Candidate Views on the Amendment to the ByLaws
Fred Gottlieb, M.D.
Candidate for President-Elect
This cosmetic proposal neither goes far enough nor presents several potentially preferable alternatives. A conflicted Board, trying to demonstrate some size reduction, rationalized a tiny cost saving as urgent and voted against seeking meaningful additional Assembly feedback. Member input is desirable, not superfluous. For content and process reasons, vote “No.”
Michelle B. Riba, M.D., M.S.
Candidate for President-Elect
I favor the amendment. Decreasing the numbers of APA officers will reduce costs and hopefully improve the efficiency of the leaders’ work effort. Including the immediate past president on the Executive Committee will strengthen continuity and follow through on important issues and provide a thoughtful and experienced perspective.
Norman A. Clemens, M.D.
Candidate for Vice President
I strongly favor the amendment as a way to tighten up the structure and enhance the function of the Board and Executive Committee, reduce governance costs, and make progression through various officer positions less automatic. I urge all members to exercise their right to vote on the Bylaws amendment.
Pedro Ruiz, M.D.
Candidate for Vice President
I favor the recommended Bylaws amendment. It will help to decrease the APA budget and hopefully the APA membership dues as well. However, I welcome the vote of the entire membership as a significant guidance in this respect. The opinion of the Assembly is also very much welcomed.
Alfred Herzog, M.D.
Candidate for Secretary
I do not support this amendment. APA, at a time of budget shortfalls, internal reorganization, and a refocusing of our priorities, desperately needs a vigorous senior leadership team composed of a “full-fledged” treasurer, secretary, vice president (or president-elect), and president.
Nada L. Stotland, M.D., M.P.H.
Candidate for Secretary
We could manage our current work with a smaller Board, but that only makes sense as part of a thorough review and realignment of the structures and functions of all APA committees, Board, Assembly, and staff. I have been an active advocate of and participant in that process.
Tanya R. Anderson, M.D.
Candidate for ECP Trustee-at-Large
Having reviewed various perspectives on this issue as a member of the Committee on Bylaws, I am in favor of this amendment. This is a timely, responsible, and cost-saving measure the Board has approved. I urge you, first of all, to vote, and then to support this amendment.
Charles Price, M.D.
Candidate for ECP Trustee-at-Large
The Board of Trustees must lead by example. Decreasing the Board by two positions continues the trimming of Board expenses; therefore, I support the amendment. Other ways to approach the cost-containment issue and improve responsiveness and efficiency must be explored. The membership deserves a fiscally responsible Board of Trustees.
Drew Ramsey, M.D.
Candidate for Member-in-Training Trustee-Elect
I support the amendment. Including the immediate past president on the Executive Committee should provide continuity making our organization more effective in achieving long-term goals. If implemented, we should evaluate the elimination and combination of other elected positions to ensure these changes do not compromise the Association.
Susan D. Rich, M.D., M.P.H.
Candidate for Member-in-Training Trustee-Elect
I favor the amendment.
William C. Wood, M.D.
Candidate for Member-in-Training Trustee-Elect
I support the changes in the proposed amendment approved by the APA Board. The Long Range Budget and Planning Task Force has clearly made a thoughtful proposal in an effort to cut costs and streamline the Board while maintaining the ability of the Board to effectively serve the APA membership.
Jack S. Brandes, M.D., Ph.D.
Candidate for Area 1 Trustee
The changes proposed in this amendment provide little in the way of cost savings and minimal functional improvement for the Board. The Board itself was not unanimous in proposing the amendment to the membership. It is “much ado about nothing”—and I will not support it.
Donna M. Norris, M.D.
Candidate for Area 1 Trustee
I support these amendment changes, which move APA toward less bureaucracy and more accountability to members.
R. Michael Pearce, M.D.
Candidate for Area 4 Trustee
I support the amendment. In recent years significant cuts were made in the expenses of the Assembly and the components. I applaud the attempt of the Board of Trustees to join in the effort to reduce expenses and to move toward greater efficiency in meeting the needs of our members.
Sidney H. Weissman, M.D.
Candidate for Area 4 Trustee
Oppose Bylaws change. APA renewal and reorganization require involvement of all APA constituencies. The Board of Trustees should not reorganize itself without full involvement of all constituencies. We must spend this coming year looking at how to best organize our Board and present our best proposal to members for approval.
Nady El-Guebaly, M.D.
Candidate for Area 7 Trustee
The Board must lead by example. I support the amendment.
Albert V. Vogel, M.D.
Candidate for Area 7 Trustee
I support reduction in the size of the Board, and I urge adoption of the amendments to the Bylaws that would permit this reduction.
