Guidelines for Special Interest Groups (SIGs) within the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators
The establishment of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) within the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators is intended to facilitate interaction and action within focused areas of osteopathic medical education.
SIG benefits to members:
- Shared information, viewpoints and experiences within special interest lines
- Collaboration across the continuum of osteopathic medical education (OME)
- Member initiated development of new activities and services
- Opportunities for individuals to actively participate in the Society
- Emergence of a spokesperson(s) for an interest group
- Member-drive, formal, recognized groups that can enhance the potential for support from funding sources
SIG benefits to the Society and AACOM:
- Broadening of the knowledge base and information exchange relevant to OME
- A more effective representation of interests within the Society
- Increased Society membership base
- Identification and encouragment of new talents
- More effective representation with other public and private agencies on behalf of the Society
- Identification of expertise in specific areas for AACOM to draw from
- Source for Society proposals to the Board of Deans for policy change within OME
We recognize that, at this early stage of organization, the Society’s SIGs may vary considerably in terms of scope and purpose. A positive response by the membership may necessitate the need for further layers of structure such as establishing both ‘sections’ and ‘special interest groups’ and/or for the establishment of further guidelines for SIGs.
AACOM Support for SIGs:
AACOM support for each of the Society SIGs will include:
- development and maintainence of a listserv
- support for use of AACOMmunity software (see http://community.aacom.org/ )
- support for SIG presence on AACOM’s website
- on-site support during Annual Meeting interactions
- maintenance of membership and officer lists and contact information
- other appropriate administrative support