AES Volunteer Structure

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The 2023 call for volunteers is now closed.

AES is led by member volunteers who share insights and expertise in volunteer roles. Most volunteer activity takes place through a committee structure that includes approximately 30 committees with more than 600 members who typically serve three-year terms. Committee appointments are based on the number of open positions on each committee, plus the skill sets and experience needed by the committee to fulfill its charge.

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 serve and most terms are for three years of service. Preference for new appointments is given to members who are not currently serving on a committee. Click here to view the full appointment policy.

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.
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.
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.
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

*Report directly to the Board of Directors

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.
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.
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.
Clinical Research Committee (Research and Training Council)
Seeks to proactively represent the needs of clinical researchers within AES.
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."
Corporate Advisory Committee*
Supports relationship building and communication with the pharmaceutical industry and device manufacturers.
Digital Advisory Committee (Membership Council)
Provides advisory input on request with content organization and functionality of all AES digital platforms.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee*
Charged with developing initiatives and programs which assure that DEI principles are part of the fabric of AES and we are an exemplar for support and promotion of an inclusive, welcoming environment for all.
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.
Early Career Membership 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.
EEG Course Committee (Council on Education)
Plans content for the annual Resident EEG Course.
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.
Epilepsy Research Benchmarks Stewards Committee*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (Council on Education)
Develops educational resources for healthcare providers about psychosocial comorbidities in epilepsy.
Lennox and Lombroso Fund Trustees*
Responsible for fiduciary oversight of the Lennox and Lombroso Fund.
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.
Nominating Committee*
Provides the Board with the individuals to be included on the slate of candidates that is sent to voting members for affirmation.
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
Treatments Committee (Council on Clinical Activities)
Monitors issues and developments related to therapeutics, advises on related member alerts, and develops position statements or review articles, as needed in response.

Workgroups

Surgery Guideline Workgroup
AES/ACNS ECoG Guideline Workgroup
Sleep and Epilepsy Workgroup