Becoming an AGA committee chair as an early-career physician

One of the cornerstones of member engagement within the American Gastroenterological Association is its committees, which provide a platform for AGA members to network, effect change at the institutional level, and obtain leadership positions. For many within the AGA, exposure to these committees occurs during training. Both of us were first introduced to the possibility of serving on an AGA committee by faculty members at our institution. Each year, applications for available committee positions open in the fall and are due on Nov. 1. While you can be nominated by other members, self-nomination is common and encouraged. Truthfully, neither of us was quite certain what committee membership would entail. However, we both applied to several committees because we knew that it would be an excellent opportunity to network with leading gastroenterologists across the country and to have the ability to become involved in key AGA programs.

We were selected to serve 2-year terms as trainee members on the Government Affairs and Publication Committees, respectively, which gave us a deeper understanding of how an organization with both a full-time professional staff and group of volunteer members functions. A unique feature of the AGA is its Trainee and Early Career (TEC) Committee, which mainly comprises trainee members who serve on other committees. By virtue of our roles with the other committees, we also became full-fledged members of the TEC committee, which is dedicated to enhancing the experience for trainees and those who are within 5 years of graduation.

One of the most innovative programs developed by the TEC committee is Career Development Workshops, which is a webinar series focused on important topics not covered in fellowship, such as different career paths, personal finance, and how to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in the field. The predecessor of the Career Development Workshops was the in-person Regional Practice Skills Workshop, and we both took on the responsibility of planning and organizing separate workshops. For one of us (Stephanie), that involved enlisting our fellowship program to host the event. For the other (Peter), it meant collaborating with our local gastroenterology society to cosponsor the workshop. It was extremely rewarding to organize the workshops, which allowed us to work closely with AGA staff and local gastroenterology faculty, as well as our peers, to bring the events to fruition. For both of us, the success of the Regional Practice Skills Workshop was one of the highlights of our tenure on the TEC committee.

 

Although we were not aware of it at the time, volunteering to plan a workshop and assisting with other projects and subcommittees were signs of enthusiasm and leadership that the AGA recognized and valued. Our advice on becoming a committee chair is to not only show an interest in committee projects but also to turn that interest into action. A committee member who is strongly interested in a leadership position cannot expect to transition into that role by being a “silent but present” member. You need to do more than just show up. You should actively participate in projects, engage in discussions, and devote your time and energy to ensure the success of committee programs. However, you should also make sure to have sufficient bandwidth to make meaningful contributions to each project and not commit to tasks that you cannot complete. To set yourself apart on a committee, it is important to be actively engaged and committed to a project (or two) that allows for professional growth and visibility. Ideally, you will become an integral part of a committee that sparks your drive to serve.

Applying to become a committee chair follows the same process and timeline as for any other committee position, and you can be nominated or self-nominate. Although previous experience on that specific committee is not a prerequisite for most chair positions, having previously served on any AGA committee or task force is generally required. Successful applicants serve for 1 year as chair-elect, during which they work closely with the outgoing chair and staff to ensure a smooth transition when their 3-year term as chair officially begins in June.

Each committee has a guiding mission statement and a staff liaison who provides institutional knowledge and logistical support. However, the committee members, and especially the chair, have considerable latitude to develop and implement new initiatives or retire old ones. The entire committee meets twice per year, once in September in Washington, D.C., and once at DDW. Between the meetings, working groups are formed to move the various programs forward. In addition to the Career Development Workshops, the TEC committee organizes the Young Delegates program (which allows any AGA member to volunteer on small, time-limited projects), a symposium at DDW focused on trainee and early career issues, and a networking event at DDW. Moreover, we collaborate with other committees and provide input from the perspective of younger members on larger initiatives such as the AGA Equity Project and Career Compass.

As chair, we lead the twice-yearly meetings as well as the working groups. We strongly encourage all committee members to participate on at least one working group, which develops leadership skills and provides the opportunity to moderate sessions for the Career Development Workshops and DDW symposium. Moreover, we solicit feedback on ways to improve current programming, start new initiatives, and work with other committees that the TEC committee members are part of. Trainees and early career members are seen as a key constituency group within the AGA, and we take the responsibility of increasing the value of membership for this group seriously.

As early-career physicians ourselves, we also view the chance to serve as a committee chair as a great career development opportunity. It allows us to expand our professional networks, help shape an organization that is a leading voice and advocate for digestive health, and meet the needs of young members who are the future of the AGA.

There is no doubt that all of you have achieved amazing things on the way to becoming a trainee or early career professional in the competitive fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. The AGA is constantly looking for bright, motivated individuals to serve as volunteers and future leaders. Our experience shows that with a bit of persistence to get in the door – through Young Delegates or a committee – along with lots of hard work along the way, you will be in a great position to rise through the ranks and help lead an organization at the vanguard of our field.

Dr. Liang is assistant professor of medicine and population health, New York University Langone Health, and a staff physician at VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Dr. Pointer is a founder and managing partner of Digestive and Liver Health Specialists. She is on staff as a clinical gastroenterologist at Tristar Hendersonville (Tenn.) Medical Center. They have no conflicts of interest.

