AES Volunteer Structure

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Volunteer service provides a pathway for members to engage more deeply with the work of the Society, to connect with other members, and build a career-enhancing record of meaningful volunteer accomplishments.

AES is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Most volunteer opportunities are available through the AES committee structure, through which members guide, inform, and support the work of AES staff in alignment with the strategic plan and annual budget.

You must be a current member to serveand most terms are for three years of service. The call for volunteers typically opens each summer. Preference for new appointments is given to members who are not currently serving on a committee.

volunteerstructure

Because the number of available committee opportunities is limited, it is not always possible to accommodate all requests to serve. A list of members who are not placed on a committee during the appointment process will be kept on file for potential opportunities to serve on workgroups, task forces, or other volunteer efforts.

AES members can view the roles and responsibilities of each committee by logging in to myAES.

Use the drop-downs below to learn more about our volunteer structure, and to see a comprehensive list of councils, committees, workgroups, and taskforces. Click here to learn about our Board of Directors.

Councils

Council on Clinical Activities
Provides direction and oversight of the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based quality improvement activities, projects, and clinical and administrative practice support.
Membership Council
Provides strategic direction to membership recruitment, retention, and involvement efforts. Develops strategies to support an optimal member experience and fosters development of leaders and leadership pathways within AES.
Council on Education
Responsible for ensuring oversight and strategic alignment of the educational programs, products, and services developed by reporting committees, councils, and workgroups.
Development Council
Provides direction and high-level oversight to efforts to increase contributed support for the AES mission from individuals, public and private foundations, government entities, and industry.
Research and Training Council
Provides direction related to the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of AES-sponsored research and training programs. Reviews applications for grants, provides oversight for funding programs, makes recommendations for the allocation of AES research and training funds, and advises on other AES activities pertaining to research.

Committees

Corporate Advisory Committee*
Supports relationship building and communication with the pharmaceutical industry and device manufacturers.
Epilepsy Currents Editors*
Contributing editors are asked to commit to survey current literature in their area of expertise and submit at least one suggestion for commentary for each issue of Epilepsy Currents. Contributing editors may also be asked to write commentary on topics in their area(s) of expertise.
Finance Committee*
Establishes investment policy for AES funds; assesses goals for strategic, capital, long-term, and operating reserve funds; and works with investment advisors on oversight of funds.
Nominating Committee*
Provides the Board with the individuals to be included on the slate of candidates that is sent to voting members for affirmation.
Research and Recognition Awards Committee*
Oversees the nomination and selection process for annual AES Distinguished Achievement Awards and selects recipients for Basic and Clinical Science Research Recognition Awards.
Budget and Audit Committee (Board Committee)
Responsible for development and recommendation to the Board of an annual budget and for oversight and acceptance of the yearly audit of the Society's finances and processes.
Governance Committee (Board Committee)
Responsible for development and recommendation of policies related to governance structure and functions for the Society, as well as oversight for the volunteer appointment process.
Professionalism Committee (Board Committee)
Monitors and evaluates evolving ethics, legal, and professionalism issues and develops and submits policy recommendations. Reviews formal complaints or requests for adjudication from members related to Society matters and recommends solutions. Responsible for review and consistent application of conflict of interest policies and enforcement of Society interpretation of the CMSS Code of Ethics for Relationships with Industry.
Lennox and Lombroso Fund Trustees*
Responsible for fiduciary oversight of the Lennox and Lombroso Fund.
Guidelines and Assessment Committee (Council on Clinical Activities)
Oversees, provides methodological support of, and reviews evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and consensus statements. Reviews or develops other internal and external documents.
Practice Management Committee (Council on Clinical Activities)
Addresses issues that affect the delivery and quality of epilepsy care--from the home, to outpatient and in-patient settings. Selects topics and creates content for 1-2 CME Performance Improvement Projects each year.
Treatments Committee (Council on Clinical Activities)
Digital Advisory Committee (Membership Council)
Provides advisory input on request with content organization and functionality of all AES digital platforms.
Membership Committee (Membership Council)
Provides guidance to staff on administration of membership and oversees the application review and marketing of the FAES program. Serves as a resource to developing programs and policies related to membership, with the goal of member engagement.
Early Career Epilepsy Specialist Committee (Membership Council)
Promotes the involvement of early career professionals in epilepsy care/research and in membership in AES; attract early career professionals within AES to continue careers in epilepsy care/research after their training; increase the number of AES trainee members transitioning to full membership; promote training, career development, and research support opportunities for early career professionals.

