Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (CUHMA)

What Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (CUHMA) does

CUHMA (Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association / Association Canadienne de Médecine Hyperbare et Subaquatique) is a Canadian non-profit professional medical association founded in 2015 as an independent organization from its predecessor, the Canadian Chapter of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). It functions as the recognized national specialty body for hyperbaric and diving medicine in Canada, serving physicians (MD/DO and equivalents), hyperbaric technologists, respiratory therapists, nurses, the diving community (recreational, commercial, military, and scientific), hyperbaric treatment facilities, and academic researchers.

The association's core deliverables are not technology products but rather professional services and content assets. These include: (1) tiered membership programs (Regular $125/yr, Associate $75/yr, Affiliate $75/yr, Student $25/yr with group rates of $50-$100 for 5+ members); (2) the CUHMA Standards of Practice Guidelines (1st Edition) providing clinical guidelines and facility accreditation standards; (3) a Royal College AFC Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine — the only formal physician certification of its kind in Canada — offered in two streams (Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine and Diving Medicine) via a Training Program route or Practice Eligibility Route (PER-AFC) at fees of $1,872 or $925 plus $250 annual Diplomate dues; (4) the AFC Residency Training Program at the University of Toronto; (5) the Annual Scientific Meeting (a one-day online event with $75-$150 CAD registration, certified for Mainpro+ and NBDHMT credits); (6) the monthly CUHMA E-News newsletter; (7) a public Canadian Hyperbaric Facilities Directory listing 15 facilities; and (8) an awards program recognizing leadership in hyperbaric and diving medicine.

CUHMA's revenue model is largely subscription/dues-based (annual membership tiers) supplemented by event registration fees and credentialing-related fees administered in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Distribution is direct via the cuhma.ca website (powered by Exware Association Management with Stripe payment processing), with no third-party resellers for the membership or meeting products. The organization works strategically with the Canadian Standards Association on Z275 Occupational Diving and Hyperbaric standards, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and international counterpart societies (UHMS, EUBS, SPUMS). It is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors with members drawn from leading Canadian universities and hospitals, and has no disclosed private equity, venture, or parent-company ownership.

Name

Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (CUHMA)

Legal name

Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (CUHMA)

Website

https://cuhma.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CUHMA is the recognized Canadian national professional medical association for hyperbaric and diving medicine, delivering membership tiers, the Royal College AFC Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine, an Annual Scientific Meeting, the CUHMA Standards of Practice Guidelines, and a facility directory for physicians, technologists, respiratory therapists, and the diving community across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CUHMA generates primary revenue from annual membership dues across four tiers: Regular ($125/yr), Associate ($75/yr), Affiliate ($75/yr), and Student ($25/yr). Group rates apply for 5+ members at discounted rates. Membership runs for one calendar year from application date.
2. Annual Scientific Meeting Registration: The association hosts an Annual Scientific Meeting with paid registration. Fees range from $75-$150 CAD depending on membership status. The 2026 ASM was a one-day online event with 6.75 Mainpro+ Certified Activity credits.
3. Royal College Diploma Fees: The Royal College application fee for the Diploma via PER-AFC is $1,872 and via Training Program route is $925. Annual dues for Diplomates and Diplomate-Affiliates is $250. These fees are collected through the Royal College system but support the credentialing program administered by CUHMA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CUHMA is a Canadian non-profit professional medical association that delivers paid membership programs, sets national standards of practice, administers the Royal College AFC Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine, runs continuing medical education (Annual Scientific Meeting and courses), and convenes the national community of physicians, respiratory therapists, hyperbaric technologists, and divers involved in hyperbaric and diving medicine.

