Mission

Founded in 1968, the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) is a multidisciplinary organization committed to improving the physical and psychosocial health and well-being of all adolescents through advocacy, clinical care, health promotion, health service delivery, professional development, and research.

VISION STATEMENT:

The Society for Adolescent Medicine will be the leader in promoting optimal health and well-being for adolescents and young adults.

CORE VALUES:

Recognizing that health is more than the absence of disease, the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) promotes positive youth development, illness prevention, achievement of individual potential and a sense of physical, mental, and social well-being.

In its pursuit of optimal adolescent health and developmentally-appropriate health care, SAM believes that scientific research provides the evidence base for effective health promotion as well as prevention and treatment of illness and injury.

Four core values underlie SAM’s Mission and Vision:

• Excellence: SAM strives to achieve the highest attainable standard in its mission.
• Leadership: SAM strives to be the preeminent organization and authoritative voice in advancing adolescent health by increasing awareness of the health needs of adolescents and young adults through effective advocacy, communication and dissemination of knowledge.
• Integrity: SAM is guided by the highest ideals and ethical standards, including respect for individual dignity, equity, and justice, and recognition that age-appropriate, developmentally-sensitive health care is a right and not a privilege.
• Collaboration: SAM recognizes that advancing adolescent health depends upon effective partnerships among adolescents, families, health professionals, public and private sectors, communities, schools, and other social institutions.

site map | return to home page | contact us