The APA is looking for individuals who are interested in assisting the Board of Directors with setting the direction of the Association’s programs and services. Everyone can engage with the APA; there are numerous volunteer opportunities with different time commitments. By becoming a volunteer leader, you can have direct impact on the Association’s work and advance your career.
Getting involved is easy! Complete the volunteer interest form, select which volunteer opportunities interest you, submit your CV and a short statement of interest. There are many different ways and areas you can engage in and give back to the APA. Below are the positions available and their descriptions.
APA’s Academic General Pediatrics Accreditation Committee is responsible for (1) accrediting academic general pediatric (AGP) and pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) fellowship programs in the United States, (2) hosting an annual Fellows Meeting prior to the PAS Meeting and (3) coordinating an annual Fall match for AGP fellowships.
Ideally candidates will have:
- Substantial experience in the administration and/or teaching of Academic General Pediatric (e.g., as a program director, active faculty member, or participating site director). The program does not have to be an accredited APA program (outpatient general pediatrics, hospitalist training program, etc.)
- Knowledge/Experience with accreditation at some level (i.e. involved locally or nationally with LCME, RRC, or other similar types of accreditation)
- Scholarly contributions to the field of general pediatrics
*Junior and mid-career candidates are encouraged to apply
Meeting requirements: Meets monthly via teleconference.
Qualifications of the Fellow Member
Job descriptions/meeting requirements:
- Participate in monthly conference calls
- Serve as a liaison between the Academic Fellow Special Interest Group and the Academic General Pediatric Accreditation Committee
- Review applications for fellowship accreditation and discuss issues related to training from a fellow’s perspective
- Participate in curriculum development
- Webinars or other educational sessions for fellows originating from the AGPAC committee
- Participate in program evaluation by the AGPAC committee including development and review of an annual fellow and faculty program evaluation for accredited programs
- Participate in selection/refinement/development of milestones for pediatric fellows of accredited programs
- Communicate fellow interests and needs to the AGPAC committee (these are needs of all fellows regardless of accreditation status)
- Identify academic fellow’s needs for career development and liaison with the two committees (AGPAC and Academic Fellows SIG) to brainstorm possible solutions to these needs.
The liaison would not be expected to participate in site visits for the accreditation committee.
The Chair of Regions & SIGs will oversee all Region and SIG activities, to include Chair terms and transitions, reviewing guidelines and suggesting changes where applicable, and reviewing SIG submissions to PAS. Responsibilities also include:
- Communicating with SIG & Region Chairs as needed
- Review budget requests
- Respond to questions regarding finances
- Facilitate development of new and current SIGs
- Monitor SIG attendance reports & review evaluations from PAS SIG Meetings
- Attend & lead SIG & Region Chair Luncheons at PAS
- Reports to the Membership, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair
Meeting Requirements:
- Quarterly calls with SIG & Region Chairs and PAS attendance
- Quarterly MDI Executive Committee calls
The Steering Committee consists of six voting members: one Network Membership Chair, three Evaluators of Clinical and Educational Research, one Stakeholder Representative, and the APA Chair of the Research Committee, in addition to Fellow and Resident Representatives. The roles may change as the needs of the network change. The Committee positions currently open are: Network Membership Chair and Evaluator of Clinical and Educational Research. Chairs will serve a five-year term with the option for two additional, five-year terms; renewal will be voted on by the Executive Committee.
Network Membership Chair:
- Role and Responsibilities: These members will be intimately involved with
- Network engagement, marketing, and planning for transitions.
- Advising the Network Director and the Research and Network Coordinator on issues concerning communication among the network.
- The Regional Research Chairs in recruitment of new CORNET practices and maintain current membership.
Evaluator of Clinical and Educational Research:
- Role and Responsibilities: These members will be intimately involved with
- The functioning of the network and research development.
- Monitoring possible funding opportunities for potential network research studies.
- Advising on research methodology, reviewing research study protocols, offering feedback to principal investigators.
