Bylaws of the AAPM&R Resident Physician Council
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization is the Resident Physician
Council of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R),
hereafter referred to as the “RPC.”
ARTICLE II - AUTHORIZATION
The RPC has been established under the authority of
Article XII, Section B of the AAPM&R Bylaws and functions by the
authority of AAPM&R as a
Council of Resident Physicians.
ARTICLE III - MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the RPC is to assume the leadership role
in building a valued resident community within the Academy, strengthen the
relationship between the Academy and its future active members, and provide
unique and valued resident perspective to critical Academy planning
activities.
The RPC will promote effective communication between the
Academy and resident community, within the resident community, and between the
RPC and the AAPM&R Board of Governors and committees. Through these interactions
and responsibilities, residents will enhance their leadership skills, be engaged
in Academy leadership activities and become aware of and committed to future
Academy leadership roles and opportunities.
ARTICLE IV - CODE OF CONDUCT
The AAPM&R Code of Conduct in force at the time of
the adoption of the Bylaws, and as they may from time to time thereafter be
amended, will serve as the guidelines for professional and personal behavior
and is a statement of ideals, commitments and responsibilities of the
physiatrist to patients, their families, other health professionals, society
and to themselves.
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Qualifications
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The RPC shall
be open to all AAPM&R Affiliate Members who are in good standing.
Affiliate membership is defined in the AAPM&R Bylaws as a full time
resident in training in an approved residency program in physical
medicine and rehabilitation, an approved residency program in a related
medical specialty as part of a combined residency program, or a full
time physician in an approved program studying for a graduate degree
related to training in physical medicine and rehabilitation. These
members shall hereafter be referred to as “members of the RPC.”
Section B. Rights
of Members. Only Affiliate Members of AAPM&R in good standing
have the right to hold office, vote, use services, and participate in the
business meetings of the RPC.
ARTICLE VI - ADMINISTRATION
Section A.
The Resident Physician Council Board, hereafter referred to as “the
“board,” shall consist of the RPC President, Vice President, Secretary,
Immediate Past-President, RPC representative to the AMA Resident and Fellow
Section, the RPC Residency Program Liaison Chair, the resident
representative to the ACGME PM&R Residency Review Committee, and the RPC
appointments to the Academy strategic coordinating committees; Membership
(2), Medical Education (2), Quality Practice and Policy (1) Public and
Professional Awareness (1).
The RPC Board shall carry out the objectives and policies
as set forth by these Bylaws.
Section B.
Board. Executive Committee. The RPC Executive Committee, hereafter
referred to as the “executive committee” shall consist of the RPC President,
Vice President, Secretary and immediate Past-President. The Executive Committee
will be charged by the board with addressing issues between board meetings and
subject to limitations imposed by board policy. The AAPM&R executive director or
designee is an ex-officio member without vote.
Section C.
Standing Committees. The standing committees of the RPC are:
- Nominating
- Bylaws
Nominating
Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the RPC
immediate past president and consist of two affiliate members of the RPC .
The two RPC affiliate members serving on the Nominating Committee shall not
be running for an elected position on the RPC and shall be appointed by the
president of the RPC with the advice and approval of the Executive
Committee.
Annually, immediately following the RPC Interim Meeting,
nominations shall be solicited from the board for the position of
president-elect. The Nominating Committee shall choose from among suggested
candidates up to three (3) nominees for that position. Consideration shall be
given to the candidate’s previous service to the RPC, organizational and
leadership qualities, and willingness to serve if elected. These nominations
shall be presented to the Executive Committee prior to the mailing of
president-elect ballots. The election of the president-elect will be
administered by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission with the results
determined by a simple plurality of each voting RPC member.
Annually, nominations shall be solicited from RPC members
for the positions of vice president, and secretary. The Nominating Committee
shall choose from among suggested candidates up to three (3) nominees for each
position. Consideration shall be given to the candidates’ previous service to
the RPC, organizational and leadership qualities, and willingness to serve if
elected. These nominations shall be presented to the Executive Committee at
least two months prior to the Annual Assembly. The election of officers will be
administered by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission with the results
determined by a simple plurality of voting RPC members and be completed prior to
the annual RPC Business meeting. The results of the election will be
communicated prior to the Annual Assembly. The members of the Nominating
Committee shall ensure the integrity of the elections process.
Bylaws Committee.
The Bylaws Committee consists of one member of the RPC one member of the
Executive Committee, and the RPC secretary. Annually, the president will appoint
the members each to serve a term of one year The Bylaws Committee shall consider
either upon its own initiative or by reference from the RPC Executive Committee
revisions or amendments of the Bylaws and shall report its recommendations to
the RPC in accordance with Article X of the Bylaws.
