Constitution of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians

PREAMBLE

  1. Emergency Medicine encompasses the prompt decision-making process and action necessary to treat illness and injury, and prevent death in a health crisis. Emergency Medicine must constitute continuously accessible care. It consists of processes of initial recognition, stabilization, evaluation, treatment, and disposition.
  2. The Osteopathic emergency physician is a physician trained to engage in the 1) prompt initial recognition, evaluation, care, and disposition of patients in response to acute illness and injury; 2) administration, research, and teaching of various aspects of emergency medical care; 3) direction of patients to sources of follow-up care, in or out of the hospital, as may be required; 4) provision of an emergency, but not continuing care to hospitalized patients, and 5) management of the emergency medical services system for the provision of pre-hospital emergency care.

ARTICLE I

This Corporation and Association of Osteopathic physicians, active in Emergency Medicine, will be known as The American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (herein sometimes referred to as "College").

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ARTICLE II - PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COLLEGE

The American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians is an educational organization whose responsibility is t

  1. Provide and evaluate Emergency Medicine postdoctoral education for Osteopathic physicians.
  2. Provide and evaluate Emergency Medicine continuing education for Osteopathic physicians.
  3. Encourage, advise, and assist Osteopathic physicians in Emergency Medicine clinical research.
  4. Encourage and implement the training of Osteopathic physicians in Emergency Medicine.
  5. Contribute to the educational endeavors of American Osteopathic Association affiliated organizations whose purpose is to ensure the progress of Osteopathic education and improvement of public health.
  6. Promote coordination of community Osteopathic emergency care facilities and personnel.
  7. Aid in establishing and maintaining an Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine.
  8. Designate and award Fellowships.
  9. Disseminate information that will increase understanding by other Osteopathic physicians, and the laity, of the nature of the service provided by Osteopathic emergency physicians as it relates to other divisions of Osteopathic medicine.
  10. Help maintain the Osteopathic School of Medicine as a separate and distinct institution of the healing arts profession.

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ARTICLE III - OFFICES

The principal office of the College is 142 E. Ontario Street in the City of Chicago, Illinois. The College may establish a new principal office, and have offices in other places within or out of the State of Illinois as the Board may appoint, or the purposes and functions of the College may require.

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ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section I - Personal Qualifications
Membership in the College is a privilege, not a right, and is contingent upon continuing compliance with the constitution and bylaws of the College. No person will remain a member of the College unless he or she is of good moral character, and agrees to abide by the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association, and Principles of Ethical Practice of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians.

Section II -Classes of Membership
Membership in the College will be classified as:

  1. Charter members
  2. Active members
  3. Associate members
  4. Honorary members
  5. Life members
  6. Fellow members
  7. Resident members
  8. Retired members
  9. Intern members
  10. Student members
  11. Active/Exempt members

The qualifications, rights, obligations, and methods of their election will be set forth in the bylaws. No person will be denied membership because of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, veteran status, disability or other legally protected status.

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ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. Election - The business and property of the College will be managed and controlled by a Board of twelve (12) Directors ("Board"). Four (4) Directors will be elected each year at the Fall Membership Meeting, and each Director will serve a term of three (3) years, except when a term is extended for that Director to serve in the capacity of President or President-Elect of the College. A Director may not be elected to serve more thank nine (9) total years on the Board, excluding any partial or unexpired terms. The President and President-elect may complete his or her two-year term in office thereby extending his or her service to the College however, the President must assume office prior to serving nine years on the Board.

Extended Terms for President and President-Elect - in the event a director's term on the Board expires while the Director is serving in the office of President or President-Elect, that director's term of office will be extended until the director has completed the term of office as President, or terms of office as President-Elect and President.

In order to maintain the number of Board members at twelve (12), the ballot for election to the Board at the Fall General Membership Meeting will contain one or two fewer positions, dependent on whether the automatic extension of Board terms would apply to one or both of the offices of President or President-Elect.

2. Resignation and Removal - Any member of the Board may resign by written notice. Any Director may be removed for just cause if at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors concur at a meeting called for that purpose.

