How to Build a Biomed Association

Some groups hold an annual conference that includes guest speakers, events and good food. HTM associations range from small groups to large multi-chapter organizations.

Few people know more about starting and guiding HTM associations than Pat Lynch, CCE, CBET, fACCE, CHTS-PW, CPHIMS. He is the go-to person with a wealth of experience when it comes to negotiating the many considerations of establishing a new group.

Lynch says that AAMI offers a resource for those looking to take the plunge and get an organization off the ground, but he has also been empowered, through his employer GMI, to help any group seeking assistance.

“My company funds me to travel wherever needed to talk, organize, enlighten, and do much of the organizational legwork,” he says. “Having a person who is available to walk the leadership through all of the myriad issues is extremely important.”

AAMI also offers a biomedical society leaders discussion group to allow for an exchange of ideas. On their website, AAMI says the discussion group assists leaders with “managing their organizations, including recruitment of members, developing quality programming for meetings, (and) communicating with members.”

In addition, AAMI also has a page of resources on their website called “Idea Exchange: Biomedical Societies,” which covers a host of topics and provides links to resources covering everything from membership application samples to tax issues, meeting planning, scholarship awards to organizational considerations.

The AAMI information provided a blueprint for the Armed Forces Biomedical Society (AFBS). The group’s leader had discovered that some research had been performed before he took the helm, and then he found the AAMI information.

“I asked for the information and began working on a plan to establish a committee. This is when I was introduced to the AAMI document titled ‘How to Establish a Biomedical Society,’” “says AFBS President Diego Gomez-Morales. “I could not believe how detailed this document was. I followed this document step by step during our initial meeting so the committee would stay focused. I had to be firm and consistent in following this document because I felt it provided us with a structured timeline.”

The Foundation Block

The late motivational speaker and radio legend, Earl Nightingale, once said that “everything begins with an idea.” An old Chinese proverb says that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” One big step in establishing a new HTM association is the decision to do it and the action needed to make it a reality.

“Local interest is essential. I can help them through the organizational steps, but I will not be there to lead the association month to month. There has to be a local passion,” Lynch says.

“The start is to announce an organizational meeting. It is usually a dinner meeting. All major hospitals in the area are encouraged to attend, by special invitations over the phone. Special work has to be done to encourage employees of ISOs to attend. They usually are not big participants of local associations, but can benefit just as much as hospital employed biomeds.”

The California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA) has been around since 1972. The association has nine chapters spanning the country’s most populated state.

“The bottom line is willing volunteers,” says Gus Sakis, the 2011 and 2012 statewide chairman of the board for CMIA. “People willing to step up and do the work required to keep the CMIA going. Memberships; both individual and corporate, are a very important effort and require annual monitoring. Corporate sponsors; we could not exist and do some of the things we do without them. They are the financial backbone of the CMIA.”

Sakis says other important components include “meetings, setting a schedule, arranging for presentations, education, food and beverage is time consuming.”

He says that regional events take even more work. “With booth/table sales for exhibitors, registration, and most important education.” And he says that statewide symposiums require even more work, and like every other facet of an HTM association, require people willing to step up and do the important work.

Most HTM associations started with a small group of people who wanted to bring together biomeds to share what they know and provide opportunities for rubbing elbows with hiring managers and getting a look at the newest medical equipment.

“It is almost impossible to get local biomeds interested in a yet-to-be-created association. Everyone wants to wait until there is something established before they commit to supporting it,” Lynch points out. “We have tried to rev up widespread interest in establishing an organization. These put the cart before the horse and all have failed. The better way is to be content with a few — 6 to 12 — interested individuals, set up the association, and then invite people to attend.”

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