Bylaws for RAS-ACS

The organization shall be called the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS).

The RAS-ACS shall serve to familiarize all surgical trainees and young surgeons with the ACS, its programs, and leadership, provide an avenue for participation in ACS affairs, foster development and use of leadership skills in organized surgery, and give opportunities for the opinions and concerns of surgical trainees and young surgeons to be heard by the ACS leadership.

The goals of the RAS-ACS shall be:

1. To encourage the future leaders in surgery and assist in their development as leaders in the profession of surgery and the American College of Surgeons (ACS)
2. To develop activities and resources relevant to residents and young surgeons
3. To provide representation for residents and young surgeons in organized surgery
4. To provide a forum for discussion of common issues in graduate surgical education
5. To educate residents and young surgeons about the ACS and the value of Fellowship

Membership in the RAS-ACS is composed of resident members and associate fellows of the College as defined by the ACS Board of Regents:

Residents Members

Resident Members are required to have the following qualifications:

1. Graduation from an ACGME-accredited medical school, or a medical school acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.
2. Current status as one of the following:

1. A resident enrolled in an accredited training program focused on one of the following surgical specialties: cardiothoracic surgery, colon-rectal surgery, gynecologic oncology, neurological surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, ophthalmic surgery, orthopedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology/head and neck surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, urology, or vascular surgery
2. A surgeon in a surgical research or surgical fellowship program acceptable to the American College of Surgeons

Associate Fellows

Associate Fellows in the American College of Surgeons are required to meet the following qualifications:

1. Graduation from a medical school acceptable to the American College of Surgeons
2. Completion of an accredited surgical residency
3. A full and unrestricted license to practice medicine
4. Interest in pursuing professional excellence, as an individual surgeon and as a member of the surgical community

Prospective members must complete an application form, pay an application fee, and pay annual membership dues. Resident Members shall need the program director's signature endorsing the applicant's good standing in an accredited program.

The Governing Board of RAS-ACS shall include the officers, and the chairs of the standing committees. Officers of the RAS-ACS Executive Committee shall include the chair, vice-chair, and secretary. Officers shall serve three successive one-year terms. Election to the position of secretary includes succession to the position of vice-chair, and subsequently to chair.

The Governing Board shall meet during the Clinical Congress and as needed throughout the year. Meetings held outside of regular College meetings can be held by phone or electronic methods. The Governing Board shall be consulted for all major decisions that do not require immediate action. Additionally, changes to the bylaws shall require a two-thirds majority approval by the Governing Board members.

The chair is the spokesperson for RAS-ACS, providing a voice for the Society with the Board of Regents and the College leadership. The chair is responsible for overseeing the direction of the organization and fostering the ideals identified in the mission statement of the Society. The chair shall attend the Board of Regents meetings to act as a liaison between the Board of Regents and RAS-ACS.

The vice-chair shall assist in the performance of the duties of the chair as the chair may direct. In the absence or inability of the chair to act as chair, the vice-chair shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chair. The vice-chair shall succeed to the position of chair at the conclusion of the one-year term.

The secretary shall be responsible for the tabulation and reporting of the results of election of new Governing Board members. The secretary shall also perform other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the chair. The position of secretary shall succeed to the position of vice-chair at the conclusion of the one-year term.

The ex-officio RAS-ACS Chair shall serve as the RAS liaison to the YFA as well as special liaison to the Associate Fellow committee. The ex-officio chair shall act as a support for the Executive Committee, shall relay RAS-ACS issues and concerns to the YFA and support the needs of the Associate Fellow committee.

A nominating committee shall be convened annually to select candidates for the position of secretary. The nominating committee shall consist of three members, the current chair, the vice-chair, and secretary. Nominees shall be requested to submit an abbreviated CV and personal statement outlining the contributions they shall make as secretary, vice-chair and then chair of RAS-ACS. The Nominating Committee shall review the nominees and present no more than three (3) candidates for election by the full RAS-ACS membership prior to Clinical Congress. The winner of the election shall be presented to the Board of Regents for approval to serve a one-year term as secretary, then vice-chair, and then chair.

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the daily operations and decisions of the Resident and Associate Society. A member of the Executive Committee shall be present at all meetings of the RAS-ACS committees and subcommittees. Appointments to the Advisory Councils and Standing Committees shall require a majority vote by the Executive Committee and the assent of the chair.

