AST Now Soliciting Board Nominations for 2015

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 AST Board of Directors is now closed.

Dr. Daniel Salomon, 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 AST Board of Directors include the President-Elect, Secretary (two-year term), and three Councilors-at-Large (three-year terms). The term of service begins with the rotation of the board at the annual Town Hall meeting that will be held during the 2015 American Transplant Congress in Philadelphia, PA.

Completed nominations must be submitted to the AST National Office by 5:00 PM EST on Friday, November 14, 2014. Late nominations will not be accepted.
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?

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);
3. And, served in a leadership position for AST: for example, as chair of an AST committee, COP, task group, program planning committee, or advisory council.

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. Close attention will be given to reference letters as nominees are vetted by the committee.

To ensure that the board’s composition is balanced and strengthened by differences among members regarding race, gender, age, professional and institutional disciplines, geographical regions and practice areas, 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, 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 Secretary’s time commitment is slightly 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, go to: Job Description

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 following submission of their nomination. The Governance Committee will review nominations for the following conflicts of interest:

1. Nominees who currently serve on the ASTS, TTS or CST Councils are not eligible for simultaneous AST Board service.
2. Nominees who currently serve as an officer on a professional medical society governing body are not eligible for simultaneous AST Board service.
3. The Governance Committee will determine, on a case-by-case basis, the eligibility of nominees who currently serve in a non-officer position on a professional medical society governing body.

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 AST Board of Directors is now closed.