Background
The Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) has national member societies and regional subspecialty member societies. The APAO welcomes membership applications from any ophthalmological society of nations/territories in the Asia-Pacific region and regional/international subspecialty-based societies in ophthalmology.
Procedure
The two categories of membership applications are vetted with the respective procedures below:
Criteria, Rights, & Fees
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National Society Selection Criteria
Applications for national membership are vetted with the following criteria:
1.1 The applicant must be the national society of ophthalmology representative of its nation/tariff territory in the Asia-Pacific region, representing the great majority of practicing registered ophthalmologists in that nation/ tariff territory.
1.2 The applicant must be a society recognized as of good standing with:
1.2.1 proper registration; and
1.2.2 a Constitution and/or a Memorandum and Articles listing clearly its objectives, vision and mission.
1.3 The society leadership must recognize and uphold the Mission Statements of APAO.
1.4 The applicant should have a regular and transparent democratic process to elect Office Bearers and Council Members.
1.5 Membership of this society must be open to all practicing registered ophthalmologists within the nation/ tariff territory.
To apply, please return a completed application form to secretariat@apaophth.org.
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Subspecialty Society Selection Criteria
Applications for subspecialty membership are vetted with the following criteria:
2.1 The subspecialty society should be based in the Asia-Pacific region.
2.2 The applicant must represent an ophthalmic subspecialty widely recognized and practiced in the member nations of APAO.
2.3 The applicant must be a society recognized as of good standing with:
2.3.1 proper registration; and
2.3.2 a Constitution and/or a Memorandum and Articles listing clearly its objectives, vision and mission.
2.4 The society leadership must recognize and uphold the Mission Statements of APAO.
2.5 The applicant should have a regular and transparent democratic process to elect Office Bearers and Council Members.
2.6 Membership of this society must be open to all practicing registered ophthalmologists with the same subspecialty interest in all APAO member nations.
To apply, please return a completed application form to secretariat@apaophth.org.
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Associate Membership
National ophthalmic societies and regional subspecialty societies that do not completely fulfill the criteria for full membership, but have the potential to facilitate the Academy’s accomplishment of its mission and vision, may be considered for Associate Membership.
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Membership Benefits
4.1 Member societies shall have the right to participate in the activities of the Academy, including:
4.1.1 the Annual APAO Council Meeting and General Assembly;
4.1.2 Annual APAO Congress;
4.1.3 APAO Award nominations;
4.1.4 APAO Leadership Development Program nominations;
4.1.5 APAO International Fellowship Program nominations;
4.1.6 other collaborative activities of APAO with the international ophthalmic community, such as the Asia-Pacific Eye Care Week.
4.2 Members of APAO’s member societies shall have free access to:
4.2.1 Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology (APJO), the official journal of the APAO;
4.2.2 APAO Online Education
4.3 Membership of societies is acknowledged on the official website of the APAO.
4.4 National society members have the right to bid for hosting the APAO Annual Congress in conjunction with their national society congress in their countries, while subspecialty societies have the right to organize at least 1 symposium at the APAO Annual Congress.
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Associate Membership Benefits
5.1 Associate member societies shall have the right to attend the annual APAO Council Meeting and General Assembly. Nevertheless, they shall have no voting rights in the meetings.
5.2 Members of APAO’s associate member societies shall have free access to:
5.2.1 Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology (APJO), the official journal of the APAO;
5.2.2 APAO Online Education
5.3 Associate membership of societies is acknowledged on the official website of the APAO.
5.4 Associate member societies which represent developing nations are eligible for reduced rates for congress registration.
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Membership Fee
6.1 Upon the APAO Council’s approval of its membership application, each member society is required to pay an annual full membership fee of US$100, which is collected biennially.
6.2 Upon the APAO’s approval of its associate members status, each associate member society is required to pay an annual associate membership fee of US$50, which is collected biennially.
6.3 The Council may, by a resolution, terminate the membership of a(n) (associate) member that fails to pay the membership fee for two consecutive years. Subject to the Council’s approval, (associate) membership may be reinstated upon payment in arrears.
6.4 Membership fees are subject to adjustment by the APAO Council.