Abstract
The Health Sciences Consortium (HSC), a membership organization in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, is devoted to the development and distribution of educational materials in the health sciences. Since 1971, HSC has grown to include 1200 members, comprising health sciences schools, hospitals and organizations in the USA and 28 other countries. HSC also publishes 1300 educational programmes covering all aspects of the health sciences and using a variety of delivery systems. In addition, HSC develops and customizes training and professional continuing education materials for pharmaceutical companies. The consortium provides several benefits to its members, including substantial discounts on instructional programmes, review and publication of submitted programmes, and faculty development workshops. HSC also sponsors an Instructional Design Fellowship Programme and a Visiting Faculty Programme open to all national and international consortium members.