One of the cornerstones of member engagement within the American Gastroenterological Association is its committees, which provide a platform for AGA members to network, effect change at the institutional level, and obtain leadership positions. For many within the AGA, exposure to these committees occurs during training. Both of us were first introduced to the possibility of serving on an AGA committee by faculty members at our institution. Each year, applications for available committee positions open in the fall and are due on Nov. 1. While you can be nominated by other members, self-nomination is common and encouraged. Truthfully, neither of us was quite certain what committee membership would entail. However, we both applied to several committees because we knew that it would be an excellent opportunity to network with leading gastroenterologists across the country and to have the ability to become involved in key AGA programs.

We were selected to serve 2-year terms as trainee members on the Government Affairs and Publication Committees, respectively, which gave us a deeper understanding of how an organization with both a full-time professional staff and group of volunteer members functions. A unique feature of the AGA is its Trainee and Early Career (TEC) Committee, which mainly comprises trainee members who serve on other committees. By virtue of our roles with the other committees, we also became full-fledged members of the TEC committee, which is dedicated to enhancing the experience for trainees and those who are within 5 years of graduation.

One of the most innovative programs developed by the TEC committee is Career Development Workshops, which is a webinar series focused on important topics not covered in fellowship, such as different career paths, personal finance, and how to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in the field. The predecessor of the Career Development Workshops was the in-person Regional Practice Skills Workshop, and we both took on the responsibility of planning and organizing separate workshops. For one of us (Stephanie), that involved enlisting our fellowship program to host the event. For the other (Peter), it meant collaborating with our local gastroenterology society to cosponsor the workshop. It was extremely rewarding to organize the workshops, which allowed us to work closely with AGA staff and local gastroenterology faculty, as well as our peers, to bring the events to fruition. For both of us, the success of the Regional Practice Skills Workshop was one of the highlights of our tenure on the TEC committee.

 

Although we were not aware of it at the time, volunteering to plan a workshop and assisting with other projects and subcommittees were signs of enthusiasm and leadership that the AGA recognized and valued. Our advice on becoming a committee chair is to not only show an interest in committee projects but also to turn that interest into action. A committee member who is strongly interested in a leadership position cannot expect to transition into that role by being a “silent but present” member. You need to do more than just show up. You should actively participate in projects, engage in discussions, and devote your time and energy to ensure the success of committee programs. However, you should also make sure to have sufficient bandwidth to make meaningful contributions to each project and not commit to tasks that you cannot complete. To set yourself apart on a committee, it is important to be actively engaged and committed to a project (or two) that allows for professional growth and visibility. Ideally, you will become an integral part of a committee that sparks your drive to serve.

Applying to become a committee chair follows the same process and timeline as for any other committee position, and you can be nominated or self-nominate. Although previous experience on that specific committee is not a prerequisite for most chair positions, having previously served on any AGA committee or task force is generally required. Successful applicants serve for 1 year as chair-elect, during which they work closely with the outgoing chair and staff to ensure a smooth transition when their 3-year term as chair officially begins in June.

Each committee has a guiding mission statement and a staff liaison who provides institutional knowledge and logistical support. However, the committee members, and especially the chair, have considerable latitude to develop and implement new initiatives or retire old ones. The entire committee meets twice per year, once in September in Washington, D.C., and once at DDW. Between the meetings, working groups are formed to move the various programs forward. In addition to the Career Development Workshops, the TEC committee organizes the Young Delegates program (which allows any AGA member to volunteer on small, time-limited projects), a symposium at DDW focused on trainee and early career issues, and a networking event at DDW. Moreover, we collaborate with other committees and provide input from the perspective of younger members on larger initiatives such as the AGA Equity Project and Career Compass.

As chair, we lead the twice-yearly meetings as well as the working groups. We strongly encourage all committee members to participate on at least one working group, which develops leadership skills and provides the opportunity to moderate sessions for the Career Development Workshops and DDW symposium. Moreover, we solicit feedback on ways to improve current programming, start new initiatives, and work with other committees that the TEC committee members are part of. Trainees and early career members are seen as a key constituency group within the AGA, and we take the responsibility of increasing the value of membership for this group seriously.

As early-career physicians ourselves, we also view the chance to serve as a committee chair as a great career development opportunity. It allows us to expand our professional networks, help shape an organization that is a leading voice and advocate for digestive health, and meet the needs of young members who are the future of the AGA.

There is no doubt that all of you have achieved amazing things on the way to becoming a trainee or early career professional in the competitive fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. The AGA is constantly looking for bright, motivated individuals to serve as volunteers and future leaders. Our experience shows that with a bit of persistence to get in the door – through Young Delegates or a committee – along with lots of hard work along the way, you will be in a great position to rise through the ranks and help lead an organization at the vanguard of our field.

Dr. Liang is assistant professor of medicine and population health, New York University Langone Health, and a staff physician at VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Dr. Pointer is a founder and managing partner of Digestive and Liver Health Specialists. She is on staff as a clinical gastroenterologist at Tristar Hendersonville (Tenn.) Medical Center. They have no conflicts of interest.

