Although the Radiological Society of North America continues to host the world's largest radiology meeting, the Vienna-based European Society of Radiology (ESR) hopes to surpass RSNA's membership numbers, partially through an innovative low-cost membership drive. The philosophy behind the membership drive can be summed up with ESR's new slogan: "The bigger we are -- the better we can serve you."
The organization hopes to attract a total of 50,000 members by the end of 2007. As of early August, the tally had reached 27,496. The ESR currently offers three categories of membership, including full membership for European Union (EU) radiologists, corresponding membership for non-EU radiologists, and associate membership for non-radiologists. Associate members do not have voting rights but do have free access to the full online version of European Radiology, plus the option to receive the print version for an extra fee of 70 euros.
The membership drive was launched and promoted heavily during the 2007 European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna, with signs throughout the venue urging attendees to join, with offers of a 10-euro annual membership fee and a joining bonus in the form of a laptop computer case.
In addition, the ESR has embarked on a program to offer membership to members of several international radiology societies, including those from China, Israel, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Fees collected from new members go into the general revenue fund.
Radiologists who have membership in a national society can register with ESR for free, provided their local society is willing to offer a link to the ESR application, according to Isabella Grabensteiner, ESR senior manager of committee and board affairs. The ESR membership fee will then be covered by the national society. However, membership in a national society does not automatically mean a person becomes an ESR member; he or she must still complete the ESR application process.
"It is important to underline that all individual members have to confirm their willingness to become ESR members, thus making them 'real' individual (ESR) members as they could also choose to opt out (of ESR membership)," and maintain only a national membership, noted Grabensteiner.
Peter Baierl, ESR executive director, began planning the campaign six months before the 2007 ECR after considering the economic feasibility of expanding membership. "As in any other field of life, radiology professionals have a wide range of income," he said. "Some can't afford the RSNA fees."
The Oak Brook, IL-based RSNA currently charges $355 for active and associate membership in North America, while free membership is extended to members-in-training (who do have to pay for a subscription to the print version of Radiology). Corresponding (international members) pay $355 or $455 with print journal subscription. As of March 1, 2007, total RSNA membership was 40,973.
Dave Fellers, RSNA's executive director, said they are aware of the ESR's membership drive. "The ESR is a wonderful organization and one that RSNA enjoys a close working relationship," Fellers told AuntMinnie.com. "We wish ESR the best in their membership campaign."
According to the ESR, the discounted membership fee will remain at 10 euros for the foreseeable future.
By Brenda TilkeAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
August 13, 2007
Related Reading
Alliance for MRI gains delay, but new European rules still loom, July 26, 2007
Scientists warn new E.U. rules threaten MRI scans, June 11, 2007
Copyright © 2007 AuntMinnie.com
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=100&q=70&w=100)
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