- Serving as mentors for principal investigators of network research studies in the early stages of project development.
The Steering Committee will oversee the overall research mission of the network:
- Alterations in the network infrastructure.
- The overall direction of the network.
- Act as a resource to the Regional Research Chairs of the Executive Committee.
- Provide mentorship for professional and academic advancement.
- Guide solicitation for research proposals and the initial selection of research studies consistent with the network’s mission statement.
- Provide appropriate oversight of the development and methodology of selected research studies, including recruitment of study participants.
- Disseminate research study results, lead abstract development, and manuscript publication.
- Review and recommend revisions to the Rules of Governance to the APA Board of Directors, as needed.
- Attend and contribute to the agendas of monthly conference calls and the annual CORNET meeting at PAS.
Meeting Requirements: CORNET’s Executive and Steering Committees meeting via videoconference monthly and in-person at PAS.
To serve as a liaison between academic pediatric fellows and residents and the CORNET Committees. To increase awareness of CORNET among academic pediatric fellows and residents and to encourage participation in CORNET. To serve as a point of contact for academic pediatric fellows and residents interested in collaborating with CORNET on research projects. Responsibilities include:
- Help advance the mission and vision of CORNET
- Attend monthly Committee calls
- Attend APA regional conference and/or PAS Fellow Conference to represent CORNET
- Be available to help review/discuss peer research projects prior to and during CORNET submission process
- Participate in the review of proposals submitted to CORNET
- Help in identifying the next CORNET Fellow and Resident Representative
- Interact with the Special Interest Groups to encourage engagement
Meeting Requirements: CORNET’s Executive and Steering Committees meeting via videoconference monthly and in-person at PAS.
CORNET is seeking members from Region VIII to serve as a member of the CORNET Executive Committee in the role as the Regional Research Chair. Region VIII includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. The Role of a CORNET Regional Research Chair is to:
- Facilitate communication among the Region’s CORNET member sites and direct information to and from the Executive Committee.
- Set up a regional email listserv and/or make periodic check-ins to regional training programs.
- Provide communication at least quarterly with regional sites.
- Represent and present updates about CORNET at Regional APA meetings. Materials can be obtained from the Network Director or Coordinator.
- Solicit additional institutions/practices within their region to participate in CORNET.
- Help generate research study ideas from regional practices.
- Communicate with regional practices about upcoming research studies and recruit interested practice sites.
- Assist participating practices whenever possible in the implementation of research studies through mentoring role and become members of research teams.
- Help maintain regional lists of programs.
- Advise on possible funding opportunities.
Meeting Requirements: CORNET’s Executive Committee meets every other month via videoconference monthly and in-person at PAS.
CORNET is seeking members from Region IX to serve as a member of the CORNET Executive Committee in the role as the Regional Research Chair. Region IX includes Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern California, and Utah. The Role of a CORNET Regional Research Chair is to:
- Facilitate communication among the Region’s CORNET member sites and direct information to and from the Executive Committee.
- Set up a regional email listserv and/or make periodic check-ins to regional training programs.
- Provide communication at least quarterly with regional sites.
- Represent and present updates about CORNET at Regional APA meetings. Materials can be obtained from the Network Director or Coordinator.
- Solicit additional institutions/practices within their region to participate in CORNET.
- Help generate research study ideas from regional practices.
- Communicate with regional practices about upcoming research studies and recruit interested practice sites.
- Assist participating practices whenever possible in the implementation of research studies through mentoring role and become members of research teams.
- Help maintain regional lists of programs.
- Advise on possible funding opportunities.
Meeting Requirements: CORNET’s Executive Committee meets every other month via videoconference monthly and in-person at PAS.
CORNET is seeking members from Region IV to serve as a member of the CORNET Executive Committee in the role as the Regional Research Chair. Region IV includes District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. The Role of a CORNET Regional Research Chair is to:
- Facilitate communication among the Region’s CORNET member sites and direct information to and from the Executive Committee.
