Jun 29, 2012
July 2012: ASCOState/Regional Affiliates provide crucial support for local oncologyprofessionals and patients with cancer. In order to give these statesocieties a greater voice in ASCO and more direct communication withthe Board of Directors, a new State Affiliate Council has been convenedand met for the first time at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
The Council will address issues of concern with their members and theoncology community and make recommendations to the Board on a regularbasis. Council representatives were tasked with bringing issues oflocal concern to the national level, and in turn are responsible forrelaying concerns from the national level to their membership. Membersof local societies are encouraged to communicate with theirsociety’s Council representative. The Council will meet twiceannually in person, with conference calls and webinars throughout theyear on an as-needed basis.
“Although ASCO’s Clinical Practice Committee hasbeen an important means of disseminating information to statesocieties, its size and scope have provided limited opportunity for therobust two-way communication desired by the Board,” saidJeffery Ward, MD, of Puget Sound Cancer Centers and Clinical PracticeCommittee Chair, in ASCO Daily News. “This new councilprovides a direct link between ASCO leadership and its grassrootsmembership.”
At its first meeting, the council was introduced to its leadership,ratified the Council Charter, and identifiedtopics and issues that will serve as the basis for discussion at theirfall meeting. These topics ranged from practice issues to membershiprecruitment and retention concerns.
Council structure
Each of ASCO’s 48 State/Regional Affiliates has one votingseat on the council, with an ASCO member representative appointed bythe state society (executive directors and administrators areconsidered ex-officio members of the Council and will be invited toattend all meetings). The council has an executive subcommittee ofseven members. ASCO’s Immediate Past President, Michael P.Link, MD, will serve as Council liaison.
Thomas A. Marsland, MD, of Orange Park Cancer Institute and the newlyelected Council Chair, said, “The State Affiliate Councilpresents a great opportunity for ASCO and local communities to shareissues of concern with each other. It will provide a vehicle to improvecommunication and mutually develop solutions to many oftoday’s complex practice issues.”
The Council will address issues of concern with their members and theoncology community and make recommendations to the Board on a regularbasis. Council representatives were tasked with bringing issues oflocal concern to the national level, and in turn are responsible forrelaying concerns from the national level to their membership. Membersof local societies are encouraged to communicate with theirsociety’s Council representative. The Council will meet twiceannually in person, with conference calls and webinars throughout theyear on an as-needed basis.
“Although ASCO’s Clinical Practice Committee hasbeen an important means of disseminating information to statesocieties, its size and scope have provided limited opportunity for therobust two-way communication desired by the Board,” saidJeffery Ward, MD, of Puget Sound Cancer Centers and Clinical PracticeCommittee Chair, in ASCO Daily News. “This new councilprovides a direct link between ASCO leadership and its grassrootsmembership.”
At its first meeting, the council was introduced to its leadership,ratified the Council Charter, and identifiedtopics and issues that will serve as the basis for discussion at theirfall meeting. These topics ranged from practice issues to membershiprecruitment and retention concerns.
Council structure
Each of ASCO’s 48 State/Regional Affiliates has one votingseat on the council, with an ASCO member representative appointed bythe state society (executive directors and administrators areconsidered ex-officio members of the Council and will be invited toattend all meetings). The council has an executive subcommittee ofseven members. ASCO’s Immediate Past President, Michael P.Link, MD, will serve as Council liaison.
Thomas A. Marsland, MD, of Orange Park Cancer Institute and the newlyelected Council Chair, said, “The State Affiliate Councilpresents a great opportunity for ASCO and local communities to shareissues of concern with each other. It will provide a vehicle to improvecommunication and mutually develop solutions to many oftoday’s complex practice issues.”