ASPO Committees

We would like to encourage all Full and International Members to apply for open committee positions at ASPO. Fellow members who have applied and got approved for Full Membership in 2020 are also eligible to apply. Please note that each committee is made up of 7 individuals, with 6 committee members serving staggered 3-year terms and an appointed Chairperson.

Thank you for your interest in being part of ASPO committees.

Committee Application

Committees are standing or special. Special Committees may be created or terminated at any time by resolution of the Board of Directors.  The Committee Chairperson is responsible for implementing the action of that Committee and in most cases serves a 2 year term.  As a general rule the President selects each Committee Chairperson from among Committee members who have previously served at least a full three years on such Committee unless otherwise specifically identified hereinafter. Committees will meet from time to time as the Committee Chairperson deems appropriate. The Committee Chairperson will prepare semi-annual reports and will send such annual report to the Secretary of the Society one month in advance of each Board Meeting. 

List of standing Committees and other appointed positions:

1. Program Committee:

(1) Responsible for the Scientific Session and all related programs and exhibits of the Society at its Annual Meeting
(2) Working with the event coordinator to insure proper coordination of the scientific and other programs of the Annual Meeting
(3) Review of free or invited papers and posters in consultation with the Board of Directors

2. Membership Committee:

(1) To maintain and distribute application forms for membership in the Society
(2) To establish guidelines for membership, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and the membership of the Society
(3) To annually review all prospective candidates for membership in the Society and present all recommendations regarding membership to the Board of Directors thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting

3. Nominating Committee:  

The Nominating Committee is composed of four members elected by voting members of the Society. A fifth member is the Immediate Past-President of the Society. There are 4 available openings every year. Candidates must be nominated by another ASPO member.

(1) To prepare a slate of officers, including the President-Elect and when required, the Secretary and the Treasurer preferably in time for the fall meeting of the Board of Directors to facilitate a smooth transition
(2) To prepare a slate of Directors (if required), including the Members-At-Large (one name for each position) and to submit such slate to the Board of Directors at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting. 

4. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee is composed of 7 members

(1) To review the financial strategy for the Society with regard to operational cost, investment and collection of membership dues by working closely with the management company.
(2) To review expenditures and recommend actions to the Board of Directors.
(3) To review financial results for the endowment and operational funds of the Society.
(4) To review long-term financial strategies with the Board of Directors at least annually.
(5) To formulate an investment policy and work closely with the investment manager.
(6) To oversee the audit of financial records every 4 years or as needed.
(7) To ensure that federal and state tax forms are filed annually.
(8) Other duties/responsibilities assigned to the committee by the ASPO board.

5. Research Committee:  

(1) Soliciting and reviewing grant proposals submitted to the Society for funding, and making recommendations to the Board of Directors for which proposals to fund
(2) Working with the Centralized Otolaryngology Research Effort (CORE) committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery to solicit and review and fund grant proposals pertaining to pediatric otolaryngology
(3) Formulate, update, disseminate and carry out policies pertaining to surveys administered to the ASPO membership for research purposes
(4) Working with the Board of Directors on any intellectual property right issues related to the Society

6. Information Technology Committee:

(1) Interacting with the webmaster for the Society
(2) Making recommendations about new technology from which the Society would benefit
(3) To determine appropriate distribution of the podium presentations at annual meetings through such avenues as audio digest, video tapes, computer disks for such purposes as continuing medical education

7. Fellowship Committee: At least three members of the Fellowship Committee are active faculty supervisors within a fellowship training program.

(1) To review standards for fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology and assist and make recommendations to agents who evaluate fellowship training programs
(2) To provide a written report of the Committee’s actions and recommendations to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Society not less than four weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors
(3) To work toward continuous improvement of the fellowship candidate interview process to include coordination of interview dates
(4) To facilitate interactions between the San Francisco Match Program and ASPO and fellowship programs in terms of registration of programs, coordinating the match date, and related matters
(5) To assist interested programs in obtaining ACGME accreditation

8. Education/Curriculum Committee:

(1) The primary responsibility is to develop and maintain a curriculum for fellowships in pediatric otolaryngology. A secondary responsibility is to develop and maintain pediatric otolaryngology curricula and materials for the education of otolaryngology residents, non-otolaryngology residents, practicing otolaryngologists, and medical students
(2) Assist in the identification of resources for curriculum support
(3) Assist in the development of material to be used in the pediatric otolaryngology portion of the American Board of Otolaryngology Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and the Pediatric Otolaryngology Sub-certification examinations

9. Development Committee:

(1) Raising funds for the Society, for the purposes of sustaining research and educational support and such other duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe; overseeing the planning and coordination of fund-raising efforts
(2) Working with the President to implement and create supporting material for the Annual President fund-raising appeal to the membership
(3) Assessing the need for fund-raising events and capital campaigns

10. Quality & Safety Committee:

(1) To review existing national patient safety and quality improvement initiatives to ascertain the impact to pediatric otolaryngologists and discern the role of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology in such initiatives (i.e. helping to decide if ASPO should participate in specific initiatives)
(2) To attempt to contribute to the scientific literature of patient safety and quality improvement with regards to the scope of practice of pediatric otolaryngology.
(3) To consider member participation in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives that have the potential to impact scope of practice of ASPO members

11. Bylaws Committee: It is composed of the following 4 members:

(a) Secretary
(b) Immediate Past President
(c) Past Past President (The Past Past President shall serve as Chairperson)
(d) Past Past Past President

(1) Keep the bylaws current with the activities and practices of the Society

12. Early Career Development Committee

The purpose of this committee is to identify, develop, and disseminate resources specific to the advancement of pediatric otolaryngologists in the early phase of their career. As a general rule, a member of the Early Career Development Committee should be within 7 years of their fellowship completion at the time of appointment.

Areas of focus include: (1) financial (e.g. subspecialty loan forgiveness and career grants), education, and research opportunities; (2) committee and leadership roles within ASPO and other organizations; and (3) fostering mentorship between junior and senior ASPO members.

13. International Committee:

The duties and responsibilities of the International Committee shall include:
(1) In collaboration with Board of Directors, promote communication with international Pediatric Otolaryngology groups;
(2) Providing the membership information on opportunities for international scientific and educational collaboration;
(3) Maintaining a repository of international academic and clinical resources for the membership to include meetings, courses, research projects and volunteer service opportunities;
(4) Providing assistance to international otolaryngologists for membership, observership and fellowships;
(5) Oversight of the Visiting International Scholar Program and other international travel fellowships to ASPO meetings; and
(6) Other duties/responsibilities assigned to the committee by the Chair and ASPO board.