Such removal or resignation will create a vacancy in the Board.

3. Vacancies - Any vacancy existing in the membership of the Board will be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Board members. Any Director so elected or appointed by the Board will hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of the members of the College, or until the election and qualification of his/her successor.

4. Annual Meetings - Promptly following the annual election, the elected Directors will meet at the office of the College, or other designated site, for the purpose of organization, election of officers and transaction of business, and no prior notice of such meeting will be required. The place and time of such annual meeting may, however, be otherwise fixed by written consent of the Directors.

5. Special Meetings - Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Secretary, upon written request of any member of the Board.

6. Notice of Meetings - Notice of Directors' meetings will be provided in the same manner as prescribed in the bylaws for notice of the meeting of College members. Directors unable to attend such meetings may waive advance notice for the meeting, in writing, either before or after the holding of such meeting. The written waiver will be entered upon the records of such meeting. The attendance of a Director at a meeting will be deemed a waiver to the required advance notice of such meeting, or of an objection to the lack of proper notice of such meeting. To maintain membership on the Board, Board Members will attend two-thirds (¨ø) of the Board meetings during any three-year period.

7. Chairperson - At all meetings of the Board, the President or President-Elect, or in their absence, a Chair chosen by the Directors present, will preside.

8. Quorum - At any meeting of the Board, the presence of a majority of Directors will be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum.

9. Compensation - The Directors will not receive compensation for services provided, however, the foregoing will not be interpreted as prohibiting any Director from being compensated for travel and per diem expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings.

10. Powers - The corporate powers are hereby vested in, and will be exercised by the Board. The Board may, by general or special resolution, delegate to officers of the College, or to any committee the Board may create, such powers, as the Board may deem appropriate. The Board will present at bi-annual meetings of the College members, a report of its activities and file with the minutes thereof, in accordance with governing laws. Such reports will be verified by the Treasurer and President and will detail the whole amount of real and personal property owned by the College, location of property acquired during the year preceding the date of the report, and manner of acquisition; amount applied, pledged, appropriated, or expended during the year preceding such dates, and purposes, objects or persons to or for which such applications, pledges, appropriations or expenditures have been made, and which will be consistent with the purposes of the Articles of Incorporation of the College; and names and places of business of persons admitted to membership during the year. There will be included in said reports any other information which may at any time, be required to be filed in any report prescribed by Internal Revenue Laws of the United States. The Board will have the powers and authority as set forth in Chapter 1702 of the Ohio Revised Code, and as are consistent with the purposes of the College. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, before any property, real or otherwise, is to be purchased or disposed of in the name of the College, the members of the College will be advised of such matter, and a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matter. A majority vote of the College members present and voting will be required to decide such matters.

11. Executive Committee - The Board may appoint an Executive Committee to function for and on behalf of the Board, and in the best interests of the College. The Executive Committee will consist of the Officers of the College and the Immediate Past President.
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ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

1. The officers of the College will be the President, President-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers will be members of the Board. Assistant officers, with such powers and duties consistent with the bylaws, may be appointed as determined by the Board.

2. Election and Qualification - The President-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer will be elected by the Board following the election of Board members at the Fall General Membership meeting. The President-elect will become President at the Fall General Membership Meeting, two years after election to the office of President-elect.

3. President - The President will be chair of, and preside at meetings of the Board. He or she will have and exercise general charge and supervision of the affairs of the College, and will do and perform such other duties as assigned to him or her by the Board, or permitted or provided elsewhere in these bylaws. The President will serve one two-year term.

4. President-elect - In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her disability, the President-elect will perform the duties and possess and exercise the powers of the President, and will have such other powers and duties as the Board may determine. The President-elect will serve one two-year term, at the completion of which he or she will become President.

5. Secretary - The Secretary will have charge of such books, documents and papers as the Board may determine. He or she will attend and maintain minutes of meetings of the Board and members of the College; and maintain a record containing names of members of the College, detailing their place of residence; and such books will be open for inspection. He or she may sign with the President or President-elect, in the name of the College, contracts or agreements authorized by the Board. He or she will perform duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to control of the Board, and will perform other duties assigned to him/her by the Board. In case of absence or disability of the Secretary, the President may appoint an assistant Secretary to perform duties the Secretary is authorized to perform.

