SECTION 4.01 - Classes of Membership
There shall be the following classes of membership in this Association: Charter Member, Active Member, Associate Member, Member Emeritus, Inactive Member, International Member, Honorary Member, Orthoptist Member, Affiliate Member, Administrator Member, Candidate Member (which includes Candidate-in-Training and International Candidate-in-Training sub-categories), Resident Member, and Student Member.
SECTION 4.02 - Charter Member
An ophthalmologist who joined the Association at the time of the founding of the Association and who was actively engaged in instruction, research, or patient care in the field of Pediatric Ophthalmology or Strabismus was designated a Charter Member. A list of Charter Members was established and closed by the first Board of Directors.
A Charter Member shall have the right to vote and hold office as long as he or she meets the requirements of Active membership.
SECTION 4.03 - Active Member
A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery, residing and actively practicing in the United States or in Canada, and who is certified in ophthalmology by either the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American Osteopathic Association, or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and who is in good standing as an Active Fellow of either the American Academy of Ophthalmology; the American Osteopathic College; or an Active Member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and who has completed one year of fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus under direction of an AAPOS Member (for fellowships completed in 1996 or earlier) or who has satisfactorily completed an AAPOS approved fellowship program (for fellowships completed after 1996 and before 2006) or who has satisfactorily completed an Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee compliant fellowship in 2006 or later, and who has completed one year of practice in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus, and whose current practice consists of at least 75% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus is eligible to apply to become an Active Member. In exceptional cases, the board of directors may authorize active membership if the applicant meets most of the requirements.
An Active Member shall have the right to vote and hold office.
SECTION 4.04 - Associate Member
A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery in one or more of the United States or in Canada, and who is certified in ophthalmology by either the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American Osteopathic Association, or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and who is in good standing as either an Active Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology; the American Osteopathic College; or an Active Member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and who has made a significant commitment to the field of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and who meets one of the following criteria: (a) completion of a six month fellowship training program in pediatric ophthalmology or strabismus and two years in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus; (b) completion of a two year preceptorship with an AAPOS Member and one year in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus; or (c) no fellowship training program but five years in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus, is eligible to apply to become an Associate Member.
An Associate Member shall have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.05 - Member Emeritus
A Charter Member, Active Member, Associate Member, International Member, Honorary Member, or Orthoptist Member who is in good standing with AAPOS, who has been such a member for ten or more years, and who is completely retired from the financially compensated clinical practice of pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus (excluding nominal payments for volunteering for clinics or international work), is eligible to apply to become a Member Emeritus in his or her previous category of membership. An Emeritus Member who resumes the clinical practice of pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus, even on a part-time basis, must notify AAPOS within 60 days, and he or she will no longer be eligible for Emeritus status.
A Member Emeritus shall have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.06 - Inactive Member
A member in any class of membership who is no longer actively engaged in instruction, research, or patient care in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus for at least one year, but who is not permanently retired, and whose license to practice medicine remains valid and unrestricted may request inactive status. Determination of the grounds for eligibility for this status and approval of an individual application shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Upon removal of the grounds upon which this status had been granted by the Board of Directors, an Inactive Member shall resume the class of membership held prior to entering inactive status, or may apply to transfer to another class for which he or she fulfills the eligibility criteria.
An Inactive Member shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.07 - International Member
A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and who meets one of the following criteria: (a) completion of a six-month fellowship training program in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus and two years in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus; (b) completion of a two year preceptorship with an AAPOS Member and one year in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus; (c) no fellowship training program, but five years practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus; or (d) one year of fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus under the direction of an AAPOS Member and one year in practice consisting of at least 50% pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus is eligible to apply to become an International Member.
An International Member shall have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.08 - Honorary Member
An individual of outstanding caliber, who has made a major contribution in the fields of pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus, may be elected to Honorary Membership by the Board of Directors.
An Honorary Member shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.09 - Orthoptist Member
An orthoptist who has been certified by either the American Orthoptic Council or the Canadian Orthoptic Council, or an orthoptist whose country has full membership status in the International Orthoptic Association shall be eligible to apply to become an Orthoptist Member.
An Orthoptist Member shall have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.10 - Affiliate Member
A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery in one or more of the United States or in Canada who is:
- Certified in ophthalmology by either the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American Osteopathic Association, or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and who is in good standing as an Active Fellow of either the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Osteopathic College, or an Active Member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society
- Or, a PhD or physician practicing outside the field of ophthalmology; and has demonstrated contributions to the field of pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus and is not eligible for another class of AAPOS membership and has been nominated by three active AAPOS members.
An Affiliate Member shall have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.11 - Administrator Member
An individual who is a practice manager or administrator for an Active, Associate, or Emeritus member’s practice may apply to become an Administrator Member. The Active, Associate or Emeritus member shall verify the applicant’s role in their practice by completing a reference, once the application is submitted. Should that role change, the administrator member and/or the Active, Associate or Emeritus member shall notify AAPOS.
Administrator applicants will be reviewed by the Membership Committee with confirmation by the Board of Directors.