- Set up a regional email listserv and/or make periodic check-ins to regional training programs.
- Provide communication at least quarterly with regional sites.
- Represent and present updates about CORNET at Regional APA meetings. Materials can be obtained from the Network Director or Coordinator.
- Solicit additional institutions/practices within their region to participate in CORNET.
- Help generate research study ideas from regional practices.
- Communicate with regional practices about upcoming research studies and recruit interested practice sites.
- Assist participating practices whenever possible in the implementation of research studies through mentoring role and become members of research teams.
- Help maintain regional lists of programs.
- Advise on possible funding opportunities.
Meeting Requirements: CORNET’s Executive Committee meets every other month via videoconference monthly and in-person at PAS.
National Advisers are selected by the Executive Committee of the Health Policy Scholars Program (HPSP) to serve as a professional advisor for the Scholars. Each National Advisor will be assigned one Scholar and is expected to remain involved with the Scholar until completion of the HPSP. National Advisers will provide content expertise, sponsorship and project coaching.
Meeting Requirements:
- Participate in quarterly conference calls with Executive Committee and other National Advisers
- Participate in pre-PAS sessions and quarterly small group sessions (grouped by similar project; 4-5 Adviser/Scholar dyads)
- Participate in HPSP in-person learning at PAS (estimated 1-3 hours; group facilitator or similar role)
Junior mentors are fellows and junior faculty who are interested in mentoring in the program. Junior mentors provide “nuts and bolts” advice to their NCScholar in areas such as choosing and applying to a fellowship, career development, starting and academic career, selecting a research project, negotiating, work/life balance, etc. In our experience, the junior mentorship is an enriching experience if the junior mentor:
- Stays in regular contact with your NCScholar during the year (via email, phone, listservs, etc.).
- Attends the pre-PAS New Century Scholars conference the day before PAS begins (usually the Friday before PAS, beginning at noon).
- Attends the NCScholars dinner banquet that evening.
- Meets with their NCScholar during PAS; for example, meeting for coffee or lunch attending a scientific session with him/her.
- Participates in program evaluation (questionnaires, etc.).
Senior mentors are mid and senior level faculty members of the APA who have a serious commitment to hands-on mentorship, and who are willing to volunteer their time to mentor in this program. Senior mentors provide “big picture” advice to the NCScholar regarding career planning, help in developing specific research and educational scholarship plans, and welcome the NCScholar into the APA and academic pediatric “culture”. In our experience, the senior mentorship is an enriching experience if the senior mentor:
- Stays in regular contact with your NCScholar during the year (via email, phone, listserv, etc.).
- Attends the NCScholar dinner banquet held the evening before PAS begins
- Meet with your NCScholar during PAS; for example, meeting for coffee or lunch, attending a scientific session with him/her.
- Participates in program evaluation (questionnaires, etc.).
The New Century Scholars Program Director is responsible for overseeing the APA staff carry out the primary functions of the Scholars Program in addition to providing faculty and scholar support.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Participates in planning calls
- Assists the APA staff with assigning reviewers and guides the review process
- Works with the APA staff to select new scholars
- Selects faculty leaders
- Oversees the assignment of scholars with junior and senior mentors
- Serves as an ambassador of the program
- Assists the APA staff when making key decisions of the program
- Works with the APA staff to submit bi-annual Board reports on the program’s progress
- Assists the Membership, Diversity and Inclusion Chair in identifying additional sponsorship sources and helps foster relationships with potential partners
- Works with APA staff as needed to coordinate relevant PAS activities
- Assists with the orientation and transition to the next Program Director(s)
Term:
- 3 years term, two term limit
- Under special circumstances a third term will be permitted
Method of Appointment:
- Selected by current program directors, executive committee and/or current cohort leaders or faculty.
- Selected directors must be approved by the Board of Directors.