6. Treasurer - The Treasurer will have the custody of funds, property, and securities of the College, subject to regulations imposed by the Board. When necessary or proper, he or she may endorse, on behalf of the College for collection of checks, notes or other obligations, and will deposit same to the credit of the College at such bank or banks as the Board may designate. He or she will make such payments as necessary or proper on behalf of the College. He or she will keep and maintain, or supervise the maintenance of, adequate books and records for the purpose of keeping and maintaining an accurate account of all monies, and obligations received, paid, or incurred by him OR her for or on account of the College, which books will be opened at reasonable times for inspection by any Director or College member for any reasonable purpose, and at reasonable times, at the Office of the College. He or she will, in general, perform duties incident to the office of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board. The Treasurer will be bonded in an amount equal to the maximum amount of funds of the College under his/her control.

7. Executive Director and Other Employees - The Board may, in its discretion, employ an Executive Director on a full or part-time basis, to conduct day-to-day business of the College, as directed by the Board, and other employees as the Board deems appropriate.

8. Salaries - The officers, other than the Executive Director, will not receive any salary for their services. The president will receive an annual stipend as determined by the board of directors.

9. Removal - Any officer may be removed from office during a special meeting scheduled for this purpose. There must be a majority of Directors present, and two-thirds (¨ø) of the Directors must vote in the affirmative. The grounds for removal can be non-feasance, malfeasance, misfeasance, conduct detrimental to the interests of the College, lack of sympathy with its objectives, or refusal to provide assistance in carrying out its purposes. Such removal will be affected by written notice, delivered by certified mail or equivalent to such officer.

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ARTICLE VII - STAFF

1. The College has the right to staff its office with qualified individuals to complete tasks in accordance with the written job descriptions on file at the central office.

2. The College will provide salary and benefits to individuals providing services to their office.

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ARTICLE VIII - ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Bylaws may be adopted or amended by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the College members present and voting at the Fall General Membership meeting of the College, provided such proposed amendments were provided to the President by one or more members of the College at least ninety (90) days prior to said meeting. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors will convene to review the proposed amendments at least sixty (60) days prior to said meeting, and may revise proposed amendments to secure conformity to the bylaws, or recommend revision or propose further amendments. Notice of proposed amendments will be provided to the members of the College by mail, or official publication, at least thirty (30) days before said meeting, of which such action on proposed amendments is to be considered.

At the Fall General Membership Meeting, revision of a duly introduced proposed amendment may occur from the floor, provided the revisions are approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the number of eligible voting members present.

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ARTICLE IX - NOMINATIONS TO THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC
BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM), and in compliance with AOA requirements, the ACOEP Board of Directors will nominate members to the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists to serve on the AOBEM. The ACOEP Board will assure that no AOBEM member will be an ACOEP Board member/officer.

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ARTICLE X - NOMINATIONS TO THE COUNCIL ON POSTDOCTORAL
TRAINING OF THE AOA

In accordance with the American Osteopathic Association, the ACOEP Board will recommend appointments to the Council on Postdoctoral Training to the AOA President-elect every three (3) years, or as needed. As required by AOA three names will be submitted in order of preference, however, nominees will be members of the ACOEP's Committee on Graduate Medical Education.

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ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Any five (5) or more College members may propose amendments to this Constitution by submitting same to the President at least ninety (90) days prior to any regular or special meeting of the College. Notice of such proposed amendments will be provided by the President to members of the College at least thirty (30) days prior to said meeting of which action on the proposed amendments is to be considered. The Constitution will be amended by affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of College members present and eligible to vote, and by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3 of the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution, assets, real and personal, will be distributed to such organizations qualified as tax exempt under section 501(c)6 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding provisions of a future United States Internal Revenue Law.

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ARTICLE XIII

This Constitution and Amendments will be effective upon approval of the AOA Board of Trustees.