Advanced Practice Provider Committee (Council on Education)
Plans the content for the APP Symposium and Career Pathways: Interprofessional Careers session at the annual meeting. Encourages APP engagement and develops educational resources and other year-round education opportunities.
Annual Meeting Committee (Council on Education)
Oversees and plans educational content for the AES Annual Meeting.

Annual Course Committee
Plans the content for the Annual Course at the AES Annual Meeting.
Epilepsy Therapies Symposium Committee
Plans the content for the Epilepsy Therapies Symposium.
Investigators Workshop Committee
Responsible for the selection and review of the Investigators Workshops at the AES Annual Meeting.
Merritt-Putnam Symposium Committee
Plans the content for the Merritt-Putnam Symposium.
Pediatric Content Committee
Plans the content for the Pediatric State of the Art Symposium, selects abstracts to be presented at the Pediatric Highlights poster session, and selects the recipient(s) of the Jack M. Pellock Travel Award,
Scientific Program Committee
Plans the content for the Scientific Symposium and selects presenters for platform sessions as well as travel award recipients.
Spanish Symposium Committee
Plans the content for the Spanish Symposium
Special Interest Group Oversight Committee
Oversees the submission, selection, and execution of SIGs at the Annual Meeting
Epilepsy Fellowship Program Directors Committee
Responsible for planning content for the annual Epilepsy Fellowship Program Directors Meeting.
Fellows/Junior Investigators Professional Development Committee
Oversees the AES Fellows Program at the AES Annual Meeting and organizes career development sessions open to all attendees, including career pathways and career skills sessions.

Assessment and Examinations Committee (Council on Education)
Develops AES assessment and examination items in accordance with the current American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology content blueprint.
CME Review Committee (Council on Education)
Prospectively reviews educational content to ensure the content is fair, balanced, scientifically-rigorous, free from commercial bias, and meets the AMA definition of "continuing medical education."
EEG Course Committee (Council on Education)
Plans content for the annual Resident EEG Course.
Interprofessional Education Committee (Council on Education)
Plans the content for the Interprofessional Care Symposium (a live, accredited activity), which takes place at the annual meeting.
- Psychosocial Comorbidities Committee
  Develops educational resources for healthcare providers about psychosocial comorbidities in epilepsy.
Online Education Committee (Council on Education)
Responsible for the development, implementation, and dissemination of AES online educational activities. Establish, maintain, and promote the delivery of high-quality continuing education offerings, through a variety of techniques and delivery mechanisms.

Basic Science Committee (Research and Training Council)
Represents the interests of the basic science community and provides input to the Society related to basic science research directions and activities. Committee activities aim to increase the visibility of basic science within AES, promote interactions between basic scientists and clinical epileptologists, promote opportunities for collaboration, and provide educational resources to the basic science community.
Clinical Research Committee (Research and Training Council)
Seeks to proactively represent the needs of clinical researchers within AES.
Epilepsy Research Benchmarks Stewards Committee (Research and Training Council)
Serves to track and promote progress related to the NINDS Benchmarks for Epilepsy Research. Stewards of this committee publish research progress reviews for the Benchmarks and may undertake additional activities to report on progress, assess opportunities and challenges, and promote research in Benchmarks areas.
Translational Research Committee (Research and Training Council)
Facilitates dialogue between constituencies focused on mechanistic research, discovery, development, and clinical adoption of new therapeutics for epilepsy. Develops educational opportunities related to translation, programmatic material at the AES annual meeting (including the Translational Symposium), and collaborations with other groups and societies within and outside the epilepsy community to promote improved translation.

Early Career Grant Committee (Research and Training Council)
Manages AES early career funding programs and reviews research proposals to submit recommendations for funding to the Research and Training Council.

*Report directly to the Board of Directors

Workgroups

Q-Pulse Workgroup (Guidelines and Assessment Committee)
Identifies and reviews potential poll topics for the Quantitative Practical Use-Driven Learning Survey in Epilepsy (Q-PULSE), contributes to the development of polls, and facilitates the dissemination of results.

Taskforces

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce
Addresses AES diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and implementation practices as they relate to the AES organizational structure, its membership, and leadership. Considers the role of the Society in assessing, articulating, and addressing systemic inequities as they impact patient access, care, and outcomes for underserved populations living with epilepsy. Recommends action items to assure ongoing oversight and prioritization of these values in our work.