ASLMS History

Dr. Leon Goldman and Dr. Ellet Drake, along with a number of like-minded individuals, and a generous grant from William and Caroline Mark and the A. Ward Ford Foundation, founded the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) in 1981, with the first annual meeting held in San Diego, California.

The Society had a unique concept where all interested parties, including physicians, nurses and other clinicians, researchers, industrial and government representatives, could meet and share their research and teaching for the benefit of medical care. Many years later, this concept is still a core tenet of our Society.

In March of 1979, Dr. Ellet H. Drake began working with Dr. Leon Goldman to establish an American society to encourage physicians and scientists to exchange knowledge, explore new uses for present equipment, and generate new medical lasers and accessories. They invited 280 outstanding physicians and scientists from all over the world to participate in an organizational meeting held in San Diego in January, 1981, and as a tribute to Dr. Goldman, the father of laser medicine in the United States, over half of them accepted our invitation and paid their own expenses to come to this meeting.

The seed money necessary to establish the group was given to us by Mr. William B. Mark through the A. Ward Ford Institute. Mr. Mark died in October, 1980, and each year the A. Ward Ford Foundation presents an award in his honor to the individual considered by the Awards Committee of the Society to have made an outstanding contribution to laser medicine. The first of these awards was presented in 1982 to Dr. Goldman at the Annual Conference at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The first official Business Meeting for members was held at the 1982 Annual Conference, with President Leon Goldman presiding.

It was the founders’ dream that this organization would be unique and include, in addition to physicians/clinicians, outstanding researchers in biophysics, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, laser biology, and laser safety. There was also a small group of individuals from industry included in the original charter membership. The idea was an immediate success, with the Society showing a growth rate of approximately 40% per year during the first eight years, accompanied by a steady increase in the number and size of commercial exhibits at the Annual Conferences.

From the beginning, the board established the fact that education, both for physicians and the lay public, should be a prime objective and asked their “Committee on Standards of Training and Practice” to formulate guidelines to aid hospital and clinic staff in the area of credentialing. At the same time, it was decided that the Society itself would not be an active participant in the credentialing procedure. Another committee involved in postgraduate education established additional guidelines for those wishing to develop laser short courses. Their recommendations were quite specific, both as to the various levels of complexity and also for the suggested content at each level.

At the time of the organization of the Society, two of its members, Drs. Billie Aronoff and Eugene Friedman, were co-editing a successful laser journal, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, published by Alan R. Liss of New York. This publication has continued to be the official organ of the Society, published by Wiley Publishing, under the current editorship of Dr. Bahman Anvari.

Membership in the Society has grown at a steady pace from 150 in 1981 to thousands of members. The home office has remained in Wausau, Wisconsin, with a staff of 12 employees.

1981

Organizational meeting held and bylaws created
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM) journal adopted as ASLMS publication
Annual Conference in San Diego, California; 173 in attendance

1982

The first William B. Mark Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Leon Goldman, President, at the Annual Conference
President Leon Goldman, MD 1981-1982
Annual Conference in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; 252 in attendance

1983

First Standards of Training and Practice document drafted and approved by the Board
President Joseph H. Bellina, MD 1982-1983
Annual Conference New Orleans, Louisiana; 294 in attendance

1984

Abstracts Published in the Lasers in Surgery and Medicine journal
ASLMS Logo registered and trademarked
Nursing Section recognized as a division of the ASLMS
President John A. Dixon, MD 1983-1984
Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah; 579 in attendance

1985

ASLMS recognized by the AMA as a medical organization
Student research grants initiated
President Hugh Beckman, MD 1984-1985
Annual Conference Orlando, Florida; 666 in attendance

1986

Subscription to the LSM journal is included as a member benefit
ASLMS approved by ACCME to grant CME credits
President Gezo J. Jako, MD 1985-1986
Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts; 966 in attendance

1987

ASLMS published first biophysics course book
Dr. Carmen Puliafito appointed as LSM Editor
President Kenneth A. Arndt, MD 1986-1987
Annual Conference in San Francisco, California; 1067 in attendance

1988

ASLMS has members from 20 countries
President Michael W. Berns, PHD 1987-1988
Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas; 1051 in attendance

1989

Nursing/Allied Health Board Seat created
Dr. Marvin P. Fried appointed as first CME Director
President John A. Parrish, MD 1988-1989
Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia; 956 in attendance

1990

"Physician Member" category created
President Robert H. Ossoff, MD, DMD 1989-1990
Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee; 1039 in attendance

1991

The first recipient of the Nursing/Allied Health Excellence Award was Sue Huether
First FDA workshop held at the Annual Conference
Student/Resident Awards initiated
President David B. Apfelberg, MD 1990-1991
Annual Conference in San Diego, California; 1211 in attendance

1992

"Life Member" category created
Best Awards established
President Michael S. Baggish, MD 1991-1992
Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; 1123 in attendance

1993

Caroline Mark became "Honorary Fellow"
Student Member category created
President Leonard J. Cerullo, MD 1992-1993
Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana; 1049 in attendance

1994

Dr. Ellet Drake retired as Secretary and became Historian
Member-Get-A-Member program established
President Ronald G. Wheeland, MD 1993-1994
Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 966 in attendance

