The Benefits of Joining Professional Associations
Updated April 22, 2019
A professional association is an organization formed to unite and inform people who work in the same occupation. There are many advantages to joining associations.
Professional associations in healthcare represent a collection of professionals who work towards the common goal of promoting and improving the medical profession they are associated with. These healthcare organizations champion their members by providing resources, information, and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.
Members are bonded together as they advocate for their peers and share their challenges and triumphs with one another. Joining an association provides members with a competitive advantage because they become active, informed members of their industry.
Many association members who lead busy professional lives depend on their association to brief them on important industry trends, new legislative rulings, and advances in technology.
Networking
Associations provide unparalleled networking opportunities, allowing individuals to connect with their peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. As a member, you are in the unique position to attend conventions, seminars, award dinners and other related events with like-minded professionals in the field. These events are attended by the brightest minds and are a hotbed of ideas and collaborative efforts.
An association’s annual meeting represents an incredible opportunity for you to meet and network with the largest gathering of your peers during the year. Networking with professionals outside your place of employment can give you a broader perspective on the market and healthcare in general. Listening to the experiences of others may even leave you feeling energized and refreshed with the feeling you are not alone in the fight.
Education
The field of medicine is always in a state of change. Healthcare professionals can keep up with the newest developments and scientific breakthroughs through their associations’ seminars, journals, CME courses <link calendar here> here, and other educational opportunities provided to them. Additionally, many associations conveniently offer all of the certification courses you will need throughout your entire career. Your professional organization also provides access to mentors, giving you an opportunity to participate in mentoring others as well. Having a mentor in any field will help your career grow and thrive.
As an association member, you are in the unique position to gain a competitive edge by utilizing all of the educational resources available to you.
Intrinsic Value
Associations are always in need of new blood to help organize their annual meetings, workshops, CME courses, and legislative committees. Helping your organization work to improve your profession as well as to help improve the overall state of healthcare can be a very rewarding opportunity.
To fully receive the benefits of membership, you need to be engaged with the association. With any membership, however, you get what you put into it. Get involved as often as possible and you will reap the benefits offered to you as a member.
Jobs
Healthcare associations are great places to find the latest jobs in your field. You can connect with prospective employers at annual meetings and make contacts with other members of the association and also submit your resume to the Association’s Secretariat.