Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

IDSA offers introductory answers to frequently asked questions about the society. Click on a subject heading below to view questions and answers relating to your selection. Links throughout the answers will guide you to further information on our website or from other sources. Should you have any further questions, please consult our Contact Us page.

• How long is IDSA and HIVMA membership good for?
• What is the HIV Medicine Association?
• Does IDSA have any publications?
• Do IDSA and HIVMA sell or rent their membership lists?
• What resources do you offer clinicians in practice?
• What networking opportunities does IDSA offer?
• What is your deadline for Election to Fellowship?
• When is the deadline for the Awards?
• Can I change my address over the phone?
• How much are dues? Are there discounts for international members?
• When is the IDSA Fellows Meeting?
• Do you have State and Regional Affiliates?
• How do I log on to the Members Only section of the website?
• Does IDSA have job postings?
• Does IDSA have a list of Training Programs in Infectious Diseases?
• What year was IDSA Founded? How many members does IDSA have?
• What is the AIDS Training Program? How can I apply?
• What is the IDSA Education and Research Foundation? How can I contribute?
• What are IDSA's policy and advocacy priorities?

How long is IDSA and HIVMA Membership good for?

Membership runs on the calendar year; therefore, membership is valid through Dec. 31 of any year. Applications submitted after July 1 will be processed for the next year. Applications submitted after June will be processed for the next year, with the dues credited to the next year.

What is the HIV Medicine Association?

The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) of IDSA is a forum for all physicians, scientists and other health care professionals dedicated to the field of HIV/AIDS, not just ID specialists. HIVMA’s goal is to help all health care professionals who care for patients with HIV/AIDS to provide the best care to their patients through activities that focus on advocacy and education. Policy efforts concentrate on ensuring people with AIDS have access to optimal care including experienced HIV providers.  HIVMA also develops the HIV content for the IDSA Annual Meeting, and develops HIV-related practice guidelines. 

HIVMA currently has more than 3,600 members.  Membership in IDSA is included with HIVMA membership. There is no additional cost for an IDSA member to become a member of HIVMA.  HIVMA does not credential or certify HIV physicians. Membership is based solely on physicians self-identifying as devoting a majority of their professional time to HIV medicine. The American Academy of HIV Medicine does credential HIV physicians.

In addition to receiving IDSA’s journals, HIVMA members also receive a special compendium of HIV articles published in Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID) and HIVMA E-news (monthly). HIVMA members received this year's edition of the CID compendium in October.  Three hours of continuing medical education credit hours are available by reading and returning questionnaires for the three CME-designated articles.

HIVMA has an online searchable database of HIVMA members accepting new patients. HIVMA and IDSA members have the opportunity to be trainers for the AIDS program in Uganda. Visit HIVMA's website to learn more.

Does IDSA have any publications?

We have two journals, The Journal of Infectious Diseases(JID) and Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID), published twice monthly, through the University of Chicago Press.

IDSA News, the Society’s online newsletter, is published monthly.

The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) publishes HIVMA E-News once a month.

Do IDSA and HIVMA sell or rent their membership lists?

IDSA does rent its mailing list.  We have a Mailing List Policies and Procedures document that can be faxed or mailed to anyone inquiring. Renting the list costs $1500.  Information is available by calling Trenita Onley at (703) 299-0200.

HIVMA also rents its mailing list. Renting the list costs $750. Information is available by calling Membership at (703) 299-0200.

Members can obtain free lists on the My IDSA section of the IDSA website.  (This list is for personal use only.)

What resources do you offer clinicians in practice?

A practice managers listserve and web resource page is now available on our website under “Policy & Advocacy.”

What networking opportunities does IDSA offer?

IDSA has developed Interest Groups (IG's) as forums for members with similar interests to discuss issues, exchange ideas and network. Currently IG’s include: Clinical Microbiology, Gay and Lesbian, Infections in Cancer, International ID, Minorities in ID, and Tuberculosis.

What is your deadline for Election to Fellowship?

The deadline is April 1 (or the next weekday) each year.

When is the deadline for the Awards?

The next deadline for Postdoctoral Fellowships and Young Investigator Awards is February 12, 2010.

The next deadline for HIVMA’s Minority Clinical Fellowships is February 12, 2010.

The next deadline for the Medical Scholars Program (formerly the Summer Scholarships) is March 1, 2010.

The next deadline for the IDSA Society Awards (the honorific awards) is April 1, 2010.

The next deadline for the HIVMA Leadership Awards is April 1, 2008.

Can I change my address over the phone?

Yes. You can also change the address in the My IDSA section of the website at www.idsociety.org or by faxing the information to the Headquarters office at (703) 299-0204.

How much are dues? Are there discounts for international members?

Domestic Members in Training = $115

Domestic Member/Fellow = $250

International Members with print journals (including Canada) = $315

International Members with E-journals only (no printed copies) = $240

International Members in under-developed countries (UC)* with print journals = $105

International Members in UC* with E-journals only (no printed copies) = $25

*International Members in Underdeveloped Countries (UC): In order to qualify for these rates, the member's address must be among the countries on the World Bank list of Low-Income Economies at the time they apply.  This will be evaluated each year at the time of the first dues billing for the year (November) and any adjustment made then for the next year.

When is the IDSA Fellows Meeting?