One of the cornerstones of member engagement within the American Gastroenterological Association is its committees, which provide a platform for AGA members to network, effect change at the institutional level, and obtain leadership positions. For many within the AGA, exposure to these committees occurs during training. Both of us were first introduced to the possibility of serving on an AGA committee by faculty members at our institution. Each year, applications for available committee positions open in the fall and are due on Nov. 1. While you can be nominated by other members, self-nomination is common and encouraged. Truthfully, neither of us was quite certain what committee membership would entail. However, we both applied to several committees because we knew that it would be an excellent opportunity to network with leading gastroenterologists across the country and to have the ability to become involved in key AGA programs.

We were selected to serve 2-year terms as trainee members on the Government Affairs and Publication Committees, respectively, which gave us a deeper understanding of how an organization with both a full-time professional staff and group of volunteer members functions. A unique feature of the AGA is its Trainee and Early Career (TEC) Committee, which mainly comprises trainee members who serve on other committees. By virtue of our roles with the other committees, we also became full-fledged members of the TEC committee, which is dedicated to enhancing the experience for trainees and those who are within 5 years of graduation.

One of the most innovative programs developed by the TEC committee is Career Development Workshops, which is a webinar series focused on important topics not covered in fellowship, such as different career paths, personal finance, and how to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in the field. The predecessor of the Career Development Workshops was the in-person Regional Practice Skills Workshop, and we both took on the responsibility of planning and organizing separate workshops. For one of us (Stephanie), that involved enlisting our fellowship program to host the event. For the other (Peter), it meant collaborating with our local gastroenterology society to cosponsor the workshop. It was extremely rewarding to organize the workshops, which allowed us to work closely with AGA staff and local gastroenterology faculty, as well as our peers, to bring the events to fruition. For both of us, the success of the Regional Practice Skills Workshop was one of the highlights of our tenure on the TEC committee.

 

Although we were not aware of it at the time, volunteering to plan a workshop and assisting with other projects and subcommittees were signs of enthusiasm and leadership that the AGA recognized and valued. Our advice on becoming a committee chair is to not only show an interest in committee projects but also to turn that interest into action. A committee member who is strongly interested in a leadership position cannot expect to transition into that role by being a “silent but present” member. You need to do more than just show up. You should actively participate in projects, engage in discussions, and devote your time and energy to ensure the success of committee programs. However, you should also make sure to have sufficient bandwidth to make meaningful contributions to each project and not commit to tasks that you cannot complete. To set yourself apart on a committee, it is important to be actively engaged and committed to a project (or two) that allows for professional growth and visibility. Ideally, you will become an integral part of a committee that sparks your drive to serve.

Applying to become a committee chair follows the same process and timeline as for any other committee position, and you can be nominated or self-nominate. Although previous experience on that specific committee is not a prerequisite for most chair positions, having previously served on any AGA committee or task force is generally required. Successful applicants serve for 1 year as chair-elect, during which they work closely with the outgoing chair and staff to ensure a smooth transition when their 3-year term as chair officially begins in June.

Each committee has a guiding mission statement and a staff liaison who provides institutional knowledge and logistical support. However, the committee members, and especially the chair, have considerable latitude to develop and implement new initiatives or retire old ones. The entire committee meets twice per year, once in September in Washington, D.C., and once at DDW. Between the meetings, working groups are formed to move the various programs forward. In addition to the Career Development Workshops, the TEC committee organizes the Young Delegates program (which allows any AGA member to volunteer on small, time-limited projects), a symposium at DDW focused on trainee and early career issues, and a networking event at DDW. Moreover, we collaborate with other committees and provide input from the perspective of younger members on larger initiatives such as the AGA Equity Project and Career Compass.

As chair, we lead the twice-yearly meetings as well as the working groups. We strongly encourage all committee members to participate on at least one working group, which develops leadership skills and provides the opportunity to moderate sessions for the Career Development Workshops and DDW symposium. Moreover, we solicit feedback on ways to improve current programming, start new initiatives, and work with other committees that the TEC committee members are part of. Trainees and early career members are seen as a key constituency group within the AGA, and we take the responsibility of increasing the value of membership for this group seriously.

As early-career physicians ourselves, we also view the chance to serve as a committee chair as a great career development opportunity. It allows us to expand our professional networks, help shape an organization that is a leading voice and advocate for digestive health, and meet the needs of young members who are the future of the AGA.

There is no doubt that all of you have achieved amazing things on the way to becoming a trainee or early career professional in the competitive fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. The AGA is constantly looking for bright, motivated individuals to serve as volunteers and future leaders. Our experience shows that with a bit of persistence to get in the door – through Young Delegates or a committee – along with lots of hard work along the way, you will be in a great position to rise through the ranks and help lead an organization at the vanguard of our field.

Dr. Liang is assistant professor of medicine and population health, New York University Langone Health, and a staff physician at VA New York Harbor Health Care System. Dr. Pointer is a founder and managing partner of Digestive and Liver Health Specialists. She is on staff as a clinical gastroenterologist at Tristar Hendersonville (Tenn.) Medical Center. They have no conflicts of interest.