ASM Recognized with Prestigious Award for COVID-19 Response
Washington, D.C. – August 12, 2020 – The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has been awarded the Power of A (association) Gold Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for ASM’s COVID-19 response. The Power of A awards is an industry honor, which recognizes the association community’s valuable contributions on the local, national and global levels and the industry professionals who work tirelessly to solve problems, strengthen lives, the economy and the world.ASM has been recognized for developing a comprehensive strategy that addressed scientific, policy and diagnostics issues related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our volunteer and staff leaders have been working with various government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the White House Coronavirus COVID-19 Task Force to advocate for our clinical microbiology community regarding regulatory, supply chain and other issues related to SARS-CoV-2 testing. ASM has taken on a prominent role as a convener, sharing science-based information with the media, advocating to policymakers for science, public health and clinical concerns and educating the public.
“By integrating our staff’s industry knowledge and the subject matter expertise of our clinical leaders, ASM successfully developed a 3-pronged approach to address the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. By advocating for a higher volume of testing, leveraging our clinical community’s expertise to remove diagnostic roadblocks and producing accurate, real-time resources on the latest COVID-19 developments, the synergy between our staff, volunteers and members led to overcoming many hurdles during this pandemic. We continue to leverage opportunities to contribute to the pandemic response,” said Stefano Bertuzzi, CEO, ASM.
“This has been a very trying year for associations, but even amid a months-long pandemic, associations are proving that positive change can happen. More than ever, the Power of Associations is on full display in this year’s award-winning programs, providing tangible evidence that associations will help lead the way toward economic and societal recovery in the months ahead,” said Susan Robertson, President and CEO, ASAE.
ASM joins 20 other organizations in being recognized with the Gold Award honor. The Power of A Awards celebrates the extraordinary programs and initiatives undertaken by associations worldwide to enrich lives, advance the industries or professions they represent, kickstart innovation and improve world conditions. The long-term goal of The Power of A is to ensure a deeper understanding of what associations do, not just for the industries and professions they represent, but to improve society and our quality of life.
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The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.