The IDSA Fellows Meeting occurs each year in April. More information will be available on the IDSA website and in IDSA News after the Annual Meeting. The IDSA Fellows Meeting is a highly popular annual meeting designed to give tomorrow’s clinicians real-world insights into the specialty of infectious diseases.

Do you have State and Regional Affiliates?

Information about State and Regional Societies can be found on our website.  For each state in which there is an ID society, the website lists the president’s name, affiliation, and telephone and fax numbers.

How do I log on to the Members Only section of the website?

You can use your e-mail address as your username. If we do not have your e-mail address on file you can use your IDSA/HIVMA member ID number. If you’ve forgotten your member ID number, the  "forgot your password?" function on the Member Login page will e-mail the password to you  (You may change your password by clicking on the My IDSA button at the top of each page.)

If you continue to have trouble logging in, please contact member services at 866-889-7318.

Does IDSA have job postings?

The ID/HIV Career Center is now located on our website. The ID/HIV Career Center is now a member of the HEALTHeCAREERS Network, an integrated network of dozens of healthcare association jobs banks. If you need assistance with the Career Center please contact HEALTHeCAREERS at 888-884-8242 or e-mail info@healthecareers.com.

Does IDSA have a list of Training Programs in Infectious Diseases?

Yes, IDSA publishes a Guide to Training in Infectious Diseases that is posted on our website under the Education & Training section as well as at the top of each page under Directories.

What year was IDSA Founded? How many members does IDSA have?

IDSA was founded in 1963. We have over 8,600 members.

What is the AIDS Training Program? How can I apply?

The AIDS Training Program (ATP) is IDSA’s and HIVMA’s contribution to the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa (AAACP). ATP’s goal is to train African physicians (and, eventually, other health professionals) in HIV/AIDS care, using IDSA and HIVMA members from around the world as faculty. Over 360 physicians from 16 African nations have been trained through the program.

AAACP is an alliance of Ugandan physicians from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and infectious disease experts from North America. The major objective of AAACP is to provide state-of-the-art HIV care, establish a regional HIV education and training program for health care workers, and conduct operational research.  AAACP works with the faculty of the Department of Medicine at Makerere University, the Ugandan Ministry of Health, AIDS care organizations in Uganda, and IDSA and HIVMA to develop and implement the training program. 

ATP applications are available on the HIVMA website. Upcoming training block periods and application deadlines also are available on the website.

What is the IDSA Education and Research Foundation? How can I contribute?

The IDSA Education and Research Foundation supports research and education activities that improve patient care and provide information about infectious diseases for the benefit of physicians, scientists, health care professionals and the public. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

The IDSA Education and Research Foundation houses the Postdoctoral Fellowships and Young Investigator Awards as well as the AIDS Training Program.  The Foundation provides financial support to the National Network for Immunization Information.

IDSA members can make tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation at the same time they pay their annual dues, or on the My IDSA section of the site.  Individuals, corporations, charitable foundations and others can make contributions directly to the Foundation. 

What are IDSA's policy and advocacy priorities?

Antimicrobial Availability: See IDSA’s report, “Bad Bugs, No Drugs: As Antibiotic Discovery Stagnates…A Public Health Crisis Brews”

A public health crisis is emerging as a growing number of drug companies appear to be withdrawing from antimicrobial discovery. Very few new antimicrobials have been approved in the past several years and fewer appear to be in the pharmaceutical pipeline. At the heart of the growing crisis is the lack of investment by the private sector in this area. The Society firmly believes that novel public policy is needed to incentivize pharmaceutical research and development of new anti-infective products to treat the increasing number of drug resistant infections, emerging organisms and persistent pathogens, such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.  IDSA leaders are discussing the problem and potential solutions with government and industry officials. In 2005, transformative legislation was introduced in both Houses of Congress.  IDSA has been on the forefront of these bills' development and is working on the enactment of favorable legislation this year.

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Influenza has become a high profile issue for IDSA.  IDSA's expert members and staff have been very active in advocating for a stronger U.S. commitment toward pandemic (and interpandemic) influenza preparedness.  This work falls under the National and Global Public Health Committee and its Pandemic Influenza Task Force.  Earlier this year, IDSA developed a list of short- and long-term principles for federal action, which are available on IDSA's website.  IDSA also testified before Congress and has been in discussions with federal officials in the interest of preparing the U.S. and the world for an influenza event.  Given the Society’s leadership in advocating these principles, IDSA now is frequently being called upon to weigh in on U.S. activities.

Fair and adequate reimbursement for ID physician services: In 2004, IDSA was admitted to the American Medical Association's House of Delegates.  Since that time, the Society has lost no time in taking a leadership role and is now intimately involved in improving ID physician payments for Evaluation and Management (E/M; office/hospital visits) and other services.  In 2005, ID physicians began to bill for and be paid for office-based infusions differently than in the past.  IDSA has closely followed   Medicare's implementing regulations in this area and is monitoring other regulatory developments that affect physician practices. As changes in medical payments and regulations occur, IDSA is assisting practitioners by providing up-to-date information on its new practice management website.   IDSA also is working with Congress and the Administration to make sure ID physicians' voices are adequately heard and that patients' access to ID treatments is protected. 

Funding for federal ID programs: IDSA continues to work to ensure federal infectious diseases programs are sufficiently funded.