IMA Academy of Medical Specialties is the Specialty Educational wing of Indian Medical Association, established in 1979, with its headquarters at Delhi.

Objectives

• To acknowledge talent, expertise and experience in all specialties, medical and surgical, including basic medical sciences.
• To acknowledge talent, expertise and experience in all specialties, medical and surgical, including basic medical sciences
• To devise ways and means to encourage group studies, cooperative activities, research projects in both the Methodologies of educational techniques and field research into diseases/disease complexes, etc.
• To compile educational material, including publication of literature, periodicals, bulletins and books.

Membership

Life members: Members of lMA possessing any post graduate qualification, recognized by Medical Council of India or qualifications awarded, by National /Foreign institutions as approved by the Governing Council of Academy shall be eligible for enrollment under this category. Provisions are there for Associate life membership, annual membership ordinary as well as associate, overseas membership and honorary membership, as defined by the bye-law of the Academy.

Membership fee

The prevailing life membership fee is Rs. 1,000/- Life members of IMA can become members of Academy by filling the prescribed application form in triplicate, one copy each meant for the branch chapter, state chapter and Head Quarters respectively. In situations where branch chapters do not exist, enrollment is through the State chapter office.

Academy Fellowship

Academy fellowship may be conferred on Life Members of the Academy who meet the requirements as prescribed in the Bye-Laws and fulfill such other criteria specially laid down by the Governing Council for the selection of fellows. The fellowship fee as prescribed in the Bye-laws and as modified from time to time , shall be payable in advance in the name of “IMA Academy of Medical Specialties” by all Life Members nominated for the Fellowship.

KERALA STATE CHAPTER OF IMAAMS

Out of the seventeen state chapters of IMA AMS, Kerala chapter is the largest, with 1800 members. The two prestigious Awards of Kerala State Chapter of IMA AMS were instituted in 1995. Dr. Eapen Samuel award for the best published scientific paper by an IMA AMS member, and Dr. P.A. Alexander Award for outstanding contributions made by a member in academic, scientific, research or organizational activities during the preceding year. There are Forty One branch chapters of IMAAMS in Kerala. The IMA AMS state chapter also brings out academic publications periodically, copies of which are being sent to entire members of IMAAMS in the state and also to the members of IMA CGP, as a distant learning continuing medical education programme

Formed in the year 1963, IMA CGP is the oldest academic wing of IMA. Its basic aim is to update the medical knowledge of General practitioners who form the backbone of health care delivery system in the country.

IMA CGP conducts fellowship examination (FCGP) twice in a year. This Fellowship is recognized by the National Board of Examination as equivalent to Part I of Dip.NB (Family Medicine). Life membership in IMA and IMA CGP for three years is the basic eligibility criterion to appear for this Examination.

IMA CGP also conducts DFM (Diploma in Family Medicine) examination in association with Colombo University. Five years of General Practice and life membership in IMA CGP is the basic requirement to appear for this examination.

IMA CGP Kerala State Branch has started a novel project of forming Family Physician's Club through all the branches of IMA. The idea behind is to revamp the age old concept of Family Physician system in the country. IMA branches can form such clubs by enrolling all the General Practitioners in their area of jurisdiction. It does not involve any official formalities.

Life membership fee is Rs.1500/- Members get a bi-monthly journal 'Family Medicine'. Only Twenty members are required for a branch to start IMA CGP sub faculty.