1. How does the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) committee appointment process work and who has input?
2. Can a person be nominated to serve on a committee for the current year?
3. Who selects the committee chairs and committee members, and when?
4. Can I nominate myself or a colleague?
5. What factors or traits are considered by the President-Elect when deciding who should serve on a committee?
6. Are resident members eligible for committee appointments?
7. Who else can serve as a committee member?
8. What is the schedule of events leading up to the final appointments each fall?
9. How are committee members’ terms determined, and how long do they serve?
10. In total, how many members and how many different ASA committees are there?
11. So if I’m interested in serving as a committee member, or if I know someone who is interested, what should I do first?
1. Q. How does the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) committee appointment process work and who has input?
A. The process for nominating and appointing ASA members to standing committees of ASA follows an annual cycle (roughly from September to May) and includes review and input from ASA’s leadership, committee chairs and members, subspecialties and state component societies.
2. Q. Can a person be nominated to serve on a committee for the current year?
A. Although unusual, it is not without precedent, should a vacancy occur. However, it is important to keep in mind that nominations to ASA committees are made nearly a year in advance. That is, during the current year, most all committee appointments are being processed or have been determined for the following year.
 top
3. Q. Who selects the committee chairs and committee members, and what input is obtained from the anesthesia community?
A. The schedule of events starts each year in September before the ASA Annual Meeting. The First Vice President sends letters to each Subspecialty Society President soliciting nominations of individuals that Society would like to have serve on the relevant ASA Committees. Nominations are made via the Members Only section of the ASA web site. In addition, letters are sent to each Committee Chair asking for an evaluation of members sitting on the existing committee, and recommendations for reappointment. After the October ASA Annual Meeting, the new President-Elect asks for nominations entered into the Members Only section of the ASA web site from each Section and Division Chair, each Component Society President, the Board of Directors (including Alternate Directors, ASA Officers, and academic department Chairs. In each case it is stressed that any individual nominated must also enter a self nomination request via the Members Only section of the ASA web site in order to be considered.
top
4. Q. Can I nominate myself or a colleague?
A. Yes, such nominations are indeed welcome and encouraged. Immediately following the ASA Annual Meeting in early November, self-nomination and colleague-nomination forms are posted to the ASA Web site under “Members Only.” Curriculum vitas are not necessary but can be sent separately to the ASA Executive Office.
5. Q. What factors or traits are considered by the President-Elect when deciding who should serve on a committee?
A. Efforts are made to select those who have expertise and/or a sincere interest in the area for which the committee is responsible. The makeup of each committee is unique, however, and most committees benefit from having diverse members who represent various geographic regions throughout the country and the various modes of anesthesia practice. The dynamics of most committees seem best when there is a balance of new and returning appointees, academicians and private practitioners, diversity in gender and backgrounds, and established practitioners as well as younger physicians.
top
6. Q. Are resident members eligible for committee appointments?
A. Yes. In fact, the ASA Resident Component President submits a list of resident names for consideration as adjunct members of various ASA committees. Residents are encouraged to contact a member of the Resident Component Governing Council http://www.asahq.org/asarc/officers.html to ask questions or express their interest in possibly serving on an ASA committee. Although endorsement through the Resident Component is helpful, self-nominations from current ASA resident members also are accepted.
7. Q. Who else can serve as a committee member?
A. Only ASA members in good standing may serve as regular or adjunct members on ASA committees. This includes active, resident and retired members as well as educational and medical student members, depending on the needs of the committee. Consultant members, review member and ex-officio members may be appointed as needed and may or may not be ASA members.
top
8. Q. What is the schedule of events leading up to the final appointments each fall?
A. In general, the schedule begins immediately following the ASA Annual Meeting each October and is set up as follows:
November: Members begin to submit committee interest forms. The President-Elect begins to identify and (re)appoint the chairs of each committee.
January: All committee chair appointments are made by the President-Elect. The deadline for receiving ALL committee nominations forms (including self nominations, colleague nominations and nomination by the committee chairs) is on or before January 15.
February-April: The President-Elect reviews all forms and confers with the Division and Section Chairs before making the appointments and assigning terms.
May: All committee appointment invitation letters are sent. These signed letters, with a completed conflict-of-interest statement, must be returned before the appointment is considered official.
August: All final committee rosters are prepared for inclusion in the House of Delegates handbook.
October: Committee terms begin with the close of the ASA Annual Meeting.
9. Q. How are committee members’ terms determined, and how long do they serve?
A. Committee members’ terms are assigned by the President-Elect. Regular members serve 3-year terms, and adjunct members serve 1-year terms. The ASA Bylaws stipulate that regular members may serve up to three 3-year terms and cannot be reappointed unless they go off the committee for at least one year.
top
10. Q. In total, how many members and how many different ASA committees are there?
A. ASA committees serve as the backbone of the Society, and ASA is proud of its many members who each year devote thousands of volunteer hours on ASA programs, projects and activities. There are currently 87 standing, ad hoc and sub/committees and three editorial boards of ASA with total committee membership exceeding 1,100.
11. Q. So if I’m interested in serving as a committee member, or if I know someone who is interested, what should I do first?
A. If you are interested in nominating yourself or a colleague, the new appointment form will be posted to the ASA Web site under “Members Only” by early November. You also may wish to contact the current chair of the committee, who can answer your questions about the work of that committee and who also has input in the nomination process. For a description of all ASA committees, including their composition and duties, go to the ASA Bylaws:
http://www.asahq.org/publicationsAndServices/bylaws.pdf
For a list of committees, their chairs and current members, go to:
http://www.asahq.org/aboutAsa/asaCommitteeListing.htm
top
|