Accountability:
- Reports to the Membership, Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Qualifications
- Active engagement within the APA
- Interest in the mission of NCS (increasing the diversity of the academic general pediatric workforce)
- Commitment to the betterment of the program as it relates to the APA’s Strategic Plan
New Century Scholars Program Directors receive complimentary PAS registration, reimbursement for airfare, two nights lodging and a per diem.
Meeting Requirements: Meets once every 2 weeks via teleconference.
The APA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC) is responsible for setting the public policy and advocacy strategies for the organization. As a committee member, you will help to set these strategies.
Meetings: Meets quarterly via teleconference
National advisers will be assigned to a Research Scholar based on the degree of overlap of the research topic or proposed research methods. Each Research Scholar already has a local mentor who will provide day-to-day advice. We are seeking national advisers who will:
- Provide a broad academic overview and discuss research and career development.
- Work with their mentee over the three years of the program and have regular contact (e.g., two telephone calls per month).
- Attend the Research Scholar reception at PAS on Sunday. PAS also serves as a great venue to meet with the mentee in person.
The Research Scholars Program is looking for individuals to review applications. Reviewers will receive guidelines for application review and will be requested to review as many as ten applications. Reviewing applications is a great way to learn more about your colleagues, get new ideas and give back to an APA program! The review process is very important to the APA and volunteering as a reviewer will enable you to make a significant contribution to our organization. More information is below.
Requirements:
- Expected time commitment is 2-5 hours for review
- Reviewers will need to be available in October to review applications and participate in a reviewer call. You will have two weeks to review the applications.
- Each reviewer will be asked to review between 5-10 applications.
- Reviewers will score the applicants submitted materials.
The Young Investigator Awards Program provides awards of up to $15,000 for research by residents, fellows, and junior faculty related to child health promotion, health services research, teaching, or patient care. These awards often serve as a launching pad for talented trainees and young professionals who work under the excellent guidance of mentors at their home institutions. Each awardee works closely with a local mentor at their home institution and should communicate with their National Adviser on a monthly basis over the course of the award year.
Meeting Requirements: Awardees are encouraged to meet with their National Advisers during a special YIA Breakfast held at PAS and regularly meet over the phone/email/videoconference throughout the award year and potentially beyond.
All current APA members are invited to serve as reviewers for the Young Investigator Awards Program submitted proposals. This program provides awards of up to $15,000 for research by residents, fellows, and junior faculty related to child health promotion, health services research, teaching, or patient care. These awards often serve as a launching pad for talented trainees and young professionals who work under the excellent guidance of mentors at their home institutions.
Meeting Requirements: The majority of the reviewers’ work will be conducted via email. The more reviewers, the fewer proposals will be requested of each individual to score. There will be two rounds of applications. The first round will require scoring and feedback of initial proposals. The second round will require scoring and feedback of full proposals in addition to a study section phone call for each offered funding path to determine award recipients.
The Young Investigator Awards Program provides awards of up to $15,000 for research by residents, fellows, and junior faculty related to child health promotion, health services research, teaching, or patient care. These awards often serve as a launching pad for talented trainees and young professionals who work under the excellent guidance of mentors at their home institutions. Each funding path is managed by a Funding Path Chair. A YIA Program Director would oversee all funding paths, help to identify new funding paths, lead any necessary and relevant task forces, set program guidelines and expectations, and liaise with Funding Path Chairs to select each new cohort.
Meeting Requirements: Most work is conducted through email communications with occasional phone calls. The second round of YIA application review requires scoring and feedback of full proposals in addition to a study section phone call for each offered funding path to determine award recipients – the YIA Director will provide oversight for decision-making. Once awardees have been determined, they will hold calls every other month with YIA Program leadership. The YIA Director will also represent the YIA Program on the APA Research Executive Committee which holds quarterly calls. At the annual PAS Meeting, the YIA Program holds a reception to honor past and current awardees. The APA REC also meets for a session at PAS.