Call for 2024 AST Board Nominations

Dr. Deepali Kumar, Chair of the Governance Committee, invites AST members to submit nominations for qualified individuals to serve on the AST Board of Directors.

Open positions on the Board of Directors include President-Elect, Treasurer (two-year term), and three Councilors-at-Large (three-year terms). The term of service begins with the rotation of the Board at the Town Hall that will be held during the 2024 American Transplant Congress.

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6.

Please note that the conflict of interest policy was recently updated. It is important to review it carefully prior to completing this form. All potential nominees must review and update their COI disclosures within Convey and confirm this is complete with an email to the Executive Director at scovington@myast.org prior to submitting your nomination.

Nominees will be asked to demonstrate consistent commitment to the AST by providing the committee with specific information confirming their service in their personal statement. The ideal nominee will have:

  1. Been an AST member in good standing for a minimum of five years;
  2. Attended AST meetings (including the American Transplant Congress); and
  3. Served in a leadership position for AST: for example, as Chair of an AST committee, COP, task group, program planning committee, or advisory council.

For a nomination to be seriously considered by the Governance Committee, the nominee should have had significant involvement in and service to the AST. The nominee should have demonstrated ability to think strategically, commit to working effectively within a collective decision-making body and have knowledge of or experience with governance. The Governance Committee will consider nominations in the context of the following:

  1. Basic leadership skills (not an ability to manage, but to lead).
  2. At least a three-to-five-year horizon in thinking/commitment.
  3. Ability to build teamwork among peers with different needs and interests.
  4. Demonstrated, not just articulated, leadership abilities.
  5. Examples of:
    1. Moving people and/or an organization in the right direction
    2. Ability to cultivate productive teamwork
    3. Skillfully and creatively directing resources to accomplish objectives.
  6. Can they effectively help direct the AST’s resources to achieve its goals and objectives?
  7. Can they guide the AST in the future?

Two reference letters detailing the nominee’s leadership abilities, as outlined above in numbers 1-7, are required to complete the nomination packet. Reference letters must address each of the leadership questions posed above and include specific examples that demonstrate the attributes espoused by the nominee.

  • Laudatory letters about the candidate’s stature in the field, research, or clinical accomplishments, etc., are less helpful.
  • Multi-signatory letters from committees or COPs are not given preferential treatment. Single signature letters are strongly preferred, and may come from a committee/COP leader, but should not be framed as a recommendation on behalf of the group.
  • Please note: Members of the Governance Committee should not be asked to write reference letters for nominees.

The diversity of the Board is essential, and the Governance Committee considers this through many lenses, including expertise and skills, specialty, location, and cultural, racial, and ethnic demographics. These elements are important so that the AST can maintain its commitment to inclusivity and meet the needs of both its members and the transplant community we serve. The Board’s composition is balanced and strengthened by these differences and the Governance Committee encourages nominations that will provide additional diversity on the Board.

The AST is a complex organization. Board members are responsible for governance and policy setting. The Board focuses on mission, strategic direction, organizational priorities, programs and financial oversight. The business of the AST is conducted through four to five, face-to-face board meetings (2 days each) a year as well as on monthly Board conference calls. Board members are assigned to serve as Board liaisons to one or more of the AST’s Communities of Practice, advisory councils, and committees (“committees”). The Board liaison is expected to participate on committee conference calls and serve as a conduit of information to and from the Board. At times, there are also projects assigned to Board members.

The President’s time commitment is significant. The other officer positions are more than the Councilor-at-Large but not as significant as the President’s time commitment. Given the demands of Board service, nominees in each position will be asked to provide a description of how they will allocate the necessary time for Board service in light of his or her current work demands. To view the job descriptions for the President-Elect, Secretary, and Councilor-at-Large, click here.

Guiding principles for service on the AST Board of Directors must also be identified and implemented to avoid conflicts of interest. Nominees will be asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest for review by the Conflict of Interest Committee prior to submission of their nomination. Disclosures should be thorough, including any financial, fiduciary, or other relationships that might create a conflict of interest pertinent to the work being performed for the AST. This includes other professional and patient organizations, academia, government agencies, companies, and other entities with financial or strategic interest in organ donation or transplantation for the nominee and their spouse/domestic partner. The AST implemented a new COI policy and disclosure collection tool, Convey. Nominees should log into Convey to review their disclosures prior to completing the nomination form and confirm completion of this step with AST’s Executive Director, Shandie Covington, at scovington@myast.org.

The Governance Committee will specifically review nominations for the following conflicts of interest:

1. Simultaneous service on the AST Board of Directors and another board of directors (or equivalent) of a patient or professional organization whose mission includes organ transplantation or donation.

2. Nominees who currently serve as an officer of a transplant regulatory governing body

Any questions regarding conflict of interest and appropriateness for Board service should be directed to scovington@myast.org.

Read the full Guiding Principles for Service policy

For more information on this process, click here.

 

VIEW JOB DESCRIPTIONS   

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