Section D. Other
Positions.
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Except as may conflict with the duties of the
standing committees, the president may appoint other positions, so
constituted and for such purposes as the president may see fit. However,
a presidential position may not be created for a term in excess of one
year. These appointment, appropriate to carry out the business of the
RPC, shall not serve on the RPC Board.
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Such other positions standing or special shall be
appointed by the president as the RPC membership or the RPC shall from
time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the RPC. The name,
composition, manner of selection of positions, and duties of all
positions so established shall be maintained by the AAPM&R-RPC staff
liaison.
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The RPC president may also appoint, at the request
of the Academy, additional affiliate members to serve on Academy
standing committees and task forces. These appointments shall not serve
on the RPC Board.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
Section A. Composition. The
officers of the RPC shall consist of the following elected members:
president, president-elect, vice president, secretary, and immediate past
president. These officers shall comprise the Executive Committee of the RPC
Board.
Section B. Qualifications. All RPC
officers must be AAPM&R Affiliate Members in good standing. To be eligible
for the office of president-elect, an Affiliate Member is required to be a
resident throughout the term of the presidential year. In addition, to be
eligible the candidate must have served as an RPC Board member and attended
a RPC Interim Meeting prior to nomination, in addition to being committed to
attending the RPC Business Meeting held during the Annual Assembly. The RPC
Executive Committee may cancel any Interim Meeting for cause defined as any
event making it inadvisable, impractical, or impossible to hold the Interim
Meeting. If an Interim Meeting is cancelled, the above attendance
requirement would not apply. If no nominations are made for the
president-elect position from the RPC board that meet these eligibility
qualifications, the nomination committee may extend the process to RPC
members who have not previously served on the RPC board or consider
candidates who’s residencies will end during the presidential year.
Section C. Election. A president-elect
shall be elected a minimum of three month’s prior to the Annual Assembly,
but after the RPC Interim Meeting, and will assume the presidency at the
close of the Annual Assembly that same year. Each AAPM&R Affiliate Member
that is in good standing shall have one vote for the president-elect.
Election of the president-elect will be administered by mail, facsimile, or
electronic transmission with the results determined by a simple plurality of
voting RPC member. The results of the election will be communicated prior to
the election of the Vice President and Secretary. The Vice President and
Secretary shall be elected prior to the Annual Assembly by a simple
plurality of the participating members of the RPC. Election of the Vice
President and Secretary will be administered by mail, facsimile, or
electronic transmission.
Section D. Tenure. The president-elect
serves as such, until the Annual Assembly next ensuing after his/her
election, and becomes president at the close of that Annual Assembly,
serving thereafter as president until his/her successor assumes the
presidency. The immediate past president serves for one year after
completing a term as president. The vice president and secretary each will
serve a term of one Academy year. The officers assume office at the close of
the Annual Assembly and serve until the close of the next Annual Assembly.
Each of the officers may run for re-election for one additional one year
term of office if they meet qualification requirements and upon the
recommendation of the Nominating Committee. No member shall hold any given
office for more than two terms. Officers shall not be elected if completion
of their full term of office is not anticipated.
Section E. Vacancies. If during the
elective term the president dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified, the vice
president succeeds to the office vacated, with all of the prerogatives and
duties pertaining to the office and retains that office for the term this
person would normally serve as president. A vacancy in the office of
president-elect caused by the death, resignation or disqualification will be
filled by an election held among the RPC Board. A vacancy caused by
the death, resignation or disqualification of any other officers, or a
vacancy created by a contingency not herein provided may be filled by
nomination of a candidate by the president and approved by a simple
plurality of the Executive Committee.
Section
F. Rights and Duties.
- President. The president shall serve as
the liaison to the AAPM&R Board of Governors. The president is responsible
for the proper enforcement of the Bylaws. The president shall preside at all
meetings of the RPC, RPC Board, and Executive Committee and shall be an ex
officio member of all committees. The incoming president with the help of
the past-president, shall appoint positions on a yearly basis, for the year
in which he/she shall be president. These appointments include two liaisons
to the membership committee, two liaisons to the medical education
committee, one liaison to the public and professional awareness committee,
one liaison to the quality practice and policy committee, one delegate to
the American Medical Association (AMA) Resident Fellows Section (RFS), one
residency program liaison chair,, and other appointments deemed by the
president to be necessary to further the RPC mission. The incoming president
shall make AAPM&R liaison appointments prior to assuming the role of
presidency at the Annual Assembly. The president has the right to form ad
hoc committees or task forces, as deemed necessary throughout the year. All
task forces, committees, and presidential appointments created or made
during the president’s term will automatically end at the conclusion of the
term unless renewed by vote of the Executive Committee. The president shall
present to the AAPM&R president for approval of a delegate and an alternate
delegate to the Resident and Fellow Section of the American Medical
Association. The president shall also have the right to replace any of the
above appointments should he/she deems such replacement necessary for the
effective functioning of the RPC. The president shall have the authority to
make executive decisions in the interim period between meetings given prior
consultation with and approval of the members of the Executive Committee.
