About AAA

Membership Benefits | Meetings | Professional Development
Teaching & Training Tools | Publications | Awards

Through research, education and professional development, the American Association of Anatomists promotes the three-dimensional understanding of structure as it relates to development and function, from molecule to organism. The American Association of Anatomists was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1888, for the “advancement of anatomical science.”

In addition to being the primary educators of medical students in their first year of medical school, AAA members worldwide work in imaging, cell biology, genetics, molecular development, endocrinology, histology, neuroscience, forensics, microscopy, physical anthropology, and numerous other exciting and developing areas.

Anatomy is a vibrant and growing discipline, truly the backbone of biomedical science. On the right is a partial list of areas of research, practice, and education covered by AAA’s members and its annual meeting.

Membership Benefits

AAA offers a wide range of services to its members, including a robust Annual Meeting, an array of professional development activities, extensive educational resources, respected publications, and a generous awards program. Members also benefit from AAA’s affiliation with the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), a coalition of independent member societies in the biomedical and life sciences.

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Meetings

AAA’s Annual Meeting is part of Experimental Biology (EB), a multi-society, interdisciplinary, scientific meeting co-sponsored by the following other societies: American Physiology Society (APS), American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and American Society for Pharmacological and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). Participants at AAA’s meeting are also invited to attend any other society's sessions and to make use of on-site career services, and an extensive exhibit of scientific equipment, supplies, and publications.

AAA’s scientific meeting offers a four-day Education & Teaching track, including symposia, workshops, master classes, roundtables, and refresher courses, plus an extensive professional development program. Other sessions include a diverse array of award and plenary lectures, symposia, platform sessions, and oral and poster presentations.

Checkout AAA's Regional Meetings! »
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Professional Development

AAA wants to be your anatomy department by providing a variety of resources to enhance your professional development. Our Annual Meeting has a professional development track to assist you with your professional goals, in addition to numerous networking opportunities throughout the meeting. But the opportunities do not stop there! AAA leaders provide career mentoring for student, postdoc, and early career members through our Career Mentor Network.

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Teaching & Training Tools

Apart from the extensive Education & Teaching Track at the AAA Annual Meeting, you can take advantage of numerous online resources, including a gross anatomy lab design section, a virtual image library, listings of graduate programs available throughout the world, detailed textbooks and atlas reviews, and a vast collection of links to other educational resources. And by sure to check out our Anatomy Training Program (co-sponsored by AAA and the Anatomical Society), which provides training for those new to teaching anatomy or who are switching which courses they teach.

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Publications

AAA publishes three peer-reviewed journals: Anatomical Sciences Education, Developmental Dynamics, and The Anatomical Record. The Anatomical Record’s aim is to focus on hypothesis-based research in the anatomical consequences of gene disruption, activation, or over expression upon cell, tissue, or organ architecture, as well as advances in a variety of imaging modalities. Emphasizing tissue, cellular and molecular-genetic mechanisms of morphogenesis, Developmental Dynamics publishes research articles, topic reviews, hot new techniques, expression patterns, mutant phenotypes, book reviews and meeting reviews. A subscription to either The Anatomical Record or Developmental Dynamics is free with AAA membership.

In addition, AAA members receive a complimentary electronic subscription to Anatomical Sciences Education. ASE provides an international forum for the exchange of ideas, opinions, innovations, and research on topics related to education in the anatomical sciences of gross anatomy, embryology, histology, and neurosciences at all levels of anatomical sciences education, including, undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, allied health, medical (both allopathic and osteopathic), and dental.

Learn more about our journals or submit a manuscript -
Anatomical Sciences Education | Developmental Dynamics |
The Anatomical Record »

Awards & Grants

 AAA members may apply for up to $3,000 of support toward hosting an educational or research meeting; AAA offers up to three $20,000 postdoctoral fellowship each year; and graduate and postdoctoral student members who submit an abstract to AAA’s Annual Meeting are guaranteed either a $250 or $350 travel award to the AAA Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology. Beyond these monetary awards and grants, AAA has an extensive awards program recognizing members and others for their professional accomplishments and contributions.

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Aging & Disease
Allopathic Medicine
Anatomy & Morphology
Apoptosis
Applied Anatomy
Artificial Components,
Matrices & Devices
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics/Computational Analysis
Biomechanics
Cancer, Metastasis
and Tumor Biology
Cardiac Biology
Cell Biology
Chiropractic
Clinical Anatomy
Comparative Anatomy
Confocal Microscopy,
µCT & Ultrasound
Connective Tissues
Dentistry
Developmental Biology
Disease & Pathology
Dynamic Imaging
Education: Assessment
Education: Computer-assisted Learning
Education: Curriculum
Education: Exam Design or Administration
Education: Mentoring
Education: Teaching Methods & Innovations
Endocrinology
Extracellular Matrix
Evolution
Forensics
Functional Anatomy
Genetics
Genomics & Proteomics
Gynecology
Homeostasis
Human Anatomy
Imaging and Technology
Immunology
Integrative Neuroscience
Learning and Memory
Mammalian Vertebrate Biology
Mathematical Modeling
Molecular Biology
Muscle Biology
Nanotechnology
Non-Mammalian Vertebrate Biology
Osteology
Osteopathic Medicine
Physical Anthropology
Plasticity
Regeneration & Repair
Regulatory Networks
Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy
Renal Biology
Respiratory Biology
Robotics
Sensory Systems
Signal Transduction
Sleep and Arousal
Stem Cells
Stimulation & Biofeedback
Terminology
Tissue Remodeling
Toxicology
Transgenic Animals & Other Models
Urology
Vascular Biology
Veterinary Medicine