Product overview

CUHMA is a professional medical association (not a software product) offering a portfolio of membership services, educational programs, certification, and standards for hyperbaric and diving medicine professionals in Canada. The core offerings include: membership programs with multiple tiers, an Annual Scientific Meeting with CME credits, the monthly CUHMA E-News newsletter, CUHMA Standards of Practice Guidelines, the Royal College Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine, AFC Residency Training Program at U of T, Continuing Medical Education courses, and a Canadian Hyperbaric Facilities Directory. No software product or SaaS platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CUHMA Membership Professional membership program for physicians, hyperbaric technologists, respiratory therapists, nurses, divers, and students with tiered annual dues, voting rights, eligibility to hold office (Regular tier), and a bundled 50% discount on UHMS membership.
• Annual Scientific Meeting Annual one-day online conference featuring international speakers on hyperbaric oxygen topics, original research presentations, and certified continuing medical education credits (Mainpro+ and NBDHMT).
• CUHMA Standards of Practice Guidelines Published standards document providing clinical practice guidelines for appropriate indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and facility accreditation standards, serving as the national reference for hyperbaric facilities.
• Royal College Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine Formal physician certification program through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, with two streams (Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine and Diving Medicine) and certification routes through a Training Program or Practice Eligibility Route (PER-AFC).
• AFC Residency Training Program - University of Toronto Royal College AFC Residency Program in Hyperbaric Medicine affiliated with the University of Toronto and based at Toronto General Hospital, offering the Training Program route to the AFC Diploma.
• Continuing Medical Education Educational programs and specialized courses for health care professionals (physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists) involved in hyperbaric and diving medicine.
• Canadian Hyperbaric Facilities Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• 2021 ASM: 104 international participants from 6 countries attended virtual meeting
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUHMA originated as the Canadian Chapter of UHMS. In October 2015, UHMS required international chapters to become independent affiliated organizations, leading to CUHMA's formation as an independent national association. CUHMA maintains close collaboration with UHMS and other international hyperbaric organizations. CUHMA members receive a 50% discount on UHMS membership.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of CanadaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUHMA's AFC Committee in Hyperbaric Medicine developed and administers the Royal College AFC Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine. The Royal College is one of two physician certification agencies in Canada. The Diploma has two streams (Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine and Diving Medicine) with two certification routes (Training Program and PER-AFC). CUHMA works with University of Toronto for the residency training program.
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUHMA works with CSA on developing and establishing national standards for hyperbaric treatment facilities and diving operations. CSA standards referenced include Z275 Occupational Diving and Hyperbaric standards. CUHMA board members participate on CSA technical committees including the Hyperbaric Subcommittee.
• European Undersea & Baromedical Society (EUBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUBS is one of three international hyperbaric/diving medicine societies recognized for CUHMA Affiliate membership. International collaboration supports CUHMA's objective of Canada-wide and international cooperation among disciplines in hyperbaric and diving medicine.
• South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPUMS is one of three international hyperbaric/diving medicine societies recognized for CUHMA Affiliate membership. International collaboration supports CUHMA's objective of Canada-wide and international cooperation.
• University of Toronto (U of T)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUHMA's Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at Toronto General Hospital is affiliated with U of T for the AFC Residency Training Program in Hyperbaric Medicine. The program is a Royal College AFC program at the University of Toronto's medical school.
• College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFPC is one of two physician certification agencies in Canada (along with Royal College). CUHMA's Royal College Diploma pathway includes provisions for family physicians who entered practice before CFPC registration requirements. CFPC diplomates may apply for the Royal College AFC Diploma in Hyperbaric Medicine.
• Exware Association ManagementminorOthersExware Association Management provides the website platform and membership management system (e-commerce, membership applications, members-only section) powering cuhma.ca. Contact information management and payment processing (via Stripe) are handled through this platform.
• Ontario Wound Care Inc. (federally registered charity)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Wound Care Inc. funds the capital and operating expenses of the Judy Dan Research & Treatment Centre at North York General Hospital's Branson site. Founded by Dr. Ron Linden, the charity supports hyperbaric oxygen treatment and advanced wound care services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS): The South Pacific / Australian regional hyperbaric and diving medicine society recognized by CUHMA for Affiliate membership. SPUMS performs the same society-level functions (annual scientific meetings, journal publication, diving medicals) as CUHMA in its geography.
• European Undersea and Baromedical Society (EUBS): The European counterpart to UHMS, recognized by CUHMA for Affiliate membership. EUBS serves as a regional hyperbaric and diving medicine society for European physicians and researchers, with comparable functions (annual meetings, publications, credentialing support) and overlapping international membership.

Others

• Divers Alert Network (DAN): A global diving safety organization that provides diving medical services, research, and emergency response. CUHMA's Secretary Neal Pollock is a former DAN Research Director, illustrating the close ecosystem link between DAN's diving-medicine research and CUHMA's clinical/educational mission.
• National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT): A US-based certification body that administers technician-level credentials in hyperbaric medicine. NBDHMT certifies the same hyperbaric technologist audience CUHMA's Associate Member tier targets, and its approved CE programs are referenced in CUHMA's ASM Mainpro+/NBDHMT credit structure.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Medical Association (CMA): Canada's national professional association for physicians. While CMA operates broadly across all specialties, it is structurally comparable to CUHMA as a Canadian medical society providing membership services, advocacy, and policy voice—useful for benchmarking governance and member engagement models.
• Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS): A Canadian national specialty medical society for anesthesiologists—a peer specialty closely adjacent to hyperbaric medicine (anesthesiologists are a key CUHMA member constituency). CAS shares CUHMA's structure of CME, annual meetings, Royal College-aligned standards, and member dues model.

Direct peers

• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS): The US-based international parent organization for hyperbaric and diving medicine. CUHMA originated as the Canadian Chapter of UHMS and maintains a flagship partnership with 50% reciprocal membership discounts. Both organizations set clinical practice guidelines, host annual scientific meetings, and serve overlapping physician/technologist audiences.

Emerging players

• Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA): A US-based professional association for nurses and allied health professionals working in hyperbaric medicine. BNA focuses on a specific segment (nursing/allied health) of the same professional community CUHMA serves, with overlapping goals of education, certification support, and standards of practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association (CUHMA)