Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM)

Founded in 1968, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) 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.

Mission:
To promote the optimal health and well-being of all adolescents and young adults by supporting adolescent health and medicine professionals through the advancement of clinical practice, care delivery, research, advocacy, and professional development.

Vision:
To be a leader in the promotion of health, well-being, and equity for all adolescents and young adults.

Core Values:
Recognizing that health is more than the absence of disease, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 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, SAHM 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 SAHM’s Mission and Vision:
• Excellence: SAHM strives to achieve the highest attainable standard in its mission.
• Leadership: SAHM 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: SAHM 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: SAHM recognizes that advancing adolescent health depends upon effective partnerships among adolescents, families, health professionals, public and private sectors, communities, schools, and other social institutions.