A Interest Group of the American Thoracic Society is defined as a community of ATS members and/or conference attendees with an interest in networking and advancing a specific area of knowledge, health care or research initiative or technology within the areas of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.
Objectives of a Interest Group of the American Thoracic Society may vary based on the focus of each group; however, each group must provide ATS with a complete application. To complete an application, please see the link below. You may submit your application beginning on January 1st. The deadline for submission of applications will be January 31st. Applications that are received after the deadline will not be considered until the following calendar year.
If you are interested in submitting an application to become an interest group please click here.
Key components of the application
- A brief description of their purpose
- The group’s Mission Statement and Goals (Who are we and what are we going to accomplish)
- How the Mission Statement relates to and supports the mission and strategic objectives of ATS
- Proposed outcomes for any meetings they hold during the International Conference
- Any logistical support
- Specifications needed (meals, AV etc.)
ATS reserves the right to decline the request and meeting space based on an initial assessment of the proposed group.
Applications will be reviewed and approved by the ATS Planning and Evaluation Committee as an initial first step. The recommendations from the Planning and Evaluation Committee will then be submitted to the ATS Executive Committee for final approval.
Interest groups will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if goals are being met. ATS reserves the right to sunset an interest group at any time.
Should your request be approved, Special Interest Groups may meet during the ATS International Conference under the following circumstances:
- Meetings may not take place during the following times:
- Saturday, 4:00-5:30 pm: Opening Ceremony
- Sunday, 4:30-6:30 pm: Awards Session
- Tuesday, 11:00 am-1:00 pm: Plenary Session
- Sunday-Wednesday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm
- Meetings may have a speakers who present on topics specific to the focus of the group; however, topics may not be of general interest to conference attendees
- Meeting space will be assigned by ATS Assembly staff based on room availability and anticipated number of attendees contact (mrodriguez@thoracic.org)
- Interest group chairs meeting at the International Conference will be required to submit a meeting summary shortly after the conference. If a meeting summary is not submitted by deadline the Interest group will automatically be sun-setted.
- Preference for meeting space will be given to ATS members who are currently serving on an ATS Committee or Assembly Leadership
