at info@csro.info.