Since its inception the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma was established to further the study and practice of traumatic surgery in its various departments, in the United States and Canada.
| June 14, 1938 | AAST formed as American Association for Traumatic Surgery |
|---|---|
| May 8, 1939 | First Annual Meeting of the Association |
| 1940 | Name changed to American Association for the Surgery of Trauma |
| 1948 | Kellogg Speed, MD, AAST 1st President, presented the association with a gavel and represents a replica of Cotton's hammer. |
| 1959 |
Proposal to start the Journal of Trauma brought to the Board of Managers Charles Johnston appointed first editor of the Journal of Trauma, but passes away prior to first issue in 1961. |
| 1961 | First issue of the Journal of Trauma with Dr. Rudolph Noer as Editor |
| 1967 |
AAST votes to form the American Trauma Society with Dr. Noer to serve on the Board of Directors and AAST to serve as incorporators. Dr. William T. Fitts Jr., becomes Editor, Journal of Trauma (officially takes over in 1969) |
| 1968 | American Trauma Society Incorporated |
| 1969 | Journal of Trauma becomes monthly instead of six times a year. |
| 1971 | The Editor of the Journal of Trauma is made a Board of Managers Position |
| 1972 | AAST gives $1,000 to the American Trauma Society as they are not a fully functioning organization. |
| 1974 | The creation of the Dr. William T. Fitts Lecturer |
| 1975 |
The first Fitts Orator was given by Dr. Curtiz Artz John Davis, MD, becomes Editor, Journal of Trauma |
| 1978 |
AAST holds an International Symposium on Trauma in Washington DC in May. Senior Members are relieved on paying dues AAST applies for 501-C-3 tax exempt status |
| 1980 | Trauma Fellowship for students developed |
| 1981 | Journal of Trauma published in Japanese |
| 1983 | AAST archives all AAST materials with the National Academy of Medicine |
| 1984 | AAST officers assist in the formation of the Pan American Trauma Society |
| 1985 |
First Trauma Scholarship offered and sponsored by GM. Scholarship awarded in 1986 Davis and Geck sponsor a five year $35,000/year scholarship with AAST. |
| 1987 |
AAST holds a joint meeting Trauma Association of Canada Winthrop Pharmaceuticals co-sponsors a scholarship with AAST |
| 1989 |
AAST forms a committee to research an AAST Foundation or Endowment A military gavel was presented to AAST from Basil Pruitt, Jr, M.D. for its 50th Anniversary 50th Anniversary Medals were given out to all attendees at the 1989 meeting. The medals were created by the Franklin Mint. $400,000 was appropriated for an endowment to "provide support for trauma education and trauma research" |
| 1991 |
AAST created the Critical Care Committee The Canizaro Award is created for the best new paper from a new member at the Annual Meeting AAST members vote for professional meeting management of future Meetings |
| 1992 |
AAST retreat is held AAST hires professional meeting management starting with the 1994 meeting. |
| 1993 |
AAST develops student scholarships to the AAST Annual Meeting AAST Research and Education Foundation developed Joint meeting with the Orthopedic Trauma Society is held Basil Pruitt, Jr., M.D., selected as the Editor, Journal of Trauma beginning January 1995. |
| 1994 |
AAST Research and Education Foundation has a Board of Trustees, and receives $600,000 from AAST. The John H. Davis Fellowship is developed |
| 1999 | Wyeth-Ayerst co-sponsors an AAST Scholarship |
| 2000 | Critical Care Committee Chair is made a Board of Managers position |
| 2005 |
AAST membership votes to hire an Executive Director AAST rents space from the American College of Surgeons for two staff members Novo Nordisk sponsors a two-year scholarship Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson sponsor one year scholarships for the next five years |
| 2006 |
The first Executive Director is hired KCI sponsors three one-year scholarships AAST/ACS/NIGMS sponsor a K08/K23 scholarship |
| 2007 |
AAST Annual Meeting attendance tops 850 A strategic retreat is held |
| 2008 |
First Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Training Site is approved AAST holds "Acute Care Congress on the Future of Emergency Surgical Care in the United States" |
| 2010 |
Journal of Trauma celebrates its 50th Anniversary Meeting attendance tops 1,000 Ernest E. Moore, M.D. selected as the Editor, Journal of Trauma beginning January 2012 |
| 2011 |
AAST Annual Meeting name is changed to: Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery International Relations Committee is made a standing committee |
| 2012 |
Ernest E. Moore, M.D., becomes Editor of the Journal of Trauma Journal of Trauma name is changed to: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery |
| 2013 | AAST Celebrates its 75th Anniversary with a commemorative historical book. |
| 2014 | AAST partners with NTI to create The Coalition for National Trauma Research (CNTR |
| 2015 |
First CNTR Advocacy Day held with 40 surgeons. AAST BOM votes to start an open access journal, Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open Acute Care Surgery Chair is made a Board of Managers Position, JTACS Editor is removed as a voting position on the Board of Managers The following committes are made Operating Committees: Education Development/MOC, Geriatric and Pediatric Trauma Surgery |
| 2016 |
Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Surgery Open Access Journal launched on May 31, 2016 The Disaster Committee is made an Operating Committee |
| 2017 |
R&E Fund is made a standing Committee. Editor, JTACS Contract is renewed A strategic retreat was held AAST switched from staff at the JTACS office to a peer-reviewed Management company |
| 2018 | June 14, 2018 AAST celebrates its 80th Anniversary |
| 2019 |
AAST and ESTES launch the Emergency Surgery Course AAST announces a new membership category: Associate Member R&E Fund Committee is made a sub-committee under Scholarship, Awards and Development |
| 2020 |
The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery celebrates its 60th Anniversary The AAST Annual Meeting is held as virtual meeting |