American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists

COMMITMENT

EXCELLENCE

INTEGRITY

Committees

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Bylaws Committee

To study all proposed and necessary amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.
To draw up in proper form all suggested amendments and to send a copy of these proposed amendments to the Executive Director of the College not later than December 1 of each year.

Continuing Medical Education Committee

The committee shall consist of six (6) members as a one year appointment with a maximum of 6 terms per member, with a maximum of 9 members plus the Chair of the annual Fall Conference and the Chair of the Annual Convention scientific program, the Immediate Past President, a Resident Representative, and the Executive Director.
To insure from time to time, an in-depth postgraduate course in obstetrics and gynecology, other than the annual convention, and to insure continuing medical education to the membership of this College.
To insure that all members, as set forth by the Board of Trustees, meet the minimal standards for continued postgraduate education in obstetrics and gynecology as required by this College and approved by the American Osteopathic Association to maintain their membership in the College.
To review and recommend to the Board of Trustees Candidates for the position of Program Chair(s) for the annual scientific convention and the Midyear Postgraduate program.
To review and recommend program curricula submitted by program chair(s) to the ACOOG Board of Trustees.
To review postgraduate evaluation forms received from program attendees.
To develop long range CME course curricula.
To assist the Residency Evaluation Committee of the College in incorporating the inclusion of Osteopathic principles and practices in OB/GYN residency training.
To assure the inclusion of appropriate Osteopathic content in the Continuing Medical Education programs presented by ACOOG.

Editorial Committee

The Chair shall be the editor of the ACOOG newsletter
The members of the committee shall act as guest editors for the ACOOG newsletter
To cooperate with the editorial department of the American Osteopathic Association and assist in editing obstetrical and gynecological writing intended for publication.
The committee shall consist of a Chairperson and four members as determined by the President

Research and Awards Committee

The goal of the Research Committee is to foster excellence and integrity in its physicians in osteopathic training programs. This committee will help promote original research publications and manuscript submission to the current medical literature.
This committee will work with the ACOOG Executive Committee and the Executive Vice President of the ACOOG to explore funding sources to subsidize research in this specialty.
This committee will encourage and assist those individuals in osteopathic training programs in the preparation and submission of research projects.
To recommend to the Board of Trustees those research projects in this specialty field that shall receive financial support from available funds.
This committee will also work with the ACOOG Executive Committee and the Executive Vice President of the ACOOG to evaluate and grade research projects presented at the annual meeting.
To recommend to the Board of Trustees any outstanding osteopathic physician for a special award that may be given by the college from time to time.
This committee will consist of a Chairperson and three or more members as determined by the President.

Committee on Ethical and Professional Standards

To enforce the Code of Ethics of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association is the Code of Ethics of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and all hearings involving charges of violations of the Code of Ethics shall be conducted according to substantially the same procedure followed by the American Osteopathic Association in similar matters.
To review, investigate, and hold hearings as may be necessary with regard to allegations or complaints of violations by any member of the Constitution, Bylaws, Code of Ethics, unprofessional conduct or failure to exercise sound judgment and a reasonable degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involved in the practice of the specialty of Osteopathic Obstetrics and Gynecology. In pursuance of the aforementioned duties, the Committee shall be epowered to receive complaints concerning alleged violations and commence the investigation thereof and is further empowered to initiate any investigation of conduct which may be considered a violation hereof. If it appears from the complaint or after preliminary investigation by the Committee that there is no reasonable cause to believe the member is guilty of a violation, they may dismiss the complaint or cease any further investigation thereof.

If the Committee shall believe that there is a reasonable cause to believe that a member is guilty of a violation, the Committee shall make a formal complaint in such form as to reasonably advise the respondent member of the nature of the complaint and violation and shall serve same on the respondent member either by personal service or by certified or registered mail. The respondent member shall file a written answer to such complaint and serve same upon the Chair of the Committee within twenty (20) days of receipt of complaint. The respondent shall have the right to request a hearing conducted by the Committee. If the member does not request a hearing, the Committee shall proceed to review the complaint by such procedures as the Committee shall choose and render findings of fact and a recommendation as provided herein.