- President-elect. The
president-elect assists the president in the discharge of the president's
duties.
- Vice President. The vice president assists the
president in the discharge of the president’s duties and presides at all
meetings in the absence of the president. The Vice President is responsible
for the financial management and planning of the RPC Board.
- Secretary. The secretary’s primary duty is to
serve as the editor of the resident newsletter. The secretary shall act as
the Bylaws and planning representative (or chair.) Additionally, the
secretary is responsible for the process of keeping and distributing minutes
of all board and general meetings, and perform such other duties as they
pertain to his/her office.
- Past President. The immediate past president
shall advise and assist other members of the RPC in the performance of their
duties. Given the transient nature of residency and to allow for continuity
in the RPC, the past president continues to be a member of the Executive
Committee, the RPC Board, and the RPC, provided he/she is a member in good
standing of the Academy, for the period during which he/she is the immediate
past president, including any time of this period which may occur following
the completion of his/her training in PM&R.
ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS
The RPC shall meet two times yearly. The time of the RPC
Annual Business Meeting shall coincide with the AAPM&R Annual Assembly. The
RPC Annual Business Meeting shall take place at the Annual Assembly after
elections as described in Article VII of these Bylaws.
At the Annual Business Meeting, the retiring officers and
board members shall make reports to the RPC. At the Interim Meeting, each board
member will report on the progress of his/her respective committee.
Section A. Cancellation of Annual Business Meeting.
The RPC Executive Committee may cancel any Annual Business
Meeting for cause defined as any event making it inadvisable, impractical,
or impossible to hold the Annual Business Meeting. If an Annual Business
Meeting is cancelled, all newly elected officers and appointments will begin
the term on the date of the planned but cancelled Annual Business Meeting.
Section B. Cancellation of Interim Meeting.
The RPC Executive Committee may cancel any Interim Meeting for
cause defined as any event making it inadvisable, impractical, or impossible
to hold the Interim Meeting. If an Interim Meeting is cancelled, the AAPM&R-RPC
staff liaison will mail meeting materials to each RPC Board member. In the
event a RPC Board member requests to file a motion, the staff liaison will
submit the motion by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission to the RPC
Board. Discussion of the motion will occur by use of the RPC listserv.
Voting on the requested motion will occur by a simple plurality by mail,
facsimile, or electronic transmission. Votes must be returned by not less
than ten percent (10%) of the RPC Board in order for the motion to be valid.
ARTICLE IX - RULES OF ORDER
STATEMENT
In the absence of any provisions in these Bylaws to the
contrary, all meetings of the RPC, RPC Board, or of the RPC Executive
Committee, and of any position shall be governed by the parliamentary rules
and usages contained in the current edition of Rules of Order by Davis or by
Robert’s Rules of Order for questions not addressed by Davis. The president
or designee will determine when Robert=s rules will apply.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended via a
process in which a proposed amendment is given to the Bylaws Committee to
be considered by the RPC Board and presented at a General
Business Meeting of the RPC. A simple plurality of RPC members who are present
at a General RPC Business Meeting and vote will be required to pass an
amendment.
Once approved by the RPC, an amendment
must then be presented to the AAPM&R Board of Governors member relating
to the RPC and approved by the AAPM&R Board of Governors prior to it
being added to the RPC Bylaws.
If it would prove to be more expedient,
the Bylaws changes can first be approved by the AAPM&R Board of Governors
before being presented to the RPC for approval. In this case, a second
approval by the board of governors would be unnecessary for the amendment
to take effect.
In the event a General Business Meeting is cancelled, these
Bylaws may also be altered, amended, or repealed by a written ballot in
which two-thirds (2/3) of the voting Affiliate Members vote in favor of the
amendment. The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Affiliate
Members by mail, facsimile, or electronic transmission, and ballots must be
returned by not less than ten percent (10%) of the Affiliate Members in
order to be valid.
ARTICLE XI - NONDISCRIMINATION
POLICY STATEMENT
The policy of the RPC is nondiscrimination
on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, sex, age, country of origin,
country of medical education or sexual orientation.
Amended October 8, 1994
Amended November 16, 1995
Amended October 10, 1996
Amended November 5, 1998
Amended November 2, 2000
Amended March 10, 2001
Amended April 27, 2002
Amended March 28, 2004
Amended April 16, 2005
Amended June 15, 2007
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