ASHT works to represent and advance the profession on many levels. As professionals, it's incumbent upon hand therapists to support their professional organization because the future of the profession depends upon it. This organization advocates for the profession on Capitol Hill and anywhere legislative issues emerge, such as the currentCMS plans to cut Medicare reimbursement.

ASHT promotes high-quality research and publication of the peer-reviewed professional journal. It provides important consumer information and promotes the profession in a way individual therapists can't, such as through Healthy Hands Week and relationships with affiliated organizations such as the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the American Association for Hand Surgery.

As a professional, it's important to “give back” to your profession. I believe the attitude of a professional should not be, “What's in it for me?” but rather, “What can I give back to a society that has done so much for so long to advance the profession?”

ASHT also provides networking opportunities at the Annual Meeting and continuing education opportunities through volunteering and listservs, the website and social networking sites.

Here are some of the arguments we get from those who choose not to join ASHT.

“It's too expensive.”

“I'm not going to the Annual Meeting, so I don't need the member discount.”

“I can't afford it.”

“It does nothing for me.”

“It's a clique.”

“There's nothing in it for me.”

We can't afford not to band together as a professional society. We must advance the profession, support and disseminate research, network, share our strengths and ideas and fight the legislative battles and third party payor battles that emerge. If therapists don't maintain strong professional societies, others will take over our domain of practice. The threats from other professions and groups are real.

To those who argue, “There's nothing in it for me,” I must say, “If you see it this way for too long, you'll be right.” There will be nothing, because our profession will gradually disappear.