Adopted by Membership Amended
April 1976 July 1976
November 1983 March 1984
November 1993 February 1994
October 1995 February 1996
October 1996 February 1997
October 1997 February 1998
October 1998 March 1999
October 1999 February 2000
October 2000 March 2001
April 2004 July 2004

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BYLAWS OF THE
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC
EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS

ARTICLE I - CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION

Section 1. Eligibility - To be eligible for membership in the College, the applicant will display a significant interest in Emergency Medicine. He or she must be of high moral and professional character. Candidates are encouraged to seek membership in the American Osteopathic Association and State and local divisional Osteopathic societies. Exceptions may apply for Honorary Members.

Section 2. Applications for Membership - Application for membership will be in writing on a form of application presented by the Board. Election will be by a majority vote of the Board. There will be issued to each College member a certificate of membership, in such a form determined by the Board, title to such certificates remaining with the College. By acceptance of College membership, each College member agrees to return such certificates, upon demand, to the Board.

Section 3. Charter Members - A College Charter Member may be of any category, however, he or she must have become a member within thirty (30) days after recognition of the College by the American Osteopathic Association. The membership status may be designated as active or inactive.

Section 4. Active Member - Any person, duly licensed as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who meets the criteria set below, may apply for "Active Member" Status. Physicians must continue to meet "Active Member" criteria to maintain this membership classification. Active member criteria are:

  1. The physician must engage primarily in the practice or administration of Emergency Medicine defined in one of the following:
    1. Practice or administration of Emergency Medicine in an emergency care facility for three years prior to date of application, or
    2. Successful completion of an Emergency Medicine residency program approved by the AOA or ACGME.
  • The physician must engage in appropriate educational activities as defined in one of the following:

 

  1. Participation in continuing medical education activities sufficient to satisfy ACOEP CME requirements for Emergency Medicine specialists. This activity must occur during the three (3) years prior to date of application.
  2. Successful completion of an Emergency Medicine residency program approved by the AOA or ACGME.

 

  • An Active Member is required to attend one (1) General Membership meeting every three (3) years to maintain Active membership status.
  • College members called to active duty in the military services due to existing or potential military conflict will have their dues suspended until such time as their active status is terminated and they have returned to their regular military / non-military employment.

 Section 5. Associate Members - any person not meeting criteria for Active membership, who has demonstrated a sincere interest in Emergency Medicine and the College, may become an Associate Member upon recommendation of the Committee on Membership and Credentials and approval of the Board. Associate members will not be entitled to hold office in the College.

Section 6. Honorary Members - Persons of distinction who have provided outstanding service to the College, Osteopathic profession, or distinguished members of the College, who have retired from practice, may be elected to honorary membership.

Honorary Members will not pay dues or admission fees, and have no right, title, or interest in any of the property of the College. If the honor is bestowed upon a present Active Member of the College, he or she may continue with his or her right to vote, and will have all the privileges of Active membership.

Section 7. Retired Member . A member who is officially retired from the practice of Emergency Medicine, but wishes to remain active within the College, may, upon application to the Board, request Retired member designation. Retired members will be required to pay one-half (1/2) of the College dues for Active members and one-half of the admission fees to ACOEP-sponsored activities. A Retired member may serve as a voting member on College committees, but does not have the right to vote on other College business, hold office in the College. He or she has no right or interest in the property of the College.

Section 8. Life Members - Life membership may be available to any member meeting one of the following criteria and applying to the Board for this classification:

  • Documented disability which precludes him or her from the practice of Emergency Medicine; or
  • Twenty-five (25) years of continuous membership in the College; or
  • Retired status with a minimum of twenty (20) years continuous membership prior to being designated a Retired member, and a minimum of five (5) years of Retired membership status; or
  • A minimum of ten (10) years of continuous membership, and an age of sixty-five (65) years or older, who has officially retired from the practice of Emergency Medicine.

A Life member may serve as a voting member on College committees but does not have the right to hold office in the College. A Life member will pay no dues or admission fees and will have no right, title, or interest in property of the College.

