Membership Application

Membership Application Process

To become a member of the Association of VA Surgeons, you must do the following:

• Complete a Membership Application Form. Click here to download the form.

• Submit 2 letters of recommendation from a member or senior member of AVAS. If there are no members of AVAS at your hospital, letters from the Chief of Staff, chairman of the appropriate academic department, or a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons would be acceptable. Letters of recomendation should be sent directly to the Membership Chairman.

• Attach a current Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Mail the completed membership form and CV to the Membership Chairman:

  Michael D. Crittenden, MD St. Louis VAMC (112JC) 915 N. Grand Blvd St. Louis, MO 63106 Tel: 314-289-6363 Fax: 314-289-7034 Email: michael.crittenden@va.gov

   

   

Membership Categories

There are several categories of membership to the Association of VA Surgeons:

1. Active Members are surgeons, surgical specialists and anesthesiologists affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs who hold certification by the American Board of their specialty or Fellowship in or certification by one of the Royal or American Colleges. Only Active Members are eligible for election to office or appointment to standing committees.

2. Senior Members are Active Members who have reached the age of 65 years or who have retired from affiliation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and for these or any other acceptable reasons have applied to the Executive Committee and have been approved for that status. Senior members are excused payment of dues. They are not entitled to hold office.

3. Associate Members are Active Members who terminated their affiliation with the Department of Veterans Affairs by means other than retirement and may apply to the Executive Committee for Associate Member status. Associate Members shall pay dues. They are not entitled to hold office.

4. Honorary Members may be selected from surgeons, surgical specialists, and anesthesiologists of unusual eminence in the profession proposed to the Association by the Executive Committee. They are not required to pay dues nor are they privileged to vote or hold office. They may, however, act in a consultative or advisory capacity to any officer or committee of the Association.

5. Candidate Members are surgeons, surgical specialists, and anesthesiologists affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs who are candidates for certification by the American Board of their specialty or are members of the candidate group of the American College of Surgeons. Candidate members will receive mailings, may submit papers for presentation, and may attend meetings. They are not required to pay dues nor are they privileged to vote or hold office. An individual may be a candidate member for no longer than four (4) years.