AAPS made big changes in 2018.
By Christopher R. McCurdy, Ph.D., FAAPS, President
It is hard to believe that my year as AAPS president is coming to a close. It has been a pleasure to work with AAPS members and staff and to meet our members as I traveled the globe. This year saw many changes as AAPS responded to member needs and desires in many areas.
Primary among those changes was the just-finished new AAPS meeting, PharmSci 360. We designed a brand new meeting to allow greater collaboration between chemical- and biological-focused scientists, provide an engaging learning experience, showcase new research, and highlight cross-discipline learning experiences on hot topics. Although we added new features to the 2017 events, we believed we could best serve members with one, newly designed meeting to replace both the National Biotechnology Conference and the Annual Meeting and Exposition.
We spent more than a year designing and planning PharmSci 360, working with consultants to learn innovative practices that increase attendee takeaways from each session. We surveyed members to learn their top priorities and expectations. Furthermore, we expanded programming to provide a variety of sessions covering current science, prepublication work, posters, and career development. The result was dynamic and engaging and delivered great science.
Another major change this year was converting AAPS sections and focus groups into AAPS Communities. We launched the communities in the fall of 2017 as an online “laboratory,” where AAPS members can exchange knowledge and ideas, test out new theories, network with other scientists, share resources, and work together to advance their careers and the pharmaceutical sciences. The communities offer a place to converse with colleagues, share expertise, and get questions answered. AAPS has completed the transition from sections and focus groups to communities. We have more than 40 community groups, each with a dynamic online discussion board. We anticipate this community growth to continue. Want to be part of the conversation? Check out your group community, or if you have not yet joined a community, I urge you to join one in your area of expertise, or start a new one by contacting Maria Nadeau (+1.703.248.4709 or NadeauM@aaps.org).
Also in 2018, AAPS revamped its awards program. An awards committee worked very hard to develop a new program based on the AAPS mission, vision, and strategic plan that would increase the prestige and recognition AAPS awards bring to our scientists and their work. The new program recognizes achievements in three primary areas: science, leadership, and service. Among the awardees announced at PharmSci 360 were the following:
- Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award:
Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., FAAPS
- AAPS Distinguished Service Award:
Marilyn E. Morris, Ph.D., FAAPS
- Global Leader Award:
Vinod P. Shah, Ph.D., FAAPS
- Pharmaceutical Global Health Award:
Stephen R. Byrn, Ph.D., FAAPS
- Emerging Leader:
James J. Moon, Ph.D.
To learn more about these members, look for their profiles in AAPS Newsmagazine in 2019. AAPS awards also recognized outstanding manuscripts, best abstracts, and importantly, our student chapters.
In 2017, AAPS reviewed its governance and structure and discovered ways to strengthen AAPS to provide the best possible experience for members. As a result, we updated the organization’s bylaws to stay current with association management best practices and ensure protection of members’ rights and obligations. Members voted in 2018 to accept the proposed changes to the bylaws that included:
- renaming the AAPS Executive Council as the AAPS Board of Directors to clarify governance roles;
- refining the role of the AAPS Treasurer to reflect the position’s fiduciary duty in oversight, rather than day-to-day management of the organization;
- clarifying that all dues-paying AAPS members have the same rights and privileges in the organization; and
- adding official notice periods for governance meetings and member votes.
Like all changes, these new and revised programs require a period of adjustment. We expect to continue to learn which programs and services our members value and how best to provide activities and events that help them excel in their work. We value and welcome your feedback!
In closing, thanks to all the member volunteers, board members, and staff for their support, their tireless work, and what together we have accomplished during my tenure. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve our association. I wish Dale Eric Wurster, Ph.D., the best of luck as he takes the helm, and I will stay engaged as past-president. With Professor Wurster’s history of accomplishments aided by the dedicated volunteers and staff, I’m sure AAPS will thrive in the coming year.