An Administrator Member shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.12 - Candidate Member
SECTION 4.12.1 - Candidate-In-Training
A physician who is engaged on a full-time basis in an Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology Fellowship Compliance Committee compliant fellowship shall be eligible to apply for the status of Candidate-in-Training. An individual is eligible for the category of Candidate-in-Training for the duration of the fellowship program plus two years for a total not to exceed four years. Applicants for the Candidate-in-Training category will be reviewed and considered by the Membership Committee with confirmation by the Board of Directors. Admission as a Candidate-in-Training does not waive any requirement, including maintaining active and unrestricted licensure, necessary for any category of membership.
A Candidate-in-Training shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.12.2 - International Candidate-In-Training
A physician who is engaged on a full-time basis in a fellowship for international physicians consisting of a two year preceptorship with an Active AAPOS Member, International Member, or Emeritus Member, or a program of fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus of at least six months under the direction of an Active AAPOS Member, International Member, or Emeritus Member, shall be eligible to apply for the status of International Candidate-in-Training. An individual is eligible for the category of International Candidate-in-Training for the duration of the fellowship program plus one year for a total not to exceed three years. Applicants for the International Candidate-in-Training category will be reviewed and considered by the Membership Committee with confirmation by the Board of Directors. Admission as an International Candidate-in-Training does not waive any requirement necessary for any category of membership.
An International Candidate-in-Training shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.13 - Resident Member
A resident physician enrolled in a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in ophthalmology or in a one year preliminary program before entering an ophthalmology residency, or a graduate of an American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)- or Committee On Accreditation Of Canadian Medical Schools (CAMCS (CAMCE))- or Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)- accredited medical school or resident physician participating actively in a post-graduate research program under the direction of an Active Member or Emeritus Member, may apply to become a Resident Member. An Active Member or Emeritus Member shall verify the applicant’s role in their program or research by completing a reference, once the application is submitted. An individual is eligible for the category of Resident Member for the duration of their residency training. Resident Members who qualify based on research participation alone must reapply every year. Resident Member applicants will be reviewed by the Membership Committee with confirmation by the Board of Directors. Admission as a Resident Member does not waive any requirement necessary for any category of membership, except that medical school graduates participating in research only shall be exempted from the requirement of holding an active or provisional medical license.
A Resident Member shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.14 - Student Member
A medical student attending an American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)- or Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CAMCS (CAMCE))- or Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)- accredited medical school may apply to become a Student Member. An Active Member or Emeritus Member shall verify the applicant’s role in their training or research by completing a reference, once the application is submitted. An individual is eligible for the category of Student Member for the duration of their medical school training. Student Member applicants will be reviewed by the Membership Committee with confirmation by the Board of Directors. Admission as a Student Member does not waive any requirement necessary for any category of membership, except that Student Members shall be exempted from the requirement of holding a medical degree.
A Student Member shall not have the right to vote and shall be ineligible to hold office.
SECTION 4.15 - Approval for Membership at Annual Meeting
Candidates for membership as Active, Affiliate, Associate, International, and Orthoptist members shall be voted upon at the Business Session of the Annual Meeting following recommendations by the Board of Directors. Membership approval requires an affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the members eligible to vote and voting at the Annual Meeting in person, by electronic ballot or by absentee ballot according to procedural rules. The individual’s vote shall be by written or electronic ballot if negative comment is present in discussion of any candidate.
SECTION 4.16 - Loss of Membership and Other Sanctions; Reinstatement
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A member shall lose his or her membership for becoming delinquent in the payment of dues for more than six (6) months, or for the failure to maintain an active and unrestricted license or certificate, as applicable, to practice his or her profession. For purposes of this subsection, a license or certificate ceases to be active and unrestricted if it is in any manner and to any extent whatsoever revoked, conditioned, suspended, limited, qualified, subjected to the terms of probation or restricted by a court, department, board or administrative agency.
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A member shall lose his or her membership, or have his or her membership suspended, or shall be subject to a public or a private reprimand if he or she engages in ethical violations or other egregious conduct that would be generally unacceptable to the membership of the Association. Without limiting the foregoing, a final determination of a violation of the Code of Ethics of the American Academy of Ophthalmology shall be presumed to constitute an ethical violation for purposes of this subsection.
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A member of groups specified in sections 4.04-4.14 (excluding section 4.08, Honorary Members) is subject to loss of his or her membership, or have his or her membership suspended if he or she fails to continuously meet the eligibility requirements specified in the section granting them membership.
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In rare cases, a member also may be subject to termination or suspension by a 3/4 vote of the Board of Directors for actions that either are deleterious to the purposes of the Association, or are offensive to the dignity of the Association.
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In all matters arising under Section 4.12, the member shall receive at least fifteen (15) days' prior written notice of the proposed termination or suspension and the reasons for it, and shall be entitled to oppose the proposed termination or suspension in whole or in part by written submission to the Board of Directors, which must be received by the Association's Executive Vice President at least five (5) days before the effective date of the proposed termination or suspension. Upon receipt of a timely written submission from the member, the effective date of the proposed termination or suspension or other sanction shall be stayed pending review by the Board of Directors of the submission, and its vote as to whether to affirm, vacate, or modify the proposed termination or suspension or other sanction.
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A favorable vote by 2/3 of the Board of Directors shall be required for reinstatement of a former member who has lost his or her membership.
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The provisions of this Section shall apply to all classes of membership and to Candidates-in-Training. The Board of Directors may, for sufficient reasons in exceptional cases, set aside the provisions of this Section, subject to any conditions that in its judgment are appropriate.