Please encourage your partners and colleagues to join AVAS as Active Members.  The Society is now accepting applications which will be reviewed by the AVAS Membership Committee and submitted for approval by the Executive Committee every quarter.

AVAS is a vibrant society comprised of surgeons practicing in a VA setting and open to students, residents, and fellows interested in pursuing a surgical career at the VA. The society offers tremendous opportunity for faculty and trainee networking and offers a valuable service to its members through knowledge gained at the annual meeting. Healthcare professionals who are not surgeons, but have an interest in surgical care provided to veterans are invited to apply as Associate members.

Categories of Membership:

• Active Members. Active Members of the Corporation shall be surgeons, surgical specialists and anesthesiologists affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and for whom the VA affiliation is a significant part of their academic and professional identity. Active Members should 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 shall be eligible for election to office or serve as Director of the Corporation. Active Members shall be entitled to vote.
  

• Associate Members. Associate Members shall be individuals having an interest in patient care, medical education, or research in surgery in the Department of Veterans Affairs (including but not limited to research scientists, physician assistants, perfusionists, nurses, nurse practitioners, practice administrators, data managers and other health care professionals). Active members who are terminating affiliation with the Department of Veterans Affairs by means other than retirement may apply to the Executive Council for Associate Member status. Associate Members shall pay dues. They shall not be entitled to hold office or serve as a Director of the Corporation. Associate Members shall be entitled to vote.

• Senior Members. Senior Members shall be 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 Council and have been approved for that status. Senior members shall be excused of payment of dues. Senior members shall be entitled to vote but shall not be entitled to hold office or serve as a Director of the Corporation.

• Candidate Members. Candidate members shall be 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 may also be physician trainees in a recognized residency program affiliated with a VA Medical Center. Candidate members will receive mailings, may submit papers for presentation, and may attend meetings. Candidate members shall pay dues at a reduced rate determined by the Board, but they shall not be privileged to vote or to be Officers or Directors of the Corporation. An individual may be a candidate member for no longer than one (1) year after completing specialty training.

• Honorary Members. Honorary Members may be selected from surgeons, surgical specialists, and anesthesiologists of unusual eminence in the profession proposed to the Association by the Executive Council. They shall not be required to pay dues nor shall they be privileged to vote or to be Officers of the Corporation. They may, however, act in a consultative or advisory capacity to any Officer or committee of the Association.