If the respondent member shall request a hearing, the Committee shall meet within sixty (60) days following the expiration of a twenty (20) day answer period for the purpose of conducting a hearing on the complaint and answer. The Committee shall serve the respondent member with a written notice of such meeting with a reasonable period of time prior thereto and the respondent member shall have the right to appear before the Committee and may be represented by legal counsel. The Committee shall be entitled to adopt such procedural and evidentiary rules as shall be in the nature of an evidentiary hearing.

Legal counsel shall be present and represent the College for the purpose of presenting any evidence in support of the complaint and the respondent member shall be entitled to present evidence in response thereof. Respondent member shall appear personally for examination and shall answer fully and fairly under oath all questions pertaining to the complaint. Respondent member shall cooperate with the Committee in its investigation by providing access to records, charts and all matter pertaining to the issue presented by the complaint. The Committee shall be entitled to obtain the services of a Court Reporter for the purpose of taking a transcript of the hearing proceedings.

If the Committee finds that the alleged violation has not been established by a preponderance of the evidence, it shall enter an Order of Dismissal of the complaint. If the Committee finds that the violation and/or violations as alleged in the complaint are established as true by a preponderance of the evidence, the Committee shall make written findings of fact and recommendations thereto and forward same with all pleadings and exhibits to the Board of Trustees by transmittal to the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the College within thirty (30) days of the date of the hearing. The Committee is empowered to adjourn the hearing for cause shown, but all parties are to recognize that all such proceedings are to be conducted in a timely and expeditious manner. The Committee shall have the right to determine the location at which the hearing is to be conducted. The vote required to transact any of the aforementioned decisions by the Committee shall be a three-fourths vote.(d)If a member shall have been suspended or expelled as a result of a finding that such member violated the Code of Ethics, then the record of such proceeding and the decision shall be forwarded to the Executive Director of the AOA for ultimate review by the AOA Board of Trustees. The AOA Committee on Ethics shall first determine if the record and decision complies with AOA requirements. If the record and decision do not so comply, they shall be returned to this College for rehearing. If the record and decision do comply, they shall be scheduled for review by the AOA Board of Trustees.

In either event, the AOA Committee on Ethics shall notify the member and this College of its determination. In the case of AOA Board review, the member may file a petition similar to the petition employed in original ethical matters before the AOA, including therein if desired a request to appear personally before the Board. The AOA Executive Committee shall have sole discretion as to whether such request for a personal appearance shall be granted.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee shall consist of three members. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be Chair, the Vice President will be a member of this committee, and one member appointed by the President from the membership at large. The Executive Director is an ex-officio member of this committee and is to be used in an advisory capacity.
To prepare a budget of the anticipated expenditures and income for the ensuing year. This budget shall be presented to the Board of Trustees during the midyear meeting.
To review the Auditor's annual report.
To review all matters of financial nature involving the utilization and expenditures of the funds of this College.

Membership and Promotion Committee

This committee shall be made up of eight (8) members who are appointed for 2-year terms with a maximum 2-term limit, plus the Executive Director and one resident representative.
To investigate and contact any individual who has a special interest in obstetrics and gynecology, and invite him/her to apply for membership in the College.
To contact the Chair of Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Osteopathic hospitals to encourage members of their departments who qualify to apply for College membership.
To develop and maintain methods and standards to promote new membership in the College.
Maintain current membership and their active involvement in the College.
Re-recruit former members and encourage their active involvement.
To investigate, review and evaluate all information and material submitted by the applicant in support of the application for membership.
To investigate and make certain that the applicant is favorably known in his/her own locality as being engaged in the practice of Osteopathic obstetrics and/or gynecology.
To investigate and determine that the applicant is a member in good standing of the American Osteopathic Association.
To report to the Board of Trustees of the College, at the annual meeting, a summary of these investigations.
To notify the applicant if he or she has been rejected for membership and the reason for rejection.
Recommend to the College how it can support and educate its member physicians in providing total women's health care.

Nominating Committee

The members of the Nominating Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President as Chair, the current President, the President Elect and the Vice President.
To propose members' names for the various offices of the College, the necessary members of the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and appropriate AOA Committee recommendations.
To notify the general membership of its proposed nominations at last thirty (30) days in advance of the annual meeting.