1995

Ellet H. Drake Lectureship Award established
Dr. Robert Ossoff appointed LSM journal Editor-in-Chief for a 5 year term
President Carmen A. Puliafito, MD 1994-1995
Annual Conference in San Diego, California; 952 in attendance

1996

International Affairs committee established
President Raymond J. Lanzafame, MD, MBA 1995-1996
Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida; 915 in attendance

1997

The ASLMS website created
President James A. Duncavage, MD 1996-1997
Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; 1198 in attendance

1998

Dr. David Golderg appointed first Legal Advisor
Dr. William Owen appointed first Safety Director
Leon Goldman Memorial Award established
President David J. Goldberg, MD, JD 1997-1998
Annual Conference in San Diego, California; 1272 in attendance

1999

ASLMS website redesigned and personalized member webpages offered
Point system for Fellow status initiated
Dr. David Goldberg received the first annual Leon Goldman Memorial Award
President Bryan P. Shumaker, MD 1998-1999
Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; 1140 in attendance

2000

A. Ward Ford endowment given to ASLMS
Raymond Lanzafame appointed as CME Director
President Marvin P. Fried, MD 1999-2000
Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada; 1122 in attendance

2001

Online abstract submission system offered
Best Clinical Nursing/Allied Health Award established
President Richard E. Fitzpatrick, MD 2000-2001
Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana; 1238 in attendance

2002

Laser Express online journal created
President J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD 2001-2002
Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia; 1301 in attendance

2003

Joint International ASLMS / British Laser Medical Association / European Laser Association meeting held in Edinburgh, Scotland
President Suzanne L. Kilmer, MD 2002-2003
Annual Conference in Anaheim, California; 1375 in attendance

2004

Investment Committee created and firm is hired to manage investments
Marketing and Public Relations Committee created
President Joseph T. Walsh, Jr., PhD 2003-2004
Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas; 1603 in attendance

2005

J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD, appointed as LSM Editor-in-Chief
President Jerome M. Garden, MD 2004-2005
Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; 1815 in attendance

2006

First Annual Silent Auction held at the Annual Conference
ASLMS Industry Advisory Council established
President Roy G. Geronemus, MD 2005-2006
Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts; 2360 in attendance

2007

Dr. Horace Furumoto Innovations Professional Development Award established
Research Grant program awarded $326,298
Online Physician Locator service established
President A. Jay Burns, MD 2006-2007
Annual Conference in Grapevine, Texas; 2369 in attendance

2008

ePoster program developed
First annual Fundamentals of Lasers in Health Care course held
President E. Victor Ross, MD 2007-2008
Annual Conference in Kissimmee, Florida; 2535 in attendance

2009

LSM Impact Factor reaches record high of 3.539
Member database management system upgraded
President Brian S. Biesman, MD 2008-2009
Annual Conference in National Harbor, Maryland; 1801 in attendance

2010

Dr. Charles H. Townes receives Annual Conference Special Award on the 50th Anniversary of the operation of the laser
President R. Rox Anderson, MD 2009-2010
Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; 1971 in attendance

2011

First Verification of Knowledge Exam offered
Online Introductory Course offered
President E. Duco Jansen, PhD 2010-2011
Annual Conference in Grapevine, Texas; 1683 in attendance

2012

First Tech Connect Non-CME session offered at Annual Conference
ASLMS launched Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages
President Brian D. Zelickson, MD 2011-2012
Annual Conference in Kissimmee, Florida; 1667 in attendance

2013

Free membership offered to students, residents and fellows
ASLMS and PAPDT host first combined Photodynamic Therapy Session at the Annual Conference
President George J. Hruza, MD, MBA 2012-2013
Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts; 2002 in attendance

2014

First Resident/Fellow Abstract Session held at Annual Conference
Preceptorship Program established
New Beginnings Radiation Mark program established
President Jeffrey S. Dover, MD 2013-2014
Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; 1640 in attendance

2015

ASLMS is a bronze sponsor for International Year of Light 2015
First Celebration of ASLMS Women in Energy-Based Devices held at Annual Conference
Brian F. Wong, MD is appointed Editor-in-Chief of LSM
President Juanita J. Anders, PhD 2014-2015
Annual Conference in Kissimmee, Florida; 1609 in attendance

2016

ASLMS launches redesigned website and association management system
President Robert A. Weiss, MD 2015-2016
Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts; 1841 in attendance

2017

Membership dues were reduced for members from economically disadvantaged countries
Increased social media presence with the launch of Instagram and the Early Career Network Facebook page
ASLMS continues to upgrade its technological offerings with the launch of a new mobile app for the Annual Conference
President Kristen M. Kelly, MD 2016-2017
Annual Conference in San Diego, California; 1818 in attendance

2018

Resident Liaison and Visiting Expert programs established
New learning formats, including hands-on training and video endpoint sessions, added to Annual Conference program
International Ambassadors program established to promote international outreach
President Mathew M. Avram, MD, JD 2017-2018
Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas; 1835 in attendance

2019

ASLMS becomes member of AMA Specialty Service Society
Safety Awareness Committee formed
Streamlined online member access to Lasers in Surgery and Medicine journal
President Eric F. Bernstein, MD, MSE 2018-2019
Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado; 1,822 in attendance

2020

ASLMS launches new Online Learning Center and holds the first in a series of online webinars
New member management system is launched
President Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD 2019-2020
The Annual Conference is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021