Article I–Name
The name of the organization shall be the Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association (henceforth called the Association or MPPDA).
Article II–Purpose
The Association was formed to advance medical education in combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) Residency Programs, which are approved by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. These programs should be located in the United States of America. International programs may be included by the action of the Executive Committee. MPPDA will work in conjunction with the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) and the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) to improve medical education, promote the growth of combined Internal Medicine Pediatrics residencies, educate medical students as to the existence and curriculum of Medicine Pediatrics residencies, and promote the growth of the field of Med-Peds. References hereinafter in these bylaws to the "Residency Review Committee (RRC)" shall mean the RRC for Internal Medicine or Pediatrics or both, as stipulated. This will include the separate Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Accreditation Programs.
Article III–Members
The Members of the Association shall be any:
1. Medicine-Pediatrics Program Director
2. Assistant and Associate Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors
3. Medicine Program Director or co-Director
4. Pediatric Program Director or co-Director
5. Medicine-Pediatrics Program Coordinator
6. Medicine-Pediatrics Chief Resident
7. Medicine-Pediatrics trained physicians who have national leadership roles
8. Physicians who are actively working to open a Med-Peds training program
These members may have sole or shared responsibility for a combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency, as described in Article III. The Executive Committee will establish membership fees on an annual basis.
The Med-Peds program director should have membership in each Program Directors Association for which he/she is eligible, with each component specialty program demonstrating membership in good standing within both APPD and APDIM. Members will have access to the Members Only website and the MPPDA list serve.
Article IV–Meetings
There will be an annual meeting of the Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors
Association each spring. Ideally, the Association will meet in alternate years with the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine and the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (henceforth termed "sponsoring Associations"). Additional meetings may be scheduled if called by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will fix the precise date of these meetings with the sponsoring Association. Registration fees will be set with discussion with the sponsoring Association.
Article V–Executive Committee
A) Governance
The Executive Committee shall consist of the following 5 members: President Elect,
President, Immediate Past President, Past Past President, and a Secretary Treasurer. The Executive Vice President shall be associated full time with the Association, manage the Association, and function as its Chief Operating Officer. The Presidents and Secretary Treasurer must either be, or have been, a Program Director or Associate Program Director, as defined by Article III, and a current member of the MPPDA.
B) Duties and terms
Official duties and terms for each elected officer shall begin July 1st following their
election at the spring meeting, and last until the next June 30th. The President shall serve 1 year as President Elect, then President, Past-President, and Past Past President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also serve for 4 years, but with the same title. The period between the spring meeting and July 1st will be used to assist with transition and completion of duties for that year, with newly elected officers participating in executive committee activities. The Executive Committee member assigned to a national organization shall attend association meetings for that organization for the duration of his/her term whenever possible.
The role of the Executive Vice President is to insure the overall management of the
Association and the implementation of goals and objectives set forth by the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall meet as often as necessary, and shall act on behalf of the membership in furthering the purposes of the Association and in conducting its business. The President shall call meetings of the Committee. The Committee shall, if deemed appropriate, solicit opinions from the membership to assist in guiding the judgment of the Committee on any issue. The Committee shall report its activities to the membership in an executive summary every quarter.
In the event that a Committee member cannot complete his/her term in office, it shall be the option of the Executive Committee to select a replacement. The replacement shall serve only until the next scheduled election, and the vacancy shall be treated in the same fashion as any other position on the Committee to complete the specific term which they are replacing.
Members of the Executive Committee will be limited in running for 2 consecutive or
non-consecutive terms.
Article VI–Subcommittees
Working Subcommittees shall be identified to address the needs, interests, and mission of the MPPDA during the spring meeting, Executive Committee meetings, and as the need arises. Membership on these committees will be voluntary, and may draw from inactive members of the MPPDA, as well as nonaligned Med-Peds practitioners.
Article VII–Nominations, Voting and Elections
A) Nominations
Nominations shall be solicited electronically by the Past President to the entire current membership every January. Any current member of the Association may nominate a candidate, or become a candidate for the Committee. Retiring members of the Executive Committee shall not run until after their tenure has lapsed for at least one year.
The final slate of candidates will be composed by the Executive Committee. The
nominees who agree to run for the Executive Committee position for which they have been nominated will provide a written biosketch and statement of purpose with an optional photograph for distribution with the ballot. Candidates will be instructed that their involvement begins at the spring meeting, should they be elected.
B) Elections
Elections will be conducted prior to the spring meeting. In the event of a tie, a second ballot will be distributed to decide the successful candidate. Only those candidates tied for the highest number of votes will be included on the second ballot. Other matters may be decided by a majority vote of those present at the annual meeting.
C) Voting
Voting notices will be distributed electronically to the membership not later than March 1st, and repeated to provide current programs the opportunity to complete voting. The notice will direct the current programs to an electronic ballot. The ballot will include a space for write-in candidates. The total will be calculated and the winner(s) announced prior to the spring meeting.
Each combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program which has a current
membership with the Association shall be allowed one vote in the yearly election, for changes to by-laws (see article X), and on any other matter on which the Executive Committee may desire a vote of the directors of Medicine-Pediatrics Programs. On all other matters of the Association, as defined by Article III, Part A, all current members may vote. "Current" is defined as having the dues for the member's program paid for the fiscal year.
Article IX. Annual Dues and Fiscal Matters
The Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors Association will levy annual dues, to be set by the Executive Committee. In addition, each program director is responsible in obtaining membership in the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and the
Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine. At the discretion of the executive committee, members may not receive mailings, participate on the list server, or be allowed to vote if dues are not paid.
The Executive Committee has the ways and means to generate revenues. However, the Association will not accept direct funding from the biotechnology, medical device, or pharmaceutical industries.
Article X–Amendments to the By-Laws
Review of the Bylaws shall be initiated by the Secretary-Treasurer on a yearly basis, prior to the spring meeting. Any changes shall be presented to, reviewed by, and agreed upon by the Executive Committee.
Amendments to the bylaws will be made in accordance with the following procedure:
1. A copy of the bylaws including the proposed changes will be presented to the
members prior to the spring meeting.
2. Members shall discuss the amendments and submit comments to the Executive
Committee.
3. A vote to approve the proposed amendments will be held prior to the spring
meeting.
4. The proposed amendments shall be adopted upon the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes received.
5. The election results will be presented in the Secretary-Treasurer’s annual report at the spring meeting.
Approved: 05/15/2006