2025 Call for Member-Initiated Sessions

Call for Member-Initiated Sessions:
Symposia & Tutorials

While the Annual Meeting Program Committee is responsible for the scientific and educational content of the Annual Meeting, Member-Initiated Sessions (MIS) provide an opportunity for members to contribute complementary content that further enhances the meeting.

MISs can support different content formats such as presentations, debates, and hands-on tutorials within a 2-hour block. Note that all MISs are planned for on-site delivery in Honolulu and will not provide CME credit.

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the form at the end of this page and will be thoroughly reviewed by the AMPC. Selection will be competitive based on the criteria listed below. ISMRM Study Groups are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal, which is the primary mechanism by which Study Groups can contribute additional content at the Annual Meeting.

Please note in communications with potential speakers that registration will be required for all speakers in the session, and ISMRM will not offer accommodation or travel expenses. We strongly suggest using the text in this template letter to make clear to speakers what is expected.

Selection Criteria

The AMPC will score and rank submitted proposals based on the following:

• • Scientific or Educational quality, timeliness, and level of interest from the ISMRM membership.
  • “Goodness of fit” within the overall annual meeting program. The most competitive proposals will complement the plenary, scientific, educational, and other content of the meeting. You can view the 2025 plenaries, named lectures, and educational sessions as they become available in the preliminary Program-at-a-Glance here.
  • EDI considerations, including engagement of under-represented groups both with speakers and target audience. Diversity is defined broadly: gender, ethnicity, and region, as well as other dimensions (career stage, M.D. vs Ph.D., alternate career pathways, etc.).
  • We are promoting content that fosters the interdisciplinary connections that are fundamental to the ISMRM and ISMRT membership, such as clinicians, scientists, and technologists.
  • Innovation & interactivity. Where possible, we particularly welcome novel formats and formats that have an interactive element.

Continue to the Submission Form link following the FAQ section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AMPC members participate?

The goal of Member-Initiated Sessions is to provide a mechanism for the broader membership to contribute content at the Annual Meeting. AMPC members will be making the final selection and are therefore are not allowed to submit. While organizers are encouraged to consult informally with AMPC members, participation of AMPC members in the sessions should be avoided.

Is there any reimbursement for speakers and organizers for programs?

MIS program organizers, moderators, and speakers will not receive any reimbursement. When inviting speakers and moderators, organizers should clarify that they must pay for their own meeting registration, travel, and lodging.

What support can we expect from the ISMRM office in the organization of the Session?

This is a member-initiated session. As such, members are responsible for inviting speakers and corresponding to their needs. The Central Office will update the program if changes are absolutely necessary, but they have no other expected communication with presenters of the session.

Is there a particular format for Member-Initiated Sessions?

All sessions will be on site in Honolulu in 2-hour blocks. In the submission form, we have two options of room format: theatre and round table. Alternative options may be considered with submission, depending on cost and complexity.

Can I speak in a session that I organize?

Organizers/moderators MAY NOT present in a session that they organize/moderate, although other individuals from an organizer/moderator’s institution may present. In general, there should not be multiple speakers from the same institution. Typically, organizers will moderate their own sessions.

Should I ask speakers if they are willing to participate before my MIS is submitted?

Yes, all speakers and moderators are required to confirm participation before submission of the proposed session. Note that it is imperative that the speakers also explicitly agree to participate in the format (on-site) selected by the organizers. Again, invitations to the speakers and/or moderators are the sole responsibility of the organizers, not the Central Office. The Central Office will have no other expected communication with presenters of the session.

Are speakers required to submit a syllabus or disclosure?

A syllabus and disclosure are not required for these sessions. We do ask that the presenters include a disclosure slide at the beginning of their presentation only to inform the attendees of any potential conflicts.

When will the MIS occur during the meeting?

On-site symposia will occur primarily during weekday parallel sessions at the Annual Meeting. Specific session dates/times cannot be guaranteed, meaning that organizers/moderators and presenters must commit to availability for Monday through Thursday of the Annual Meeting. We may have the option to have sessions on the weekend, so we ask you indicate in the form if that is an option you would like to use.

Can I submit or participate in more than one proposal for an MIS?

Any individual may only be involved in organizing one MIS. If speakers are giving other invited presentations (named lectures, plenary talks, educational courses), they should be presenting on unique topics for their MIS presentation and should not overlap with their other content. In general, including the same speaker on multiple proposals will reduce the likelihood of both being selected.

Can a Study Group submit more than one proposal?

A Study Group can only submit one proposal. If members of a Study Group are interested in submitting an MIS proposal on a different topic from that chosen by the Study Group leadership, they are encouraged to submit their proposals as separate sessions (which will not be associated with their Study Group).

When will we know if the session is selected?

Final selection of MISs will be made when the AMPC convenes in January. Decisions on acceptance will be sent at approximately the same time as acceptances for proffered abstracts at the Annual Meeting.

Can student members be involved in MISs?

We strongly encourage students and early-career researchers to participate as organizers or speakers. In the interest of helping junior members to submit competitive proposals, we recommend that less-experienced organizers either include a more experienced co-organizer, or seek mentorship (for example, from members of the AMPC).

Further questions?

Please contact the central office at info@ismrm.org if you have further questions.