$$$ to submit ASTRO abstract this year!?

[Gfunk6]

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Anybody know what the deal is with the $60 mandatory "processing fee" for abstract submission to the ASTRO Annual Meeting this year?

Is ASTRO going broke or is this a cash grab or what??

 

[Scatter]

I was wondering about the same thing! Had no idea about it until today's email reminder that the deadline is only a week away. 😕

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Quick question: if I were to be registering and submitting an abstract, would I be paying the student fee (which I think is like $100 plus the abstract submission fee)? I graduated from college last May and will be starting med school this fall (conducting full-time research currently), so I don't technically seem to fall into the student category. It'd be incredibly awesome if I qualified for that though, since the registration + submission would be a lot cheaper than I expected. I searched around on the ASTRO website, but was unsuccessful in finding any meaningful info. 😳

If anyone happens to know, that'd be great. Otherwise, I need to send an email out to someone from the website tomorrow...

 

[subatomicdoc]

Anybody know what the deal is with the $60 mandatory "processing fee" for abstract submission to the ASTRO Annual Meeting this year?

Is ASTRO going broke or is this a cash grab or what??

For real? That nets more animosity than revenue, I would think.

 

[seper]

I'm seeing a trend - ASCO charged for 2011 GI abstract submission. May discourage submission of low-quality work.

 

[Joaquin]

that "processing fee" is pretty steep...👎

residents should not have to pay.

 

[seper]

I can't imagine a radonc residency program that would not reimburse you for $60 spent on department project.

 

[Gfunk6]

I can't imagine a radonc residency program that would not reimburse you for $60 spent on department project.

What if your abstract is rejected?

 

[seper]

then the tap should be on your faculty PI 🙂

last time I heard of a rejected ATRSO abstract was in 2006

 

[subatomicdoc]

What if your abstract is rejected?

Any attending or residency program unwilling to cough up $60 to pay for the abstract is very short-sighted and doesn't encourage residents to do research.

 

[Gfunk6]

Starting on Oct 1, the Red Journal will be charging a $75 non-refundable fee for all full length article submissions (physics and biology are exempt).

 

[Neuronix]

As I pull out my credit card for abstract submission this year, I'll bump the questions above me for the ARRO leadership who I know are lurking...

 

[RadSki]

ARRO is investigating (and lurking)

 

[RadSki]

FYI - this issue was raised with the ASTRO leadership at the recent ARRO board meeting. Unfortunately, ASTRO is only keeping pace with other societies in starting to charge for abstract submission. The submission fee for the ASTRO annual meeting and Red Journal are non-negotiable. That said, I would argue that ASTRO does a significant amount of work for residents at no cost including a free Red Journal subscription (ASCO charges $60 for JCO), journal club webinars, discounts to the annual meeting, etc, etc. The submission fees are small prices to pay. Also, it seems to me that the last author on a study (i.e. the attending) should be able to cough up the $60. Just my opinion.

 

[radiaterMike]

Perhaps one coud request that residents no longer receive the Red Journal (presumably all have online access through their institutional library) in place of free submission to ASTRO.

As someone who is graduating this year this has little impact on me but I have to say that I still think the policy is sending the wrong message. Using the fact that other societies are doing it should not be a strong rationale for doing it. If there is a deficit in funds, it could be brought to the table but if you're telling me that giving each resident training 1 free abstract (approx 600 residents X $60= $36,000) is breaking the bank, I find that difficult to believe. As for the red journal, I understand it would be difficult to police but once again allowing residents 1 article per year (600 X $75= $45,000) seems relatively reasonable. It's things like these that promote resident research at a minimal cost. Sure most programs will pay for these things but I think as a society ASTRO is sending the wrong message on this.

 

[RadSki]

The Red Journal complimentary subscription is made possible by a corporate sponsor. In exchange for the sponsorship, they get public recognition and advertising. I don't think there is a way to "sponsor" Red Journal submissions. In addition, many residents may not submit articles but probably do enjoy having a print version of the journal arrive in their mailbox every month. A print subscription is $740 without an ASTRO membership or free with the ASTRO membership ($525/yr). Considering residents get free ASTRO membership along with the Red Journal, I think we're getting a pretty good deal.

 

[memberBlue]

I am sure your department will cover this expense.

 

[CyberKnife19]

I am sure your department will cover this expense.

I could not agree more...it's not our money, so who cares? I am sure that most (if not all) of our departments have $$$$$ (mega bucks) and so don't even blink an eye at little fees such as these. 😉

 

[Neuronix]

I got my hopes up with the ASTRO website:

2013 Annual Meeting - important information regarding abstract submissions
Abstracts must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, February 15, 2013. Abstracts are only accepted via the online submission site.

No fee is charged to submit an abstract.
Sponsorship or ASTRO membership is not required to submit an abstract.
Notifications of acceptance and/or decline will be sent via email to the presenting author in early May 2013.
For questions please email Education or call 703-502-1550."

As soon as you click to login to the abstract submission form and create a new abstract, this message is received:

Please Note: There is a $60 processing fee for each abstract. You will be asked for payment at the end of the submission process.

The payment link is there asking for a credit card number. I wonder what's going on?

 

[radiaterMike]

you need to pay to get it accepted this year.

 

[Neuronix]

you need to pay to get it accepted this year.

Now I notice that the website has been changed to reflect the $60 submission fee. I was still holding out hope from your post that my rejections would be free 😉

PS: The RSNA meeting does not charge an abstract submission fee, nor is there a conference registration fee for residents.