Section 9. Fellows - The title "Fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians" may be conferred on Active Members, Associate Members, Honorary Members and Life Members in the College. Any College Fellow may nominate a College Member for honorary title of Fellow. The nomination will be in writing, provide the College member's name and address, and record of his/her accomplishments in his/her specialty, or service to the College. The nominations will be delivered to the Executive Director of the College by March 1 of each year. The Executive Director will transmit the nomination to the Board. The selection of Fellows will occur during the next scheduled meeting of the Board. The majority vote of the Directors present is necessary for selection. The following are requirements of each candidate considered for honorary title of Fellow:

  1. Current certification in Emergency Medicine by the American Osteopathic Association or American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM);
  2. Continuous membership in the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians for five years prior to consideration;
  3. Documented attendance at three of the previous seven (7) general membership meetings;
  4. Evidence of high professional standing, as indicated by at least two of the following:
    1. Publication of scientific articles or reference materials in the field of Emergency Medicine, in nationally peer-reviewed periodicals
    2. Past or present member of an ACOEP Committee
    3. Past or present member of the Board of Directors of the ACOEP
    4. Faculty appointment in Emergency Medicine at a College of Osteopathic Medicine or College of Medicine accredited by the AOA or AMA, respectively
    5. Active involvement in the leadership and education of Emergency Medical Services, including but not limited to
      - EMT and paramedic training
      - Working as a Medical Director of a Community EMS System
      - Participation in local disaster planning and implementation
      - Direct supervision of training physicians and residents in on-line medical command.
    6. Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director, or faculty member
    7. Past or present involvement in the process of administration of certifying examinations through the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) or American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).
    8. Verification of a significant contribution to the specialty of Emergency Medicine in the Osteopathic profession

Section 10. Resident Members - Any person, licensed as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Medicine who is involved in an AOA approved Emergency Medicine residency program. He or she may request resident member designation and will pay annual dues, as stipulated by the Board. Resident members will not be entitled to hold office in the College.

Section 11. Intern Members - Any person, licensed as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Medicine, presently enrolled in an AOA approved or ACGME approved internship, and exhibits a sincere interest in the specialty of Emergency Medicine. He or she will pay annual dues, as stipulated by the Board. Intern members will not be entitled to hold office in the College.

Section 12. Student Members - Any person presently enrolled in an AOA approved College of Osteopathic Medicine, and exhibits a sincere interest in the specialty of Emergency Medicine. He or she will not be entitled to hold office in the College, and will pay no annual dues.

Section 13. Active Member/Exempt - College members incapacitated by reason of illness, or disability and for this reason unable to engage in active practice, or college members called to temporary active duty with the armed forces or serving on medical missions, may upon application, be elected to Active Member/Exempt Status by a majority vote of the Board. Election to an Active Member/Exempt Status will be for a period of one year. However, a member may be reelected to this classification upon annual application to the Board. Members elected to this category of membership will not be required to pay dues to the College and may not hold office in the College.

Section 14. Alteration of Membership Status - Any College member, who changes his OR her occupation or status in such a manner as to make him or her ineligible for Active membership in the College, may apply for Associate membership. The Board of Directors may revoke any membership for cause, provided the member is granted a fair and impartial hearing in accordance with AOA guidelines.

Section 15. Agreement - Acceptance of membership in this College will constitute an agreement by such member to comply with the Constitution and Bylaws thereof, and recognize the Board as the sole and only judge of his/her right to be or remains a member, subject to the hearing prescribed in Section 13 of this Article I. All rights, title, and interest, both legal and equitable, of a College member in and to the property of the College, will cease and terminate, in the event of any or either of the following: (a) expulsion of such College member; (b) removal of his/her name from the roll of College members; or c) his/her death or resignation.

Section 16 . Each Active, Active/Exempt and/or Life Member will be entitled to one vote. No other category of College member will be entitled to vote. The right to vote, and all other rights in and to the college, will cease upon termination of membership.

