Trends in Surgical Society Membership and Meeting Attendance Costs

Abstract

Background

Surgical society membership and meeting attendance are critical for academic success. Studies demonstrate an association between society membership and greater publication numbers, NIH grants, and departmental leadership positions. Despite this, another study revealed a 68% lapse in membership status by faculty respondents due to costs. Understanding these costs is essential to structuring institutional investments in faculty development.

Methods

Membership dues, meeting registration fees, and meeting attendance costs for 23 national, regional, and subspecialty societies from 2022 to 2024 were analyzed. Meeting costs were estimated assuming a 3-day attendance model. Membership dues and meeting registration fees were trended over a 3-year period.

Results

Subspecialty and national societies had the highest meeting attendance cost ($2638 and $2492, respectively). Regional societies had the lowest cost ($2252). Overall average membership dues were the highest for subspecialty societies ($474) and lowest for regional societies ($327). National societies’ average membership dues were $431 and had the highest average increase over the 3-year period ($47). Subspecialty societies had the highest average meeting registration fees ($684) and the highest increases in fees over the study ($61). National societies’ meeting registration averaged $581 with an average increase of $49. Regional societies had the lowest registration fees ($445) with no increases.

Discussion

Subspecialty societies have the highest overall costs and had the greatest increases in meeting registration fees. National societies had the greatest increases in membership dues. Regional society costs are lowest and remained unchanged. An understanding of how faculty and departments finance these costs is needed.