The standing committees of the RAS-ACS shall include Membership, Communications, Advocacy and Issues, Education, and Associate Fellows.

A chair shall lead each committee. The chair shall have been elected to the position of vice-chair for one year and then shall succeed to chair the following year. The members of each respective committee shall elect the vice-chair at the annual business meeting. A secretary shall be nominated and voted on by each respective committee in November. The secretary does not automatically succeed to the role of vice-chair. The chair shall be responsible for organizing and leading meetings of their committee. Each committee chair shall submit an annual written report to RAS-ACS Executive Committee and attend the Governing Board meetings. Participation in the standing committees is open to any member of RAS-ACS. The standing committees shall meet monthly and during the annual business meeting of RAS-ACS, except for the Associates Committee, which will meet every other month. If a committee chair or vice-chair is unable to complete his/her duties, the RAS-ACS chair shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

Candidates for Advisory Council positions shall be reviewed and selected by the Executive Committee. Nominees shall be requested to submit a letter of intent, and an abbreviated CV. Advisory Council representatives shall serve a three-year term. The representative shall attend their respective Advisory Council meetings to represent RAS-ACS and act as liaisons between the Advisory Council and RAS-ACS.

The Advisory Council representatives shall provide a written report of RAS-ACS activities to their respective Advisory Council at each meeting. The Advisory Council representatives shall provide a written report to the RAS-ACS Governing Board on a semi-annual basis. Throughout the course of the year, Advisory Council representatives may be asked to participate in other conference calls as deemed appropriate by the RAS-ACS chair. If an Advisory Council representative is unable to complete his/her duties, the chair shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

The American College of Surgeons has requested the participation of surgeons-in-training and young surgeons in various committees. RAS-ACS feels this presents an opportunity to represent our viewpoint to the broader College as well as a chance for our membership to participate more actively in the College. With such an opportunity comes the obligation to serve actively and consistently. Candidates for ACS Standing Committees shall be reviewed and selected d by the Executive Committee. Nominees shall be requested to submit a letter of intent, abbreviated CV Standing Committee representatives shall serve a three-year term. Representatives shall provide a written report to the RAS-ACS Governing Board within one month of each committee meeting. Representatives to ACS committees shall be expected to actively participate in a RAS-ACS Standing Committee as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. In addition, at the Clinical Congress, the committee representative shall provide to the RAS-ACS Governing Board a written summary of the committee’s activities. If a Standing Committee representative is unable to complete his/her duties, the chair shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

RAS-ACS shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee in conjunction with the Clinical Congress:

1. RAS-ACS shall hold an annual business meeting at Clinical Congress. Attendance shall include members of the Governing Board and other invited guests to include Advisory Council representatives, RAS-ACS Standing Committee chairs, RAS-ACS members who are appointed to ACS Standing Committees, and other individuals as determined by the chair
2. RAS-ACS shall organize and convene a symposium with appropriate programming for both the membership of RAS-ACS and the College in general
3. RAS-ACS shall hold an annual business meeting open to all members of RAS-ACS on Tuesday of Clinical Congress

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons Advisory Council and ACS Standing Committee Representatives:

1. Attend the ACS Clinical Congress (held annually in October)
2. Attend and participate in the RAS-ACS Business Meetings (held as needed via conference and annually on the Tuesday at the ACS Clinical Congress)
3. Attend and participate in the Surgery Resident Program at Clinical Congress Leadership Session (held annually on the Sunday and Monday of ACS Clinical Congress)
4. Join and actively participate in at least one RAS-ACS Standing Committee (Communications, Education, Advocacy and Issues, Membership, and Associate Fellows).
   1. Attend and participate in the Focused Committee Integration Session of the RAS-ACS Standing Committee(s) of interest
   2. Participate in the monthly conference call of the RAS-ACS Standing Committee(s)
   3. Aid in carrying-out the tasks of the RAS-ACS Standing Committee(s)
5. Provide a semi-annual report of activities to the RAS-ACS Executive Committee utilizing template provided

Completion of all of these activities is expected of all ACS Standing Committee and Advisory Council representatives.

Annual review of the participation of each representative shall occur at the RAS-ACS Annual Strategic Planning Meeting, and feedback shall be provided to each representative. Representatives not demonstrating active participation as outlined shall be notified, and at the discretion of the Executive Committee, shall forfeit their position.