OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN ENDOSONOGRAPHY CLUB (AEC)
In the late 1980's and early 1990's Drs. Michael Sivak, Charles Lightdale,
Rob Hawes and Worth Boyce were among the first in the United States to
accumulate a substantial clinical and research experience in the field of
endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This group was subsequently joined by Dr. Lok
Tio who came to the United States after participating in numerous European
clinical studies involving EUS. Realizing the clinical value of EUS, they
saw the need for a national organization that could focus on various EUS
related issues and activities.
This lead to the formation of the AEC. The individuals above became the executive committee with Dr. Sivak as President, Dr. Lightdale as Vice President and Dr. Hawes as Secretary. This group then extended invitations to others who were doing EUS to meet in 1992 and organize into an education committee consisting of Drs Steven Edmundowicz (Chair), Leor Roubein, Maro Catalano, Harry Snady, and Worth Boyce, and a research committee consisting of Drs. John Affronti (Chair), Nicholas Nickl and Michael Kimmey.
In the following years, numerous additional individuals who have had an interest in EUS have joined the AEC. Together, many have participated in various activities including educational conferences, multicenter surveys and outcomes research projects. With the help of Dr. Arnold Rosen, an organized effort successfully obtained a CPT (current procedural terminalogy) code and a R.V.U. (relative value unit) for the EUS exam thereby legitimizing it as a standard, noninvestigational procedure. Also, an internet communications network and this web site were developed to facilitate group activities among those who have an interest in EUS.
If you have an interest in EUS we invite you to join the AEC.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
There are no dues or time commitments for those who join. Anyone can send
in a request for membership directly from this page. To send e-mail to
the AEC Secretary, Rob Hawes M.D. simply click on his e-mail address
below. Be sure to include your name, a daytime phone, an office address
and a sentence stating that you want to join the AEC.
The e-mail address for AEC Secretary, Rob Hawes M.D.is: HawesR@smtpgw2.musc.edu
To return to the AEC home page click here
Last updated 11/24/95.