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A Snapshot of Pulmonary Medicine at the Turn of the Century

The American Thoracic Society Membership

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Membership Services and Marketing, American Thoracic Society, New York, New York; Department of Clinical Investigation and Pulmonary Critical Care Service, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas; Pulmonary Division, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Lynn M. Schnapp, M.D., Box 359640, 325 Ninth Avenue, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104. E-mail: lschnapp{at}u.washington.edu

To describe the characteristics of the American Thoracic Society, the Membership Committee developed a survey to assess demographics, training, professional activities, and needs of a diverse membership with a growing international segment. It also provided an opportunity to determine how the Society reflects the current state of pulmonary medicine in the United States. A self-administered survey was mailed to active members. Of responding members, 80% reside in the United States or Canada; the remainder come from 90 different countries. The majority of North American respondents (79%) were white, non-Hispanic. Seventeen percent of respondents were female. Female respondents were younger, with a mean age of 42 years, compared with 47 years for males. Sixty-five percent of respondents identified clinical practice, 20% research, and 5% teaching as their major activity. More women (33%) than men (22%) identified themselves as researchers. The majority of respondents (69%) have a medical school faculty affiliation. The American Thoracic Society represents a global organization with diverse clinical expertise and scientific interests. The majority of respondents are clinicians; however, the membership has a strong academic bent with most reporting academic affiliation, and describing teaching as a secondary activity.

Key Words: career choice • medical faculty • pulmonary disease (specialty) • questionnaires

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