Section 17. Voting procedures - At the Fall General Membership meeting, Active, Active/Exempt, and Life Members may cast votes for members of the Board of Directors of the college in the following manner:

  1. A list of Active, Active/Exempt, and Life Members will be compiled by the College prior to the Fall General Membership meeting. This list will identify all members currently eligible to vote and ballots will be distributed by ACOEP staff members to those physicians eligible to vote and who have signed into the Membership Meeting.
  2. The Nominating Committee will identify a group of independent physicians to count the votes cast by ACOEP members. Such physicians will be members in good standing who hold the rank of Active, Active-Exempt, Life, Honorary, Resident or Retired member and have no affiliation to the physicians appearing on the Ballot.
  3. Votes will be cast following short presentations by the Candidates, and collected by the identified physicians and ACOEP staff in collection boxes. Voting members will provide collectors with verification of their eligibility to vote prior to depositing their ballot in said collection boxes. Votes will be counted in a secure area and the count verified by the independent physicians and staff. Announcement of the results of the voting will occur at the Membership Meeting.

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ARTICLE II - MEETINGS AND MEMBERS

Section 1. General Membership Meetings - There will be General Membership Meetings of the College for transaction of College business. General Membership Meetings of the College will be held in conjunction with the Annual Spring Seminar of the College and annual Convention of the American Osteopathic Association (at which time there will be an election of the Board of Directors, and transaction of other College business). Written notice of the time and place of the general membership meetings of the College will be forwarded to each College member at least thirty (30) days in advance of the time of such meeting, or notice of such meeting will be published in an issue of an official publication of the College.

Section 2. Special Meeting - A special meeting of the College members may be called by the Board, at any time, and called at the written request of twenty percent (20%) of the College Active Members.

If a special meeting is called by the Board, the Board will specify the time, place and purpose of the meeting. If a special meeting is called at the request of College members, as provided above, the meeting will be held in a central location, and the request for such special meetings will include the time and purpose of said special meeting. The Secretary will forward written notice to each College Active Member of any special meeting at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting, and include the time, place, and purpose for which the meeting is called.

Section 3. Governing Rules - Meetings of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians will be governed by Roberts' Rules of Order, Newly Revised, or as otherwise specified in the Bylaws.

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ARTICLE III - ETHICS

Section 1. Principles - The American Osteopathic Association Code of Ethics, and the Principles of Ethical Practice of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, which appear herein, will be the principles of ethics of this College, and will be and hereby are part of these Bylaws.

Section 2. Violation of Ethical Principles - If any member in good standing is believed to have violated the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association and/or the Principles of Ethical Practice of the Constitution and Bylaws of this College, or otherwise guilty of conduct justifying censure, suspension, or expulsion from this College, any member may prefer charges against him/her in the form and manner hereinafter specified.

Such charges must be in writing and signed by the accuser or accusers, and must state the acts or conduct in reasonable detail, upon which the complaint is based. Such charges must be filed with the Secretary of the Board of the College within thirty (30) days of the violation. The charges will be forwarded to the accused, by depositing in the United States mail a copy thereof, registered and addressed to his/her last respective known addresses. The College Board will determine a time and place for hearing said charges, and the accused will be notified of the time and place, at the same time and in the same manner, as provided for the servicing of the charges. The time set for said hearing will not be less than fifteen (15) days, nor more than six (6) months after serving the charges.

The accused may, at any time, respond in writing, but need not do so, and failure to respond will not be an admission of truth of the charges, or a waiver of the accused's right to a hearing.

The College Board will, after having provided the accuser and the accused appropriate opportunity to be heard, including oral statements, and the filing for consideration of any written briefs, conclude the hearing, and within thirty (30) days thereafter render a decision. The affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the College Board present and voting will constitute the verdict to the College Board, which by such vote may exonerate, censure, suspend, or expel the accused College member. The decision of the College Board will be expressed in a resolution that will contain no opinion, and will be signed only by the President of the College Board and the Secretary. Members of the Board not present for the entire hearing will not be entitled to vote.

Censure will mean a reprimand by the President of the College Board of Directors, which will be administered to the accused in the presence of the College Board. No college member will be suspended for more than one year, and at the expiration of the period of suspension will be reinstated to former membership classification upon his/her application to the board. He or she will be responsible for the payment of dues accrued during the period of suspension. The decision of the College Board will be final, except as provided hereafter.

