Accreditation of Scientific Travel Medicine Conferences by the International Society of Travel Medicine

Many individuals _ ISTM members and others _ ask the ISTM Board for permission to use the ISTM name and logo for marketing travel medicine conferences with which the individuals are associated.

As a result, the Board has considered how the ISTM name and logo should be used while insuring the following:

• Appropriateness and clarity of material used in marketing the conference, 
• Realistic advertising of the event, and
• A suitable faculty for the event advertised.

This process of accreditation requires the organiser of the conference to provide set criteria and information: sponsorship and/or funding, invited speakers and their affiliations, CME accreditation, timetable of progress, the programme for the conferences, and evidence of an evaluation process.

The application will be reviewed by at least two members of boards or committees of the ISTM.  When accreditation is bestowed, and with the permission of the Publication Committee, the ISTM endorsement and logo can be applied to printed material of the organization in question. The application can be undertaken using an on-line form, available from the ISTM website. The process of review will probably require about four or more weeks.

Please include as an attachment the following:

1. Course aims and objectives as well as a definition of the intended audience
2. Describe the intended Continuing Medical Education accreditation to be sought. Include the name and contact information of the intended accrediting body(s). Proof of CME accreditation should be provided when obtained but not later than 1 month prior to the conference.
3. List of key confirmed invited speakers with their professional affiliations
4. A timetable showing key deadlines for submission and review of scientific materials to the conference and deadlines for participant registration
5. A list of current and prospective funding sources and industry sponsorship for the activity and a statement of any involvement of sponsors in the program development or the selection of faculty.
6. A copy of the course evaluation form not later than 1 month prior to the conference.
7. A copy of previous course assessments for previously held conferences in the same series by the same organizing body.

In a cover letter include:

• A statement promising to apprise ISTM of any un-named funding sources procured at a date after any ISTM accreditation is awarded.
• A statement promising to apprise ISTM immediately of any substantive changes in conference content, faculty, venue, or sponsoring body.
• A statement promising to distribute ISTM brochures to delegates at the time of the conference.
• A statement that the conference organizers will in no way represent the activity as an official ISTM organized or sponsored conference.

Conflicts: Any conference that in the subjective judgment of the ISTM has the potential to conflict with official ISTM organized activities will not be eligible for accreditation.

Final Accreditation: Accreditation will be provided by ISTM conditional upon withdrawal if material circumstances surrounding the conference change. In general, use of the ISTM logo will be restricted to display on the back of any brochures or bottom of any web pages and must be placed together with the statement "Accredited by the International Society of Travel Medicine." Any reference to ISTM in the text of promotional materials should be limited to the statement "Accredited by the International Society of Travel Medicine." Each use and placement of the ISTM logo or statements specifying ISTM accreditation in any printed or electronic form is subject to specific approval by the ISTM Publications Committee. Application for such use should be made well before printing and other deadlines.

Electronic submission preferred to:
admindir@istm.org