General Surgery Discipline Bylaws

ARTICLE I: NAME

This organization shall hereafter be known as the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) Discipline of General Surgery..

ARTICLE II: DEFINITION OF THE SURGICAL SPECIALTY

General Surgery is a specialty which encompasses a wide field of practice. It requires both cognitive and procedural skills for treating a broad spectrum of diseases, injuries and deformities. General Surgeons are thoroughly trained in the basic sciences and in osteopathic principles. They are competent in the pre-operative and post-operative care of surgical patients as well as in the technical performance of Surgery. These principles of General Surgery are the basis of all of the surgical subspecialties.

The core areas include surgery of the abdominal wall, alimentary tract, breast, endocrine organs and trauma. In addition, the general surgeon has knowledge and experience in gynecologic, oncologic, orthopedic, pediatric, peripheral vascular, plastic, thoracic and urologic surgery and endoscopic procedures. The general surgeon is also trained and experienced in the management of the critically ill patient with multiple organ system failure including but not limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, nutritional support, the management of sepsis and coagulopathies. A comprehensive residency training program is the basis of this definition.

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

1.   To be the representative organization of the Discipline of General Surgery within theACOS;
2.   To promote the quality of residency training and post-graduate continuing education programs in the field of Osteopathic General Surgery;
3.   To preserve the overall objectives, ideals and functions of the Discipline of General Surgery as defined in Article II; and4.   To maintain and promote the highest moral and ethical standards as well as pursue all charitable and scientific endeavors in the practice of general surgery.

This organization is being established as directed by the ACOS and shall preserve the overall objectives, ideals, and functions of the ACOS

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall consist of all members of ACOS in good standing whose practice encompasses the discipline of General Surgery.

Active member.Active membership in the discipline shall be open only to active members of the ACOS whose training and experience encompass the field of general surgery. This includes graduates of an AOA accredited college of osteopathic medicine or a LCME accredited college of medicine. Active members must have successfully completed a surgical residency training program approved by the American Osteopathic Association or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Life member. A Life member is any active or associate member who have reached the age of sixty (60) and has been a member for twenty (20) years.Life members of the ACOS whose specialty is general surgery shall be life members of the discipline.
Resident Member. Resident members of the ACOS whose specialty is general surgery shall be resident members of the discipline.
Associate member. Members of other disciplines of the ACOS who are also practicing General Surgery shall be eligible for Associate membership.
Honorary. Honorary members of the ACOS whose specialty is General surgery shall be Honorary members of the discipline. Someone eligible for honorary membership may be nominated based on their significant contribution(s) or service(s) that has contributed to the goals and ideals of the ACOS and/or discipline. The individual is so recognized as they may not have otherwise achieved, or possess, the usual and customary qualifications for membership.
Retired. A Retired member is any active or associate member who has permanently retired from practice and who does not qualify for Life or Inactive membership. Retired members of the ACOS whose specialty is General Surgery shall be Retired members of the discipline.
Inactive. Any discipline member who is temporarily not in surgical practice may be an Inactive member.

ARTICLE V OFFICERS

The officers of this discipline shall be Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair, and Secretary, and they shall be elected at the annual membership meeting of the discipline. Election shall be by a majority of votes cast by a quorum of eligible voting members. Discipline officers and governors may not be a board member of an American Osteopathic Association specialty certifying board.

Section 1 – Chair

The Chair shall be the principal elected officer of the discipline, and shall preside at all meetings of the discipline and Executive Committee. In order to serve as the discipline Chair, the candidate must be a Fellow of the ACOS (FACOS). He/She shall be a voting member of the ACOS Board of Governors, an ex-officio member of all discipline committees, and shall perform all duties delegated to him/her by the Executive Committee. He/She shall also communicate to the ACOS and Board of Governors regarding the state of the discipline and may make suggestions to promote its welfare. The discipline Chair shall serve one (1) term of two (2) years. If, for any reason, the Chair is unable to perform his/her duties, the Chair-elect shall assume the office of Chair for the balance of the term of the Chair, and will fulfill his/her elected term as delineated in this Article.

Section 2 - Chair-Elect

The Chair-elect shall preside at all meetings of the discipline and/or the discipline’s Executive Committee in the event of the temporary disability or absences by the Chair, and shall perform all duties delegated to him/her by the Chair or the Executive Committee. In order to serve as the discipline Chair-elect, the candidate must be a Fellow of the ACOS (FACOS). The Chair-elect shall serve one (1) term of two (2) years, and shall succeed to the office of Chair at the end of the Chair’s term of two years. In the event of the resignation or death of the Chair-elect, the office shall remain vacant until the next meeting of the discipline, at which time a Chair-elect shall be elected. In the event of the resignation of death of the Chair, or if the Chair shall, for any reason, be unable or unqualified to serve, the Chair-elect shall fill the office of Chair during the balance of the Chair’s term and then automatically succeed to the role of discipline Chair.