Section 3. Appeal Mechanism - Hearings involving charges of violations of the Code of Ethics shall be conducted in accordance to AOA guidelines. If a College member is suspended or expelled as a result of a determination that such member violated the Code of Ethics, and the record of such proceeding, and the decision, will be forwarded within five business days to the Executive Director of the AOA for ultimate review by the AOA Board of Trustees.

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ARTICLE IV - CODE OF ETHICS OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION

Members of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians are required to adhere to and uphold the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association, as annually published in the in the Yearbook and Directory of the American Osteopathic Association.

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ARTICLE V -AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL PRACTICE

Section 1. The primary duty of an Osteopathic emergency physician is to secure optimum health care for the patient.

Section 2. An Osteopathic emergency physician will seek appointment to the medical staff of a hospital in accordance with the medical staff's bylaws, and in the same manner as other physicians.

Section 3. An Osteopathic emergency physician will not associate with any institution that permits medical practice by other than a licensed health provider.

Section 4. An Osteopathic emergency physician will not solicit referrals, or associate with any person or agency that seeks undue publicity not consistent with a high standard of ethics.

Section 5 . An Osteopathic emergency physician should establish his/her fee for services performed, and should submit a statement for such emergency services.

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ARTICLE VI -STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Appointments - As described in the College Constitution, the College President may appoint standing or special committees to assist the College Board in its duties, including and hereinafter specified. With the exception of the Finance, Nominating, and Past Presidents' committees, one-third (1/3) of Committee members will be appointed annually to three-year terms.

Section 2. Committees .

  1. Committee on Membership and Credentials - The Committee on Membership and Credentials will be composed of a Chairperson and six (6) or more members of the College, appointed by the College President. The function of this Committee will be: (1) To consider applications for College membership and continuation of membership, and to evaluate the qualifications of the applicants. The Committee may have the privilege of requesting the applicant to appear in person for further consideration of his/her qualifications; (2) To recommend to the Board of Directors changes in the qualifications for membership, and (3) To encourage the enrollment of qualified Osteopathic emergency physicians in the College.
  2. Committee on Continuing Medical Education. The purpose of this committee is to develop and monitor educational seminars endorsed by the College for emergency physicians. The Committee will consist of the chair and a seminar coordinator for each subcommittee. Each seminar will consist of the coordinator and three or more members, selected from the membership of the College, and appointed by the College President. One-third of the members will be appointed annually for terms of three (3) years each.

    The seminar subcommittees may include but not be limited to the following:
    (a) Emergency Medicine: An Intense Review
    (b) An Overview of Emergency Medical Services
    (c) Scientific Seminar
    (d) Spring Seminar
    (e) Core Essentials Series
    (f) Toxicology: An Intense Review
    (g) Administrative Aspects of Emergency Medicine
  3. Committee on Graduate Medical Education. The purpose of this Committee is to assist in the creation and expansion of postdoctoral training programs in Emergency Medicine and related subspecialty areas; monitor established programs for continued quality of education; create and periodically update appropriate documents for training in Emergency Medicine and its subspecialties, and annually review the training of physicians enrolled in postdoctoral programs to determine compliance with training standards set forth in its educational documents. Functions of this Committee are reported to and through the American Osteopathic Association. The College's representative to the AOA's Postdoctoral Training and Review Committee shall be a non-voting member of this Committee
  4. Committee on Undergraduate Medical Education. The purpose of this Committee is to monitor the training of Emergency Medicine on the undergraduate level, and assist Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine to incorporate appropriate Emergency Medicine training/education in the core curriculum.
  5. Constitution and Bylaws Committee. This Committee will be composed of a Chairperson, and three (3) or more members, appointed annually by the College President. It will provide an annual review of the Constitution and Bylaws, and provide recommendations after due consideration to submitted proposals.
  6. Fellowship Committee. This Committee will consist of a Chairperson and at least two (2) other members. Its purpose is to identify qualified candidates for appointment to the status of Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (FACOEP), and annually present the candidates to the Board for consideration for selection.
  7. Finance Committee. This Committee will consist of the Treasurer, who will act as its Chairperson, President, President-elect, and two other members of the College. Its purpose is to create an annual budget, and monitor the spending and investments of the College.
  8. Governmental Affairs Committee. This Committee will consist of a chairperson and three (3) or more members who have a sincere interest in coordinating the future of Emergency Medicine through participation in the legislative and regulatory process.
  9. Nominating / Election Committee. This Committee will consist of the Immediate Past President who will serve as chair, two (2) members of the Board, whose terms are not expiring during the year of their appointment, and two (2) College members in good standing who hold the rank of Active, Active-Exempt, Life, or Retired Member and are appointed by the College President. It's purpose is to identify qualified candidates for possible nomination by the Board for positions on the College Board, the AOBEM, the AOA Council on Postdoctoral Training, and FOEM. It will also be responsible to oversee the election process as outlined in Article I, Section 17 of this document.
  10. Past Presidents Committee. The Past Presidents Committee will be comprised of past Presidents eligible and willing to serve as members. The Committee Chair will be the Immediate Past President of the College. The Committee will have two functions, to (1) serve as the Ethics Committee of the College; and (2) consider matters for which the President and/or Board seeks additional advice and counsel.

