ARRS and ACR Governing Boards Reach Agreement in Principle for a Strategic Integration (Breaking News!)

The governing boards of the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) have reached an agreement in principle for a strategic integration that would leverage the unique strengths of each organization and provide the potential for enhanced service to radiologists and medical physicists seeking continuing medical education, quality and safety programs and a strong voice in Washington. The agreement in principle establishes a framework for the two organizations to realize operational efficiency, eliminate redundancies, and improve access to important educational content while maintaining the rich traditions and cultures of each. Under the agreement, the educational missions of ARRS and ACR will be integrated, with ARRS taking the lead in developing and delivering scientific and educational programs for members of ACR and ARRS. ACR will focus its unique strengths in the areas of government advocacy, economics and health policy, quality and safety, and clinical research. "ACR and ARRS have worked collaboratively for years, and this bold step will serve to strengthen and unify our efforts even further," said James H. Thrall, M.D., chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors. "The guiding principle of the affiliation is to build on the complementary strengths of both organizations while adding value to the membership," said John K. Crowe, ARRS president. Both governing boards will continue their respective roles and responsibilities with cross representation on each board. Members of both organizations can expect uninterrupted access to the highly-valued offerings that they have previously received as members of their respective organizations. By combining forces, ACR and ARRS can expand and enhance these respective member services and devote greater resources to innovative new programs to better meet the needs of radiologists and medical physicists nationwide and around the world. Approval of the agreement in principle is a step forward. Once the details are finalized, the proposal will be presented to the ARRS membership in April for consideration. If approved, the new framework will take effect July 1.
About the ACR The 32,000 members of the American College of Radiology include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians. The mission of the ACR is to serve patients and society by maximizing the value of radiology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and medical physics by advancing the science of radiology, improving the quality of patient care, positively influencing the socio-economics of the practice of radiology, providing continuing education for radiology and allied health professions and conducting research for the future of radiology. About the ARRS The 20,000 member American Roentgen Ray Society is the first and oldest radiology society in the United States. The society has been a forum for progress in radiology since shortly after the discovery of the X-ray and is dedicated to the goal of the advancement of medicine through the science of radiology and its allied sciences. The mission of the Society is to advance medicine through the science of radiology and its allied sciences by enabling the creation and exchange of knowledge and information in the field through its journal, meetings and other means.