Call for nominations for 2020 board and committees

Published on: Saturday, July 20, 2019

The OPTN is seeking nominations for vacancies beginning July 1, 2020 on the Board of Directors and Committees. Board and Committee members are volunteers, representing a variety of professional disciplines, personal experience and expertise in organ transplantation. The OPTN values diversity and strives for a Board and Committee system that represents the community we serve. Therefore, members may be donation or transplant professionals, transplant candidates or recipients, living donors, donor families, and/or members of the general public.

If you wish to be considered for a Board or Committee volunteer position beginning July 1, 2020, complete the online Biography Form at no later than September 30, 2019. Applications received after this date are not guaranteed review for the coming cycle.

All Biography Forms submitted after October 1, 2018, will be considered for the 2020-2021 cycle. To update a previously submitted Biography Form, follow these instructions. You must complete or update your Biography Form annually to be considered for open positions in the following year.

To learn about volunteer responsibilities and the selection process, visit https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/members/get-involved/. If you have questions about volunteering on the Board or Committees or have questions about your application, please contact volunteer@unos.org.

OPTN Board of Directors

The OPTN Final Rule regulates the operation of the OPTN. FR §121.3 has explicit requirements for the composition of the Board of Directors and its Committees. The OPTN Bylaws also contain composition requirements.

Participation Requirements:

Attest to carry out the responsibilities of the OPTN using your own independent judgment, irrespective of any responsibilities you may have to any other organization or the OPTN contractor as per the OPTN attestation agreement (annually)
Agree to abide by the Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality policy
Travel to two in-person meetings annually (expenses reimbursed)
Complete approximately 8 hours of orientation training
Attend the June Board meeting in Richmond, VA for in-person orientation prior to July 1 term
Participate in at least 80 percent of scheduled meetings and conference calls
Complete approximately 7 hours of orientation training
Travel to two in-person meetings each year is required (expenses reimbursed)
Participate in additional meetings by phone

Board vacancies

The following 21 positions are open as ballot seats for 2020-2021 Board of Directors:

Contested vacancies

One Year Term

Vice-President (President-Elect)

Two Year Term

Secretary
At-Large MDs*
Other At-Large*
Vice President, Patient & Donor Affairs

Three Year Term

3 Patient and Donor Affairs Representatives* (Transplant recipients, living donors, donor and/or recipient families)

* Number of Individuals selected for these categories is based upon the regulatory balance in perspective of elected officers.

Non-contested vacancies

Individuals elected by their region and/or a society for the following positions will participate in the national election in a non-contested ballot position.

Two Year Term

Region 3 Councillor
Region 4 Councillor
Region 5 Councillor
Region 6 Councillor
AST Representative
ASTS Representative
NATCO Representative
AOPO Representative
ASHI/CAP Representative

OPTN Committees

Participation requirements:

Complete a three year term (MPSC terms are two years)
Agree to abide by the Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality policy
Attend, prepare for, and actively participate in monthly (sometimes more frequent) web conferences and in-person committee meetings (usually held in Chicago twice a year). The OPTN covers the cost of travel, lodging, and reasonable expenses for committee meetings.

In addition, regional representatives serving on OPTN committees are expected to:

Present updates on committee activities and public comment proposals at their biannual regional meeting. The OPTN does not cover travel expenses for regional representatives to attend regional meetings.
Relay regional meeting feedback to the committee

Selection Process

The OPTN President-Elect appoints incoming committee members to fill open positions. Each committee with openings will review biography forms and make recommendations to the OPTN President-Elect. Regional nominating committees will make recommendations to the President-Elect for regional representative vacancies. To learn more, visit the OPTN website.

Committee Openings

The term for these positions are July 1, 2020- June 30, 2023 unless otherwise noted.

Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee

The Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person. Additional web conferences for case review as needed.

Open positions:

At Large (4)

The Committee is seeking:

Pathologist
Infectious disease MD (2)
Lab Director
Transplant Coordinator
Pediatric expertise

Ad Hoc International Relations Committee

The Ad Hoc International Relations Committee meets quarterly via web conference. The AHIRC does not meet in-person.

Open positions:

At Large (1)

The Committee is seeking:

Liver surgeon
Kidney surgeon
Transplant administrator or coordinator
Pediatric expertise

Data Advisory Committee

The Data Advisory Committee (DAC) meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open Positions:

At Large (6-8)

The Committee is seeking:

Patient and donor affairs representative
OPO representative
Histocompatibility representative
Transplant coordinators* (2)
OPO clinical coordinator/manager or OPO quality coordinator (1-2)
Transplant administrators (including Quality leadership) (3-4)
Researchers (1-2)
Must be familiar with OPTN data/UNet systems

Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 2 representative
Region 11 representative
At-Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

Ethicist

Histocompatibility Committee

This Histocompatibility Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person. Committee members also participate in subcommittees that meet on an ad-hoc basis.

