ASH Trainee Council

The American Society of Hematology created the ASH Trainee Council as a means of increasing the involvement of hematology trainees in the administration of the Society through the solicitation of their input on issues related to training and education.

Composition

The ASH Trainee Council consists of 12 trainees from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ten of these trainees must be MDs or MD/PhDs from accredited hematology or hematology/oncology fellowship training programs. Two trainees must be PhDs selected from hematology post-doctoral training programs. The chair of the Trainee Council is elected by the members of the Council at the December meeting.

Each Council member serves a two-year term. Terms are staggered so that each year half the Council members are new, while the other half are in their second year of service. Two members of the Committee on Training Programs serve as liaison members to the Trainee Council.

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Trainee Council Duties

The Trainee Council was created in 2001 to provide a forum for hematology fellows to discuss issues relevant to fellowship training and career development. The Council reports to the Committee on Training Programs regarding matters of concern to trainees and provides suggestions regarding programs that may increase interest in hematology.

The primary function of the ASH Trainee Council is to advise the ASH Committee on Training Programs about issues relevant to the educational needs of hematology trainees, including the planning of events and services for trainees at the ASH annual meeting. By developing and implementing programs of interest to trainees, the Trainee Council is a major engine for new member recruitment for ASH. The Council also assists in the evaluation of various ASH programs and assists in the development and revision of trainee related education materials as needed.

Trainee Council projects and programs:

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Council Meetings

A conference call occurs in the spring and the Council meets one-day in the early fall to develop recommendations to be passed on to ASH leadership. The agenda for the meetings is developed by the chair of the Trainee Council with the help of other Council members and the Committee on Training Programs. The remaining work of the Council takes place by e-mail or conference call throughout the year. In addition, the Council also meets during the ASH annual meeting in December. The chair of the Council serves as a liaison member to the Committee on Training Programs and is expected to attend their spring and fall meetings. ASH pays for the cost of hotel accommodations and travel to all meetings for each Council member.

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Eligibility to Serve on the Council

Trainees who exhibit leadership qualities and a high potential for a successful career in hematology or a hematology-related discipline are desired candidates.

Trainees in accredited hematology and hematology/oncology training programs who are currently in their first year of training are eligible for nomination by their training program directors. These trainees must have a medical degree with or without a PhD degree. PhD trainees in all hematology-related disciplines are eligible for nomination by their division chief/department chair.

All trainees must be continuing in their training program in the 2012-2014 academic years (July 1 - June 30).

Nominees must be Associate members of ASH at the time of application. Applications for new associate membership should be submitted no later than by February 29. Dues must be paid by time of Council application.

To verify your membership status, please log on to the membership section of the ASH website. If you need assistance with your username and password, please contact an ASH Customer Relations Representative at membership@hematology.org.

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Application Process

All applications must include all of the following: 

  1. Completed Application Form 
  2. A letter of nomination from the MD trainee’s training program director or the PhD applicant’s division chief/department chair. The letter of nomination should include:
    1. Reasons supporting the candidate’s application
    2. Assessment of candidate qualifications (including clinical, research, education, service-related) relevant to participation in the council
    3. Potential for leadership and contribution
    4. Confirmation of applicant's enrollment in a hematology, hematology/oncology, or hematology-related training program that consists of more than two years, in order to be concurrent with the two-year term on the council
  3. A brief personal statement from the trainee. The personal statement should include:
    1. Reasons for wishing to participate in the Council
    2. Evidence of leadership abilities
    3. Committee/service experience
    4. “Other” qualifications or achievements that would be of value to the Council
    5. Any ideas or proposals that could be brought to the Council
  4. The trainee’s CV.

Note: 

  • Applications must be submitted electronically to training@hematology.org by 11:59 pm EST March 30, 2012.
  • Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
  • All submissions MUST include the required documents listed above, in the order above, and be submitted as one PDF file.
  • The file should be named in the following format: TC Application Lastname-Firstname 2012.pdf
  • Applications not formatted correctly, with missing or incorrect required documents will not be considered.

Each training program may submit only one nomination per year. Nominating materials must be sent by e-mail to training@hematology.org no later than March 30, 2012.

Selection of Trainee Council members from the nominations received will be made by the ASH Executive Committee based upon recommendations from the ASH Committee on Training Programs.

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Questions?

For more information about the ASH Trainee Council, please send an e-mail to training@hematology.org.

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