Membership Process

Membership Nominations:

How do I Nominate Someone?
Format for Submission of Nominating Letter
Criteria for Election

Criteria for Election to Membership in the Association of University Anesthesiologists
(Revised December 1, 2005)

General Principles:
1. The criteria for election to membership in the AUA should be relatively consistent from year to year, although they would be expected to evolve over time.
2. The criteria for election to membership in the AUA should be available in written form to members of the AUA.
3. The membership of the AUA should have the opportunity to provide input into the criteria for membership.
4. AUA members who nominate candidates for election to AUA should base nominations on comparison of candidates to the criteria for election.
5.The fundamental criterion for membership in the AUA should be substantial evidence of creative research scholarship or scholarly educational activities relevant to the field of anesthesiology.
6. Scholarly educational activity and research scholarship should be weighted equally in election of members; however, scholarly educational activity must be sustained for a considerable time period (no less than seven years) whereas outstanding evidence of research scholarship may be sufficient evidence for a promising young investigator (such evidence could include receipt of a highly competitive federal grant and publication as first or senior author of high-­quality, peer-reviewed manuscripts). Election should be encouraged of clearly outstanding candidates who are relatively early in their careers.
7. Academic leadership (e.g., national society officers, membership or chairmanship of national academic committees) suggests research or scholarly educational activity but does not constitute sufficient evidence of scholarship.
8. Attainment of an administrative title (e.g., department chair, program director) or academic rank (e.g., associate professor) suggests research scholarship or scholarly educational activity but does not constitute sufficient evidence of scholarship.
9. Longevity in an academic department of anesthesiology does not constitute sufficient evidence of scholarship.

Application of Weighting System for Nominating and Evaluating Candidates for Membership:
1. Every candidate will be evaluated in comparison to a possible 100-point scale.
2. Of that scale, scholarly educational activity accounts for a maximum of 40 points, research scholarship accounts for a maximum of 40 points and academic leadership accounts for a maximum of 20 points.
3. The number of points in an individual category should be determined by comparing the candidate to semi-quantitative profiles.
4. Candidates receiving less than 25 points are not eligible for election in the AUA.  25 points are necessary but may not be sufficient for election in the AUA.  Final decision regarding membership is based upon review of all materials received by Council.

Semi-quantitative Weighting Profiles (profiles are provided as barometers of relative achievement at various stages of academic careers; candidates may not meet each component of any individual profile but should resemble one profile more than others):

1.  Scholarly Educational Research (no more than 40 points in this category)

A.  40 points: Sustained history, for example, (at least ten years) of presenting national lectures on topics relevant to anesthesiology. Multiple (three or more) prestigious lectures (e.g., ASA Refresher Courses; IARS Review Courses; subspecialty society plenary lectures). Multiple (ten or more) visiting professorships in academic departments. Multiple (ten or more) first-authored, peer-reviewed original publications relating to anesthesiology topics. Multiple (ten or more) first-authored book chapters in highly regarded texts. Editing of a highly regarded textbook related to anesthesiology. Selection to the editorial board of a national or international anesthesiology journal.

B.  30 points: Sustained history, for example, (at least five years) of presenting national lectures on topics relevant to anesthesiology. Two or more prestigious lectures (e.g., ASA Refresher Courses; IARS Review Courses; subspecialty society plenary lectures). Several (five or more) visiting professorships in academic departments. Several (five or more) first-authored, peer-reviewed original publications relating to anesthesiology topics. Several (five or more) first-authored book chapters in highly regarded texts. Selection to the editorial board of a national or international anesthesiology journal.

C.  20 points: One or more national lectures on topics related to anesthesiology. Multiple (three or more) regional lectures on topics related to anesthesiology (e.g., state society lectures). Several (three or more) visiting professorships in academic departments. Several (three or more) first-authored, peer-reviewed original publications relating to anesthesiology topics. Several (three or more) first-authored book chapters in highly regarded texts. Substantial production of non-peer-reviewed teaching materials (e.g., web sites, teaching manuals).

D.  10 points: Program director of an academic residency. “Best Teacher” awards from an academic residency.

2.  Research Scholarship

A.  40 points: Consistent record as principal investigator of competitive federal grants (ten years or more of funding). Service on national peer­-review committees for grant reviews. Primary or senior author on 30 or more high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Multiple (ten or more) invited national presentations on topics related to research. Multiple (ten or more) visiting professorships related to research. Selection to the editorial board of a high-impact national or international scientific journal.

B.   30 points: Principal investigator of competitive federal grants (five years or more of funding). Primary or senior author on 20 or more high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Several (five or more) invited national presentations on topics related to research. Several (five or more) visiting professorships related to research. Selection to the editorial board of a high-impact national or international journal.

C.  20 points: First-time principal investigator of a competitive federal grant (e.g., NIH RO-l or VA Merit Review). Primary or senior author on 6 or more high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. Several (three or more) invited national presentations or visiting professorships related to research.

D.  10 points: Recipient of NIH career development award (e.g., KO-8). Recipient of starter grant from FAER, IARS, or subspecialty society. Primary author on five or more high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. 

3. Academic Leadership:

• 20 points:  Officer of national medical or anesthesiology society (general or subspecialty). Major administrative responsibilities in an academic medical center (e.g., dean or associate dean, hospital CEO).
• 10 points:  Chair of academic anesthesiology department. Vice-Chair of academic anesthesiology department. Program director of academic anesthesiology residency. Committee membership on major national academic committee (e.g., ASA Committee on Research, ASA Subcommittees for abstract reviews)

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