Section 3 – Past Chair

Upon conclusion of their term as Chair, he/she shall become the Past Chair of the discipline. The Past Chair shall serve one (1) term of two (2) years. He/She shall preside at all meeting of the discipline and of the Executive Committee in the event of the temporary disability, or absence from meetings, of the Chair and Chair-elect. He/She shall have such other duties as the Chair or the Executive Committee may assign.

Section 4 – Secretary

The Secretary shall ensure the accurate recording and maintenance of all proceedings of the discipline and the Executive Committee. He/She shall serve one (1) term of two (2) years. He/She shall ensure that accurate records are kept of all discipline members, and perform such other duties as legally required or otherwise assigned by the Executive Committee. Any of the duties of the Secretary may, by action of the Executive Committee, be assigned to ACOS staff with the prior approval of the ACOS CEO. In the event of the resignation or death of the Chair and the Chair-elect, and if the Chair and Chair-elect shall, for any reason, be unable or unqualified to serve, the Secretary shall fill the office of the Chair until the next meeting of the discipline, at which time a Chair and Chair-elect shall be elected. In the event of the resignation or death of the Secretary, the Chair shall appoint a member of the discipline to the office for the balance of the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of this organization shall be composed of the duly elected Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and the immediate Past Chair of the discipline.

The Executive Committee shall meet during the discipline’s annual membership meeting and may hold other meetings as directed by the Chair, or at the call of any three (3) members of the Executive Committee. Three (3) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

The Executive Committee shall act for the membership between meetings of the membership. The Executive Committee shall perform such other duties as may be delegated by the membership.

Any action taken by the Executive Committee may be voted upon by email provided that all members of the Executive Committee consent and no less than a majority of the entire Executive Committee vote in favor of the issue presented in order for approval.

For just and reasonable cause, any member of the Executive Committee, including the Chair, may be removed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee members present at any meeting at which three-fourths (3/4) of the Executive Committee members are present.

All business conducted by the Executive Committeeshall be reported by the Chair, in conjuction with the Governors, to the discipline’s membership in a timely fashion. Business by the ACOS Board of Governors, that is approved for public distribution, shall also be reported to the discipline’s membership in a timely fashion.

The Executive Committee shall have general supervision and direction of the financial affairs of the Discipline.

Members shall not receive any compensation for their service on the Executive Committee.

During the year the Executive Committee shall receive and act upon reports of standing committees that are required by the bylaws of the discipline of General Surgery and any special committees as directed by the Chair. It shall transact such other business as has been delegated to it or might be considered by it in the best interest of the discipline of General Surgery and the welfare of its membership.

ARTICLE VII: REPRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Representatives to the ACOS Board of Governors shall be elected at the annual general membership meeting, following the election of officers of the discipline, in accordance with the discipline’s bylaws and the bylaws of the ACOS.

Election of the position of Governor to Board of Governors shall be for a term of three (3) years. Governors may not serve more than two (2) successive terms or three (3) successive terms provided one term is served as discipline chair.

Representatives to the Board of Governors are charged to represent the viewpoint of the majority of the membership of the discipline. They shall make regular reports to the executive committee and membership after every meeting of the ACOS Board of Governors.

In the case of resignation or death of a Governor on the ACOS Board of Governors and with the approval of the discipline Executive committee, the Chair will appoint a member to that position only until the time of the next annual meeting when an election shall be held to fill that position for the remainder of the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VIII MEMBER MEETINGS

Section 1 - Annual Meeting

There shall be an annual meeting of the discipline of General Surgery during the Annual Clinical Assembly at the site selected for the Annual Clinical Assembly.

Section 2 - Other Meetings

Other meetings of the members shall be held at the call of the Chair. Notice for any special meeting must be at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be in writing, via email, to all members of the discipline.