Open positions:

Region 3 representative
Region 4 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
At large (3)

The Committee is seeking:

Patient and donor affairs representative
OPO representative
Transplant Coordinator or Administrator
Kidney Transplant physician or surgeon
Pediatric expertise

Kidney Transplantation Committee

The Kidney Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 3 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
Region 11 representative
At Large (3)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO representative
Transplant administrator
Nephrologist (3)

Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee

The Liver and Intestine Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 2 representative
Region 4 representative
Region 5 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 8 representative
At Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO representative
Patient and donor affairs representative
Pediatric specialist
Intestine surgeon or physician

Living Donor Committee

The Living Donor Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 3 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 8 representative
At Large (1)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO representative
Living Donor
Pediatric expertise

Membership & Professional Standards Committee

The MPSC meets in-person at least three times a year for three days each, usually in Chicago. Additionally, it will hold 8-10 two-hour conference calls. Committee members will also be assigned to ad hoc subcommittees that may meet by conference call 4-5 times per year. The MPSC may also have 1-2 special in person meetings over the course of the year.

Each Committee member is responsible for conducting peer evaluation activities. Cases must be reviewed within the specified time limit, which could range from a day to 2 weeks depending on the issue. Members will receive 65-100 cases annually to review. These case reviews may require up to four hours of work per week.

Terms for the below positions run July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022.

Open positions:

* Region 3 associate councilor**

* Region 4 associate councilor**

* Region 5 associate councilor**

* Region 6 associate councilor**

* At-Large (13)

The Committee is seeking:

Liver Surgeons (3-4, including pediatric)
Kidney and Pancreas Surgeons (3-4, including pediatric)
Heart Surgeon (1-2)
Lung Surgeon
Hepatologist (2)
Pulmonologist
OPO - QA/Compliance
OPO VP or Div. Director (clinical/procurement)
OPO Administrator (Executive Director/CEO)
Histocompatibility Lab Director/Manager
Transplant Administrator (4)
Anesthesiologist

**An election will be held for regional openings.

Minority Affairs Committee

The Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) meets every other month via web conference and twice a year in person.

Open positions:

Region 2 representative
Region 3 representative (immediate opening – submit interest by August 5)
Region 4 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
Region 11 representative
At Large (2)

The committee is seeking:

Transplant Coordinator or Administrator

Physician
Pediatric expertise
Thoracic expertise
Researcher

Operations & Safety Committee

The Operations and Safety Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 4 representative
Region 5 representative (immediate opening – submit interest by August 5)
Region 6 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 11 representative
At Large (2)

The committee is seeking:

Patient and donor affairs representative
Pediatric expertise
Liver surgeon/physician
Kidney surgeon/physician
Transplant administrator (2)
Transplant coordinator (2)
OPO coordinator (3)

OPO Committee

The OPO Committee meets every other month via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 3 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
Region 11 representative
At Large (3)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO Medical Director
OPO Clinical Officers (2)
OPO Quality Managers
OPO CEO (2)
OPO COO (2)
Pediatric expertise
Patient and donor affairs representative

Pancreas Transplantation Committee

The Pancreas Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 3 representative
Region 4 representative
Region 5 representative
Region 6 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
At Large (2)

The committee is seeking:

Pediatric expertise
Transplant Coordinator

Patient Affairs Committee

The Patient Affairs Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 10 representative
At Large (1)

The committee is seeking:

OPO representative
Abdominal physician or surgeon
Donor family representative
Liver recipient (1-2)

Pediatric Transplantation Committee

The Pediatric Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 2 representative
Region 6 representative
Region 7 representative
Region 8 representative
At Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

Transplant Coordinator or Administrator
Thoracic Surgeon
Thoracic Physician
KP Surgeon
Liver Surgeon
OPO Rep

Thoracic Organ Transplantation Commitee

The Thoracic Committee has two subcommittees (a heart subcommittee and a lung subcommittee) that meet monthly via web conference and the full committee meets twice a year in-person and on an ad hoc basis via conference call.

Open positions:

Region 1 representative
Region 4 representative
Region 8 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
Region 11 representative
At-Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

Pediatric expertise
Heart surgeon
Pulmonologists (2-3)
Cardiologists (2-3)
Heart transplant coordinator
Lung surgeon

Transplant Administrators Committee

The Transplant Administrators Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 3 representative
Region 4 representative
Region 5 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
At Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO representative
Pediatric expertise
Transplant Financial Manager or equivalent
Administrators with heart, lung, liver or VCA experience

Transplant Coordinators Committee

The Transplant Coordinators Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

Region 5 representative
Region 6 representative (immediate opening – submit interest by August 5)
Region 7 representative
Region 8 representative
Region 9 representative
Region 10 representative
Region 11 representative
At Large (2)

The Committee is seeking:

OPO representative (2)
Patient and donor affairs representative
Heart or lung transplant coordinator
Liver/Intestine transplant coordinator
Kidney/Pancreas transplant coordinator
Pediatric program transplant coordinator

Vascularized Composite Allograft Transplantation Committee

The VCA Committee meets monthly via web conference and twice a year in-person.

Open positions:

At Large (6)

The Committee is seeking:

Transplant physician
Transplant surgeon
Pediatric expertise
Transplant administrator or coordinator
Psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker
OPO representative
Facial reconstructive surgeon
Donor family member

If you wish to be considered for a Board or Committee volunteer position beginning July 1, 2020, complete the online Biography Form at https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/members/get-involved/ no later than September 30, 2019. Applications received after this date are not guaranteed review for the coming cycle. Thank you for your interest and commitment to the OPTN.