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What is the ACGS?
What does the ACGS do?
What are the benefits of joining the ACGS?
Why should GTs join the ACGS?
What is the ACGS?
• The Association for Clinical Genetic Science (ACGS) was established in December
2012 from a merger of the Association for Clinical Cytogenetics (ACC) and the
Clinical Molecular Genetics Society (CMGS) with the vision of bringing together
scientists working within genetics into one professional association.
• The ACGS is governed by its constitution and run by its elected Executive
committee consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and the Chairs of
the 4 standing subcommittees; Quality, Scientific, Workforce Development and
Communications.
• Each subcommittee is made up of ACGS members representing a range of career
levels on a voluntary basis. Any member of the ACGS can apply to join a
subcommittee.
What does the ACGS do?
• Represents the views of the profession to the Department of Health
• Sets Professional Standards for UK labs – Best Practice Guidelines
• Responsible for Clinical Scientist and Genetic Technologist Training and Development
• Convenes at the Annual Spring Scientific Meeting
• Organises study days to support training and development
• Supports and funds collaborative scientific projects and audits
• Maintains ACGS Website and supports other databases and trials
• Supports career development
What are the aims of the ACGS?
For the public benefit, the promotion, protection and preservation of good
health by any means deemed appropriate by the Trustees from time to
time including by:
-The promotion, encouragement and advancement of the study and
practice of clinical genetic science
-The advancement of education, research and innovation in clinical genetic
science
-The development and promotion of standards in clinical genetic science
What are the benefits of joining?
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ACGS and BSHG Newsletter
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Opportunity to shape your profession
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One voice for Clinical Genetic Science
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Offers Travel Awards for overseas conferences
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Members rates for ACGS Spring meeting, study days and BSGM annual conference
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Reduced price ACS assessment
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Access to a wide range of literature, including discounts for Scion Publishing and
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Oxford University Press
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Support for your career
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The chance to exchange genetic knowledge with your peers.
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Password protected online access to the members area including the online directory, presentations,
minutes and draft best practice guidelines
Why should GTs join the ACGS?
• Genetic Technologist numbers at all career levels are a rapidly growing and are
an increasingly integral part of Genetic Laboratories, but GTs are underrepresented in the ACGS membership
• Representation allows GTs to have a greater say in the matters that affect them,
have input into the ACGS and therefore get more out of it
• With greater GT representation and feedback more can be done to engage GTs
with the ACGS. For example: GT study days, GT focussed sessions at
conferences, GT focussed articles in Newsletters.
• Did you know any ACGS member can apply to join a sub-committee of the ACGS,
submit articles to the Newsletter, or abstracts to conferences? This includes GTs.
The ACGS wants more GTs to get involved, joining gives you a voice to influence
what the ACGS does and this affects you.
GT membership
• The ACGS has introduced reduced membership fees for all
members/prospective members who are working at band 5 or below
• The new registration fee for these members will be £20 per year while
providing all of the same benefits as available to full price members, this
includes membership to the BSGM
• Membership is open to professionals working within clinical genetic science in
either a hospital or research environment, this includes GTs of all grades
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their payslip or a letter from their head of department
How to join
www.bsgm.org.uk/membership/how-to-join
• From April 29th 2016 a new registration form should be available online with
an option for ‘band 5 or below’ membership at the reduced rate of £20
• If this is not available, or you are using the form in your welcome pack select
‘student’ membership and annotate the form to indicate your pay grade
• Current members who have already paid the full price for this year should
send a copy of their payslip or letter from head of department by email to
[email protected] with a copy of
Today’s GT study day has been funded by the ACGS as
a means to engage with GTs and encourage
membership.
Without representation of GTs in the membership
asking for these events and the commitment of the
ACGS to include, encourage and support GTs this
would not have been possible.