About the Society of Behavioral Medicine: Overview

History
The Society of Behavioral Medicine was founded in 1978 as a multidisciplinary, nonprofit organization to advance the science and practice of behavioral medicine.

Behavioral medicine is the multidisciplinary field concerned with the behavioral and social aspects of medical conditions. Consumers and a wide variety of health professionals are involved in behavioral medicine research and practice, including cardiologists, counselors, epidemiologists, exercise physiologists, family physicians, health educators, internists, nurses, nutritionists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Behavioral medicine takes a life-span approach to health and health care, working with children, teens, adults, and seniors individually and in groups, and working with racially and ethnically diverse communities. Today, SBM is the nation's premier multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to behavioral medicine. The Society represents over 2,800 behavioral and biomedical researchers and clinicians from over 18 different disciplines. SBM researchers, individually and in strategic partnerships with community and government agencies, are working to address key priority areas in Healthy People 2010.

Mission Statement
The Society of Behavioral Medicine is a multidisciplinary organization of clinicians, educators, and scientists dedicated to promoting the study of the interactions of behavior with biology and the environment, and the application of that knowledge to improve the health and well being of individuals, families, communities and populations.

Vision Statement
Better Health Through Behavior Change.

Annual Meeting
The SBM Annual Meeting represents the largest annual scientific conference devoted exclusively to behavioral medicine. The SBM Annual Meeting typically draws close to 1,300 attendees and includes presentations from a variety of perspectives, including basic laboratory research, health promotion, disease prevention, risk factor identification and modification, disease progression, adjustment and adaptation to physical disorders, and rehabilitation.

Publications
Annals of Behavioral Medicine Journal is the official journal of SBM. Annals aims to foster the exchange of knowledge among the various disciplines involved in the field of behavioral medicine.

Outlook is the official newsletter of SBM, published three times a year. Each issue of Outlook provides members with updates about SBM activities, policies and other issues affecting the behavioral medicine community.

The Society's website (www.sbm.org) offers members easy access to information about the society, including Special Interest Groups, committees, and councils; an online membership directory; and information about upcoming meetings.