Recent membership and specialist trends of the Japanese Respiratory Society
Takafumi Sudaa,b Mutsuo Yamayaa,c Takeshi Isobea,d Kazuyoshi Imaizumia,e Tetsuro Ohdairaa,f Shinobu Osanaia,g Tomotaka Kawayamaa,h Naomi Kunichikaa,i Hiroyuki Sanoa,j Yoko Shibataa,k Masaharu Shinkaia,l Etsuko Tagayaa,m Hirofumi Chibaa,n Hisako Matsumotoa,o Takeshi Kanekoa,p
aThe Planning Committee of the Japanese Respiratory Society
b2nd Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
cDepartment of Advanced Preventive Medicine for Infectious Disease, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine
eDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Fujita Health University
fDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nishi-Niigata Chuo National Hospital
gCardiovascular, Respiratory and Neurology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University
hDivision of Respirology, Neurology, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine
iDepartment of Internal Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Yamaguchi Hospital
jDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine
kDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
lClinical Trial Development and Research Center, Tokyo Shinagawa Hospital
mFirst Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women’s Medical University
nDepartment of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine
oDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine
pDepartment of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine
Using the membership database of the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS), we explored JRS membership trends for academic members and specialists from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, we conducted a questionnaire survey of new medical staff members in the respiratory medicine departments of university hospitals. The number of JRS members, specialists, and new medical staff members belonging to university hospitals has increased. However, these numbers were still lower than those of other Japanese societies of internal medicine, such as the Japanese Circulation Society. Notably, large regional differences were found in the number of members and specialists. The proportion of female members has gradually increased; however, it was still lower than 20%. Strikingly, the number of new members has decreased, whereas that of unsubscribed members has increased over time. Therefore, reducing the number of unsubscribed members may be as important as increasing that of new members. Considering these challenging observations, it is essential for JRS to take strong measures to increase the number of its members, especially female members and specialists.
The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) Academic member Specialist Female academic member
Received 22 Aug 2019 / Accepted 27 Aug 2019
AJRS, 8(6): 375-385, 2019