An initiative to foster collaboration among medical centers, an interdisciplinary group of professionals began holding monthly conference calls in 2005. As the number of interested centers increased, so did the activity of the group - starting with an editorial in a medical journal leading to a development of a national conference symposium and finally the American Delirium Society. These professionals believed strongly that delirium is a threat to the health and independence of older patients. Based on this belief, the group enlisted the help of professionals in all specialties from across America to organize in our quest to better understand the science of delirium and its prevention, treatment, and long-term consequences. Thus was born the American Delirium Society. The goals of the American Delirium Society are to foster research, education, quality improvement, advocacy & implementation science to minimize the impact of delirium on short- and long-term health and well being of patients.