Academy Board of Directors Meets for Strategic Planning

In June, the Academy's Board met in Washington, DC, to discuss strategy for the Academy. This meeting represents an important stage of growth for our organization. Although our full Board of Directors has met monthly by teleconference and twice a year in person, the Washington meeting was our first dedicated exclusively to strategic planning.

The Board discussed credentialing, funding, and board organization during the meeting. But their first line of business was to complete the transition to our new bylaws, which our membership approved in May by 98 percent of votes. These new bylaws, as many of you know, make small yet strategic changes in the structure of our leadership. A newly formed nomination committee accepted nominations for the officer posts of Board Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. We will announce the new leadership at our national membership meeting, which will be held at ICAAC in September.

Next, the Board considered the structure of our committees. After a good amount of discussion and debate, the Board decided to continue the Education, Practice Management, and Public Policy committees. A training committee will be created to aid educational and medical institutions in understanding and utilizing the AAHIVM HIV Specialist credentialing process and the AAHIVM Self-Directed HIV Medicine Education Program. The Board also decided to add an exploratory task force on international issues, whose main goal will be to assess where the Academy can aid existing international education efforts. The Board also considered issues regarding the upcoming HIV Medicine Education Program's Self-Directed Study Guide and gave approval on marketing and distribution plans. Finally, they discussed increasing dialog with many organizations and government groups to increase awareness and understanding of the Academy's initiatives.

The Board is confident that these new bylaws, new committee structure, and other strategic plans made at the Washington, DC, meeting will help the Academy continue to serve our members and all health care providers in HIV medicine, to help ensure better care for those living with AIDS and HIV disease.

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