    A report will be provided to the President and/or Board on all issues considered by the committee. The President may request the presence and participation of as many Past Presidents as may best meet the needs of the Board, and interests of the College. Past Presidents requested by the President to attend Board meetings do so at the same compensation as elected members of the Board, and may participate in the meeting and Executive Session of the Board, as a non-voting member.
  11. Practice Management Committee. The Committee will consist of a chairperson and 9 members of the College. Its purpose is to identify practices, procedures, or facilities that require the development of policy statements by which to practice the specialty of Emergency Medicine. All policies will be forwarded to the Board for review and voted on by the membership prior to enactment or endorsement by the College.
  12. Communications Committee. This Committee will consist of a Chairperson, and at least four (4) members of the College who have a sincere interest in creating publishable articles addressing items related to Emergency Medicine, activities of the College, or other items of interest to the membership. A resident member and student member will also sit on this Committee. Its purpose will be to create and monitor the quarterly newsletter of the College; the website and those pages pertaining to the resident and student activities, and student and resident publications.
  13. Research Committee. This Committee will consist of a chairperson and three (3) or more members who have a sincere interest in research in Emergency Medicine and related topics. Its purpose is to increase research productivity in Emergency Medicine. This Committee will act as the review body for the Foundation for Osteopathic Emergency Medicine and will make recommendations to this body, when appropriate.
    Subcommittee on Academic Awards. This Committee will consist of a chairperson, who will be a member of the Research Committee, and at least five (5) other members chosen from the College and Medical community. Its purpose is to review resident research projects, identify, and rank at least three papers submitted by residents, written during the previous training year, and award appropriate awards in accordance with established criteria.

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ARTICLE VII -AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by the method described in the Constitution of the ACOEP. Amendments will take effect upon approval by the AOA Board of Trustees.

Adopted by Membership Amended
April 1976 July 1976
November 1983 March 1984
November 1993 February 1994
October 1995 February 1996
October 1996 February 1997
October 1997 February 1998
October 1998 March 1999
October 1999 February 2000
October 2000 March 2001
April 2004 July 2004

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Constitution Articles

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE I

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COLLEGE

ARTICLE III - OFFICES

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

ARTICLE VII - STAFF

ARTICLE VIII - ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

ARTICLE IX - NOMINATIONS TO THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC
BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE

ARTICLE X - NOMINATIONS TO THE COUNCIL ON POSTDOCTORAL
TRAINING OF THE AOA

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION

ARTICLE XIII

Bylaws Articles

ARTICLE I -CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION

ARTICLE II -MEETINGS AND MEMBERS

ARTICLE III - ETHICS

ARTICLE IV - CODE OF ETHICS OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE V -AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL PRACTICE

ARTICLE VI -
STANDING COMMITTEES

ARTICLE VII -AMENDMENTS