Section 3 – Quorum and Voting Privileges

Twenty (20) active members shall constitute a quorum for the annual member meeting and any other votes that may be required in between meetings. Active members and Life Members of the discipline, in active practice and in good standing, have the privilege of voting. Resident members, Associate members, Honorary members, and Retired members have no voting privileges, but may attend the meetings. It is the responsibility of the Secretary to ensure that only voting members of the discipline receive a ballot. The Secretary and the Governor or two (2) other members designated by the discipline Chair (if the Secretary and/ or Governor is running for office) shall be responsible for the counting of ballots and providing the results to the Chair for announcement to the discipline. ACOS staff may assist with this process if requested by the discipline Secretary.

Section 4 - Order of Business

The order of business for the annual meeting shall be determined by the discipline chair in conjunction with the ACOS CEO.

Any meeting called by the chair of the discipline shall have an agenda established by the chair. The order of business may be changed by a vote of the majority of the members present.

ARTICLE IX - DUES

Section 1 - Dues Rates

Upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, dues and assessments for membership in the General Surgery discipline shall, upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, be determined, by a majority vote of the members present.

Upon an affirmative vote of the majority of the members present, special assessments may be levied to meet emergencies or to secure special speakers for the General Surgery discipline educational programs.

Section 2 - Delinquent Dues

The process for termination and reinstatement of membership for failure to pay dues or special assessments shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES

The following shall be the standing committees of this discipline and committee members shall be appointed by the Chair-elect at the annual membership meeting subject to approval by the Executive Committee. The appointments shall become effective when the Chair-elect assumes the office of Chair.

Section 1 - Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members from the discipline elected by the membership at the annual member meeting. Each member of this committee shall serve a term of two (2) years and may not exceed three (3) consecutive terms. No current member of the nominating committee is eligible for election as a discipline officer or as a Governor.

The Nominating Committee shall propose the names of individuals to be elected Chair-Elect, Secretary, three members of the Nominating Committee, and Governor(s) to the ACOS Board of Governors..

Only Active and Life Members who hold the FACOS title and who are currently in active surgical practice or have been in active surgical practice in the last three (3) years may be elected as discipline officers and Governors.

The committee will present no more than two (2) names for each position to be filled. Additional names may be presented from the floor at the annual member meeting.

A slate of candidates as named by the Nominating Committee shall be presented together with each candidate's qualifications to the ACOS CEO at least ninety (90) days, and no less than thirty (30) days prior to the next annual meeting to be sent to the membership.

Section 2 - The Bylaws Committee

This committee will consist of three (3) members each appointed by the discipline Chair, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

This committee will be headed by a Chair designated by the discipline Chair. Each member of this committee shall serve a term of two (2) years and may not exceed three (3) consecutive terms.

This committee will be charged with periodic review of the bylaws, proposing changes to the bylaws, preparing such changes and submitting them to the Secretary for notification of the membership.

Section 3- Education Committee

The Education Committee shall consist of three (3) members of the discipline appointed by the Chair. They will also serve on the ACOS Continuing Education Committee. It shall be the duty of this committee to plan for the future educational needs of the discipline’s members and assist the ACOS with educational topics for future ACA conferences. The term of this committee will be for two (2) years, with a maximum of three (3) terms.

Section 4 - Other Committees

Other committees may be appointed by the discipline Chair,with the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XI - CODE OF ETHICS

The General Surgery discipline of the ACOS subscribes to and adopts the Code of Ethics as determined by the ACOS; requires that all discipline members are familiar with the ACOS specified Code of Ethics; and that each member adhere to the provisions as set forth and as revised, amended, and/or interpreted from time to time.

All questions of ethics shall be directed to the ACOS Ethics Committee for investigation, deliberation, and recommendation to the ACOS Board of Governors.

ARTICLE XII - RULES OF ORDER

Meetings of the Members and the Executive Committee shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised unless otherwise specified.

ARTICLE XIII: DISSOLUTION

The discipline shall use its funds only to accomplish the objectives and purposes specified in these bylaws, and no part of said funds shall inure, or be distributed, to the members of the discipline. On dissolution of the discipline any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified charitable, educational, scientific or philanthropic organizations to be determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the bylaws of this discipline may be made during the annual member meeting by a 2/3 vote of the eligible members voting. No proposition to amend shall be acted upon unless written notice thereof has been sent to the members no more than ninety (90) days or less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

The discipline bylaws shall be consistent with the bylaws, policies, and procedures of the ACOS. The administration of the discipline shall in no way conflict with the overall objectives, ideals, and functions of the ACOS.

Any amendments shall be presented to the ACOS CEO at least ninety (90), and no less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting for publication. Amendments must be made in accordance with ACOS bylaws and do not become effective until after ratification by the ACOS Board of Governors.

General Surgery Discipline Bylaws -October 2019