Bylaws of the Women in Health, Medicine, & Science

ARTICLE I: THE NAME

Women in Health, Medicine, & Science (“WiHMS”).

 

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

The WiHMS is to fulfill the following objectives under the University of Utah Health Sciences Campus:

  1. To provide a forum or association wherein health care professionals and scientists are encouraged to consider, discuss, develop, and disseminate current knowledge and information concerning those issues unique to women in health, medicine, sciences, and related fields.
  2. To sponsor meetings, forums, seminars, and educational activities dealing with topics of interest to those health professionals, scientists, and educators within the University of Utah Health Sciences.
  3. To encourage publication of written material or presentation at regional and national meetings in gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in health, medicine and science.  
  4. To serve as a resource organization for women in health, medicine and sciences, and provide a support network for women during their training.
  5. To encourage participation by women at all levels on the University of Utah Health Science Campus (HSC).
  6. To participate in the planning, organization, and direction of joint activities, such as forums, workshops, and seminars in collaboration with organization outside of the University of Utah locally and nationally.

 

ARTICLE III: QUALIFICATION, ADMISSION, AND DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS

Section 1. Qualifications

Membership in the Association shall be limited to those individuals who satisfy the criteria for membership outlined in Section 2 of this Article, who are actively engaged in teaching, research and clinical activities  in health, medicine and science at the University of Utah.

Section 2. Admission

    1. Membership in the Association shall consist of four categories:

 

      1. Active members shall be defined as women health professionals, scientists, and educators under the University of Utah Health Sciences and shall be qualified to apply for the WiHMS Steering Committee. The Steering Committee members direct the ongoing activities of WiHMS. Each Steering Committee member represents a discipline within the health science campus.
      2. Steering Committee members shall be elected from all active members.
        1. The call for applications begins in the spring preceding the start of the next academic cycle.
      3. Advisory Board members shall be defined as a group of faculty and leadership representatives who make recommendations and suggestions on the WiHMS operation and activities. The Advisory members do not have a right to vote or hold office position. The advisory members can be both men or women or any gender.
      4. Members-in-training are defined as:
        1. Women health professionals enrolled in accredited training programs (residents and fellows)
        2. Women students under the University of Utah graduate schools under Health Sciences (School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, College of Health, College of Nursing)

Members-in-training
Members-in-training do not have voting privileges. Each school or college subcommittee acts to collaborate with Members-in-training based upon concerns related to WiHMS.

Section 3: Responsibilities of Co-directors of WiHMS

 

      1. The co-directors report to the Associate Vice President for Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion on matters of WiHMS.
      2. The co-directors collaborate with the Office of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development and University of Utah Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion with respect to the AAMC scholarship and career award selection processes.
      3. There are two co-directors of the WiHMS at the University of Utah, one of which must be selected from members of the School of Medicine. Both co-directors serve as the University of Utah representatives for the AAMC (American Associations for Medical College).
      4. The co-directors of WiHMS are responsible for overseeing the mission and vision of the WiHMS chapter at the University of Utah Health Campus. The co-directors guide all of the activities of WiHMS, including WiHMS-sponsored and WiHMS co-sponsored events, the selection of scholarship recipients to Health Sciences Campus leadership training seminars, the selection of the Gardner Prize winner. The co-directors represent WiHMS in related endeavors across the campus including but not limited to the Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN), the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), University of Utah Women Leaders in Global Health, and the Campus Childcare Committee/Taskforce.
      5. The co-directors of WiHMS also report to the Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Section 4. Responsibilities of WiHMS Steering Committee

      1. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are responsible for long-term strategy and external and public policy for all women in our organization, working collaboratively with the director of University of Utah Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion as well as Faculty Development.
      2. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are expected to help any faculty members who are applying to the AAMC early and mid-career scholarship or any other scholarship opportunities.
      3. The WiHMS Steering Committee members shall have the responsibilities to enhance the voice of women faculty, trainees, and students of each college and school and bring any relevant issues to the WiHMS Steering Committee from their respective school or college.
      4. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are expected to organize at least one meeting or workshop within the school or college that she represents and report the status of women in each school and college to the WiHMS Steering Committee.
      5. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are expected to attend the monthly Steering Committee meeting at least 50% of the time. Failure to comply with the requirements may terminate the Steering Committee membership prior to the three year-term.
      6. The WiHMS Steering Committee is comprised of three faculty from the School of Medicine, one faculty from the School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, College of Health, College of Pharmacy, and health science library, as well as two co-directors; one from the School of Medicine and one from the disciplines above.

Section 5: Selection of WiHMS Co-directors

      1. The co-directors of WiHMS are selected from the WiHMS Steering Committee members two months before the term of one of the co-directors ends. The nomination must be approved first by the Associate Vice Dean for Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion as well as Chair of their department.
      2. As one of the co-directors must be from members of the School of Medicine, the other director must come from one of the remaining HSC units (School of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Health, and Health Science Library).
      3. The term of the co-directors of WiHMS is three years, non-renewable.
      4. The immediate past co-director of WiHMS serves on the Steering Committee for at least one year and participates in voting on matters concerning issues specific to WiHMS.

Section 6: Selection of WiHMS Steering Committee

      1. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are selected by the open application call to faculty members of the Health Science community. The call for application is sent by the beginning of March each year for the opening position. 
      2. The Nominating Committee (see Articles VI) shall select a slate of candidates and participate in the interview process. The committee consensus makes the final selection. The nominating committee chair notifies new WiHMS Steering Committee members to the AVP HEDI.
      3. When a WiHMS Steering Committee member position falls vacant because of illness, resignation, removal with or without cause, or disability, the WiHMS Steering Committee shall appoint a replacement to complete the term in progress.
      4. The term of WiHMS Steering Committee appointments is three years. At least 25% of the members rotate off each year. 

Section 7: WIHMS Programming

      1. Quarterly Seminars/workshops shall be offered to faculty/students during the academic year. 
      2. The WiHMS Steering Committee shall determine the date, place, time as well as focused topics and speakers. The written notice of the events is distributed through the WiHMS office through campus emails or other communication mechanisms.
      3. The WiHMS Steering Committee members are encouraged to collaborate with trainees and students in each college or school to host a yearly event to address gender related issues in their respected discipline. 

Section 8: WiHMS Advisory Committee

WiHMS encompasses the large health sciences campus, and as such may overlook topics that relevant to the individual college/school. To enhance our impact to address any gender-related issues on the University of Utah Health Science campus, the Advisory Committee can be a supporting body to advocate for women in our organization. WiHMS co-directors and Steering Committee members meet with the Advisory committee biannually to improve communication across the campus.

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES

      1. Awards Committee shall include co-directors of WiHMS and two other Steering Committee members, who closely work together with the Office of Faculty Development to determine the AAMC early and mid-career scholarship awards and other scholarship and awards within the organization.  
      2. Nominating Committee. The co-directors of WiHMS shall chair the nominating committee. The Nominating Committee consists of at least 5 Steering Committee members that continue their duty beyond the following year.

 

ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these bylaws must be approved at the WiHMS Steering Committee or via electronic voting by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members present.

  

 Last edited on July 20, 2020

 

Contact Us

Phone: 801-587-9917

Email: wihms@hsc.utah.edu

University of Utah Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
26 South 2000 East
5750B HSEB
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

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