Residency Evaluation Committee

This committee shall consist of nine members, one of whom is a member of an osteopathic medical school faculty, appointed for 3 years with a 2-term limit, plus one resident representative (non-voting), and the Executive Director (Ex-officio).
To promulgate goals and objectives as minimum standards and guidelines for AOA-approved training programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology and its sub-specialties. Such goals and objectives shall be contained in the College's basic documents for residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and its sub-specialties.
To cooperate with the AOA in the formation, supervision, and improvement of the residency training programs in the field of obstetrics and gynecology by:

Assisting Program Directors in all approved residencies in obstetrics and gynecology in standardizing, developing, and implementing residency programs.
Making a yearly evaluation of all residents and residency training programs.
Assisting residents in training by counseling and by constructive criticism of their training programs.
Substantiating compliance with the research requirements as outlined in the approved Basic Standards for Residency Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Conducting a yearly meeting of residency Program Directors of obstetrics and gynecology.
Assisting the Committee on Postdoctoral Training of the AOA in the evaluation of residency applications in this specialty.
Enhancing interaction with the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Assisting in the inclusion of and evaluation of osteopathic principles and practice in the training programs in Obstetrics and(9)Coordinating all Residency Evaluation Committee actions with the Council on Postdoctoral Training of the AOA.

To evaluate residency inspection reports submitted to the Executive Committee of the Council on Postdoctoral Training.
To hold regular meetings at least twice yearly at designated times.
To assist the continued development of curriculum in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Osteopathic Colleges.
To assist in the ongoing development of faculty in the Osteopathic Colleges.
To address those issues pertinent to Osteopathic education in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
To act in an advisory capacity to the Editorial, Research and Awards Committee in order to encourage and sponsor basic and clinical scientific research in Obstetrics and Gynecology at pre and postdoctoral levels.

Strategic Planning Committee

Members of this committee shall consist of the three successive Past Presidents of the organization, two current members of the Board of Trustees, and resident representative to the Board of Trustees, two members at large from ACOOG membership appointed for a two year term with a maximum 2-term limit with the Executive Director (Ex Officio). The chairperson shall be the Immediate Past President.
To review bi-annually the ACOOG's strategic plan and recommend to the Board of Trustees additions, deletions, or any other change in the strategic plan, missions and goals of the ACOOG.

Government Affairs Committee

This committee shall consist of three members, one of whom is the Chair, appointed annually by the President. In addition, the Executive Vice President and the Immediate Past President shall be ex-officio members of this committee in an advisory capacity.
The term shall be for three years with staggered terms.
This committee shall have as its primary goal the reporting of governmental issues important to women's health to the Board of Trustees of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Members of this committee shall function as liaison between the ACOOG and the government relations committees other national organizations pertinent to, or involved in, women's healthcare.
This committee shall report to the Board of Trustees at least twice yearly at both annual and fall meetings.

Historian Committee

This committee will recommend actions, activities, and keep a log of significant events by the membership of ACOOG.
This committee will keep a written history complete with photographs, documentation, and other personal and professional information of significant events of the ACOOG, in order to preserve its legacy.
The committee will assume a role in the recognition of current members who have achieved milestones and college events significant to the future of the profession. Award and ceremonies will be recorded so that there will be a consistent, professional documentation of these events.
The committee will meet at least once a year at the annual meeting.
The Chair of the committee will be designated as the Historian of the college and must be a Distinguished Fellow. He/she will serve for three years with no term limits. If the Historian is not present at the annual meeting, one of the other Distinguished Fellows will act as the Historian for that year.
The committee shall consist of a Chair and four members, one of which will be the Resident Representative to the Board of Trustees and at least two members will be Distinguished Fellows. They shall serve three year terms and be staggered initially to allow for change in membership more frequently than every three years. The resident member will serve during his/her tenure as the resident member of the Board of Trustees.
Historic information collected this committee at any function or meeting of the college will become the property of the college.
Examples of historic information could include any document, photograph, print materials or electronic recording collected by the committee at any function or meeting of the college.