Goals and Ambition

The ever growing number of persons with spinal cord injury, improved but also more and more complex treatment strategies and the resulting necessity of a multi professional effort in the care for these patients led to the establishment of a “German speaking” society of Spinal cord injury on the 6th of October, 1985. From the start, contrary to the policy of other scientific societies, there has been an effort to include all professions engaged in the treatment and rehabilitation of spinal injured patients. This has been established in the bylaws 18.10.1987, today the society´s base is the contribution of knowledge and experience gathered in the various professional sections.

The goal of this non-profit organisation is the academic education and distribution of knowledge concerning the comprehensive multiprofessional treatment of spinal cord injury. This is achieved by the organisation of scientific meetings and workshops at a regular base as well as the participation in meetings of societies with similar interest. The proceedings are published as suitable.

Further the ongoing medical education for all medical professionals is supported, mainly by annual of bi annual meetings of the appropriate sections of the society.

Scientific projects are promoted; researchers may apply for grants. An especially important field of work is the cooperation with other bodies or societies which are active in the same areas. The society therefore maintains close ties to the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS) and encourages the members to get involved.

To honour outstanding contributions to the knowledge in the field, the society awards two scientific prizes. One is the Ludwig-Guttmann Award for eminent scientific work (pls. see the specific web page for details) and the Prof. Dr. Friedrich Meinecke Award for the best abstract submitted to the annual meeting.

The DMGP establishes guidelines for the treatment of spinal cord injured patients and is a member of AWMF, which affiliates 173 Scientific Societies from all specialties of medicine. AWMF represents Germany in the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences CIOMS.

Member can be any natural person working as a professional with or for spinal cord injured persons, willing to support the goals of the society. Legal entities involved with spinal cord care may become extraordinary members. Honorary membership may be awarded according to the bylaws of the society.