American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Encyclopedia
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) was founded in 1946 to facilitate the exchange of information related to problems of the hand
. It is the oldest and largest medical specialty society in the United States devoted to the care of the hand.
Hand surgery
as a specialty grew out of the treatment of the hand injuries that occurred during World War II. Sterling Bunnell, MD, founder and first president of the ASSH, set up nine regional hand centers at U.S. Army bases throughout the United States during the 1940's. As World War II
drew to a close, Dr. Bunnell suggested forming an organization to continue to foster interest in hand care. In January, 1946, he and 34 hand surgeons, many of whom had worked in the Army hospitals, met immediately preceding the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The group continued to meet in conjunction with the AAOS Annual meeting until 1987, when it held its first stand-alone annual meeting.
ASSH offers four types of membership: Active, Candidate, International, and Affiliate.
Active members are physicians who reside in the United States
or Canada
, and are certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Board of Plastic Surgery
(ABPS),the American Board of Surgery
(ABGS) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
. All American-based hand surgeons seeking admission to Active Membership within ASSH are required to hold a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery, which is jointly administered by the three American boards. To maintain membership within ASSH, Active Members must attend an ASSH annual meeting at least once every three years.
Candidate members are qualified surgeons working in the United States who are interested in hand surgery and may eventually apply for full membership.
International members are qualified hand surgeons practicing medicine outside of the United States.
Affiliate members are allied healthcare professionals (e.g., hand therapists; occupational therapists; physical therapists; physician assistants; nurse practitioners; registered nurses) specializing in care of the hand and upper extremity.
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
. It is the oldest and largest medical specialty society in the United States devoted to the care of the hand.
Hand surgery
Hand surgery
The field of hand surgery deals with both surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that may take place in the hand or upper extremity including injury and infection. Hand surgery may be practiced by graduates of general surgery, orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery...
as a specialty grew out of the treatment of the hand injuries that occurred during World War II. Sterling Bunnell, MD, founder and first president of the ASSH, set up nine regional hand centers at U.S. Army bases throughout the United States during the 1940's. As World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
drew to a close, Dr. Bunnell suggested forming an organization to continue to foster interest in hand care. In January, 1946, he and 34 hand surgeons, many of whom had worked in the Army hospitals, met immediately preceding the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The group continued to meet in conjunction with the AAOS Annual meeting until 1987, when it held its first stand-alone annual meeting.
ASSH offers four types of membership: Active, Candidate, International, and Affiliate.
Active members are physicians who reside in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and are certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the American Board of Plastic Surgery
American Board of Plastic Surgery
The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. was organized as a subsidiary of the American Board of Surgery in 1938. The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. was given the status of a major specialty board in 1941...
(ABPS),the American Board of Surgery
American Board of Surgery
The American Board of Surgery is an independent, non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge...
(ABGS) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ' , French: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, is a national, private, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada...
. All American-based hand surgeons seeking admission to Active Membership within ASSH are required to hold a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery, which is jointly administered by the three American boards. To maintain membership within ASSH, Active Members must attend an ASSH annual meeting at least once every three years.
Candidate members are qualified surgeons working in the United States who are interested in hand surgery and may eventually apply for full membership.
International members are qualified hand surgeons practicing medicine outside of the United States.
Affiliate members are allied healthcare professionals (e.g., hand therapists; occupational therapists; physical therapists; physician assistants; nurse practitioners; registered nurses) specializing in care of the hand and upper extremity.