Code of Conduct

Purpose and Scope

This Code of Conduct was created to provide AST leadership guidance for professional excellence and integrity. The AST leadership includes officers, board members, committee and COP chairs, co-chairs, and past chairs and other members serving in leadership roles on behalf of the AST, as well as AST staff employees and its contract support staff.

Policy Statement

Everyone involved in the leadership of AST is committed to observing and promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct in the performance of their responsibilities to the AST and are required to certify that they have accepted this code as a minimum guideline for ethical conduct.  Everyone in a leadership or support role in the AST shall:

Accountability and Fiduciary Responsibility

• Faithfully abide by the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policies of the AST.
• Exercise reasonable care, good faith, and due diligence in governing and managing affairs of the AST. (Principles of Duty of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience).
• Comply with the terms of the AST Conflict of Interest Policy statement.
• Remain accountable for prudent fiscal management to AST members, leadership, and to external organizations funding or conducting business with the AST.
• Refrain from taking positions as a representative of the AST on topics directly related to transplantation that depart from those officially supported by the AST without prior review by the AST Board. This includes personal advocacy efforts and/or signing on to public comments, petitions, position papers, or similar documents.
• Refrain from making public comments as a representative of the AST on matters (both inside and outside the field of transplantation) that may affect AST’s reputation and credibility without prior review with the AST Board. (See Media Contact Policy for additional details.

Professional Excellence and Integrity

• Maintain a professional level of courtesy, respect, and inclusivity in all AST-related matters and activities.
• Strive to uphold and assist other members in upholding the highest standards of conduct.
• No AST resources (including but not limited to COP hub sites, social media, mailing lists, membership lists, email lists derived from AST maintained list, etc.) may be used to advocate for a specific candidate, group of candidates, or category of candidates in any AST elections.
• COPs may offer general encouragement to their members to vote in an election, but may not campaign for or identify a specific candidate, group of candidates, or category of candidates.

Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusivity

• Support the right of all members to access benefits and services without discrimination. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, national origin (ancestry), age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, socioeconomic status, military status, or other protected classifications in any of the Society’s activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, eligibility for membership, committee assignments or office, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provisions of services. The Society is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, staff, transplant community members, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
• Respect the need for diversity and inclusivity in all activities of the organization. Recognize that inaction or silence in this area serves only to perpetuate racism as a public health crisis, which contradicts our mission to better the lives of vulnerable populations.

Harassment Statement

• AST does not tolerate unlawful harassment against employees, volunteers, or any other covered person based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, national origin (ancestry), age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, socioeconomic status, military status, or other protected classifications in any of the Society’s activities or operations. The Society is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, staff, transplant community members, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
• This policy applies in the workplace and other business-related settings in which employees or volunteers may find themselves for work, such as business trips, business meetings, and company-sponsored events.

Personal Gain and Self-Dealing

• Exercise the powers vested for the good of all members of the AST, rather than for personal benefit.

Confidential Information

• Respect the confidentiality of the AST’s sensitive information known to board members, committee chairs, and any other member of AST leadership.

Collaboration and Cooperation

• Respect the diversity of opinions as expressed or acted upon by the organization’s board, committees, and membership, and formally register dissent as appropriate.
• Promote collaboration, cooperation, inclusion, and partnership among association members, transplant community members, and other volunteers.

Approved – 10/28/07
Revised – 5/1/15
Revised – 8/12/15
Revised – 8/10/16
Revised – 5/31/18
Revised – 04/21/21