Use of AASLD Member Emails 

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The Central Office has received several inquiries regarding the use of AASLD members’ emails for the purpose of conducting electronic surveys. AASLD’s long-standing policy is that information contained within the AASLD Membership Directory, both in print and online, is intended for the express reference purposes of AASLD members. The information cannot be copied or reproduced in any fashion, including photocopying or screen capture of pages, electronic scanning of pages, or keying information into a separate database or file. 

We are, however, sensitive to our members’ need to communicate with each other and it is not AASLD’s intent to impede this communication. Our policy preventing the use of member email addresses was created in an effort to protect AASLD members from increased email traffic. We realize that email is the primary communication tool and AASLD wants to encourage dialogue among members to improve patient care and conduct research.

To facilitate conversation/research without having a negative impact on our members’ time and email in-boxes, the Membership Committee recently agreed that members will be asked to either opt in or out of the release of their email by AASLD for other members’ electronic scientific surveys. Once this information has been gathered from the membership, a formal process for acquiring member email addresses for scientific surveys will be established.

As an alternative to direct emailing of members and in support of our hope to improve dialogue and communication, AASLD established Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which are designed to foster collaboration among members with shared interests in the field. Each SIG has an online workspace and meets either in person or via conference call on a periodic basis. With the approval of the SIG chair, a SIG’s online workspace may be an appropriate forum for conducting surveys and future research. Members may participate in any two SIGs from among the following that have been established to date:

Acute on Chronic Liver Failure
Cholestatic Liver Disorders
Hepatitis B
Hepatobiliary Neoplasia
Liver Fibrosis
Liver Transplantation and Surgery
Pediatric Liver Disorders
Portal Hypertension
Steatosis and Steatohepatitis

Join the groups via the Member Center if you haven’t already.