From Interest to Impact: Early Insights on Serving Physicians Worldwide (Concurrent)-F Interest to Impact: Early Insights on Serving Physicians Worldwide

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Video Summary

A recent collaborative study, involving nine U.S. medical societies and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), surveyed over 3,100 physicians across 146 countries to understand international engagement with U.S. medical organizations. Key findings reveal that 40% of international physicians were never formally invited to join U.S. societies, highlighting a missed opportunity. Cost and travel barriers, including increased visa fees and out-of-pocket expenses, significantly limit global participation. Virtual events and education, especially in patient safety, quality improvement, and professional development, are highly valued by international members, many of whom are young professionals and students. However, traditional U.S.-centric offerings such as advocacy and clinical practice guidelines often do not resonate globally and may require localization or partnerships with international societies. Societies emphasized the importance of strategic, data-driven global outreach, tailored pricing models adjusted beyond World Bank income classifications, and leveraging member-driven initiatives to overcome staff capacity limitations. Panelists also stressed integrating international voices in meeting planning to create authentic, relevant experiences and the potential of virtual formats to enhance accessibility. The overarching message encourages U.S. medical societies to rethink assumptions about international members’ needs, focusing on meaningful engagement, mission advancement, and impact rather than revenue. The study’s detailed report is expected in April, providing further insights to guide global strategies in medical society engagement.

Keywords

international physicians

U.S. medical societies

global engagement

virtual medical education

patient safety

cost and travel barriers

professional development

localization of guidelines

strategic global outreach