August 10-12, 2016 - Board of Directors Meeting Summary

The AST Board of Directors held its August 10-12, 2016 board meeting and retreat in Burlington, Vermont. The following items were discussed:

Board members reviewed and approved:

• Minutes from its July 16, 2016 teleconference.
• A consent agenda including the following items:
  • National Office Report
  • Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Training Accreditation Program Update
  • COP Quarterly Report
• Metrics for advocacy and public policy performance.
• The members and founders agreements for the Transplant Therapeutics Consortium.
• June 2016 financial statements and 2017 core budget items.
• Allocation of the annual endowment spend for 2016.
• Complimentary registration for AST-ESOT Basic Science Meeting planning committee members to thank them for their efforts and commitment to this event.
• Giving categories, outlining member benefits for various donation categories for 2017.
• Second quarter investment performance report
• Modifications to the code of ethics for AST leadership and the governance policy related to elections and running for AST office.
• Comments on the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) kidney transplant data standards proposal that were executed by the KPCOP.
• 2017 dues structure, with no changes recommended for member rates.
• Draft meeting program for CEOT 2017. A final program will be reviewed and approved in early fall.
• Provisional approval of a program and budget for a Hepatitis C Consensus Conference planned for late 2016
• A new AST position statement in support of research related to the use of Hepatitis C positive kidneys into Hepatitis C negative recipients, which will be placed on the website.
• A board member request for approval to sit on the Board of Biomedical Research.

The board received an introduction to government relations, as they now serve as the primary body for managing this effort. Board members also reviewed a proposed two-year plan related to advocacy efforts. A fly-in is planned for December

The board reviewed and tentatively approved one pagers on off-label drug use and ESRD for the purposes of education on Capitol Hill that were developed by the Tx Pharm COP and KPCOP respectively. Additional edits will be pursued to make these documents more concise.

Board members received and update on the latest activities related to the Transplant Therapeutics Consortium.

For Momentum provided an updated on progress to date for the Power2Save website and launch.

The board discussed next steps in engaging patients in follow up to the patient advisory group meeting at CEOT 2016.

Board members received an update on development efforts for the year.

Board members discussed the need for a privacy policy to explain protections offered to those choosing to make monetary donations to the Society. Draft policy language will be offered for consideration at an upcoming meeting.

The board considered future options for money management as related to the endowment.

Board members received an updated on the manuscript outlining recommendations from the December 2015 APOL1 Consensus Building Conference.

The board continued its discussion related to means to further expand the removal of living donor disincentives that was announced by Optum during the 2016 American Transplant Congress.

Board members discussed changes to AST board and committee meetings scheduled around CEOT 2017.

An update regarding the Comprehensive Trainee Curriculum educational project was provided, as this project has grown in scope since its original approval. There is a desire to perhaps expand its reach and even offer translated materials for use in other countries.

Board members reviewed the first Transplant in 10 prototype video and offered feedback on this new educational format.

The board received overviews on the July Pediatric Transition Consensus Conference, held in Chicago, the Student Mentoring Program, held in conjunction with the 2016 American Transplant Congress, and the upcoming Fellows Symposium to be held in Texas in late September.

Board members considered a request from ISHLT for partnership on the upcoming AST/ASHI Antibody Consensus Conference, which will follow the CEOT 2017 meeting.