Handbook

Greetings, and welcome to the CHEST NetWorks:

As the Chair of the Council of NetWorks, I welcome you to your NetWork(s).

Whether you are joining a new NetWork, looking to get more involved in NetWork activities, or want to join a NetWork Steering Committee—you have an important role.

Getting Involved in the NetWorks

The NetWorks bring together CHEST members with similar interests. They play a vital role in planning educational activities of the organization such as the annual meeting; developing educational material for other clinicians and patients; and participating in the development of policies, opinions, and guidelines.

I first became involved with CHEST through a NetWork Steering Committee, which facilitated networking with peers from around the globe. By having a home for my area of clinical interest, I have been able to increase my collaborations. I have published manuscripts, chaired courses, and traveled the world with colleagues who I have met through the CHEST NetWorks. These additional opportunities have supported my academic success. In truth, many of the people I have met through CHEST are now among my closest friends. CHEST NetWorks are a great entry point into this large organization by allowing you to find a home within your area of clinical interest.

Many frequently ask me how they can learn more about the NetWorks and get involved. Here are several things that can be done.

1. Read the latest news under your NetWork on chestnet.org.

    

2. Attend a NetWork Open Forum (previously called the business meeting) at the CHEST Annual Meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet NetWork leadership and share your ideas.

    

3. Reach out directly to the steering committee to see how you can get involved by clicking the Contact the Chair button on each NetWork page. We are always looking to create new opportunities for engagement within the NetWorks.

    

4. Follow CHEST and the NetWorks on social media, and read the quarterly “News From the NetWorks” newsletter that will come via email.

    

5. Join the online community by posting related content on Twitter and using the appropriate NetWork hashtags.

    

6. Run for a position on a NetWork Steering Committee. The NetWorks benefit from having leadership from a wide variety of skills and backgrounds. We are a group of academicians, researchers, educators, private practice clinicians, advanced practice providers, fellows-in-training, and respiratory therapists. We all play an important role in the NetWorks and in their leadership, and we invite you to apply for the steering committees. The Call for Nominations will occur in the spring of 2020.

Being on a Steering Committee

For those of you now on a NetWork Steering Committee or moving on to NetWork Chair or Vice-Chair, the online handbook provides you with the specific roles and responsibilities. However, read below for several thoughts on how to succeed in your role as NetWork leadership.

1. Contribute. Throughout the year, there will be opportunities to be a part of educational activities for the annual meeting, provide content for CHEST Physician, create patient information materials for the CHEST Foundation, construct clinical guidelines, comment on proposed policies, and assess proposed federal legislation. If you see something you are interested in doing, speak up!
2. Innovate. Bring new ideas and new approaches to the table, whether they include educational offerings, new collaborations with other groups, and so on. If we cannot do it today, that does not mean we will not be able to tomorrow.
3. Listen. Reach out to NetWork members to discuss needs, issues, and questions and help climb them up the ladder. Share your passion with others and inspire them to join in.
4. Mentor. As you learn about CHEST leadership, mentor others. Everyone on the steering committee is invited to encourage, lead, and develop our in-training members.
5. Sponsor. Remember that as a leader, your job is in part to sponsor others with talent and create opportunities for them.
6. Be responsible. Make every effort to attend each and every call that your steering committee holds. Remember that the Open Forum meeting at the annual meeting is our only face-to-face meeting, and all steering committee members are expected to be present. The NetWorks are only successful because of their members’ contributions. Meet your deadlines. Each deadline is tied to another committee’s deadline.
7. Aspire. Your current role could be the bridge to greater leadership opportunities at CHEST. Consider running for Vice-Chair (if you are a committee member) or for a position on the Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks (if you are Chair).

My role as Chair of the Council of NetWorks is to provide you with the support you need to fulfill your role and a voice to CHEST leadership, create opportunities, and promote new ideas you may have. CHEST relies on your service within the NetWork, and we look forward to a great year of achievements!

Sincerely,
Aneesa M. Das, MD, FCCP
Chair, Council of NetWorks

 

2018 – 2019

• David Zielinski, MD, FCCP, Chair, Council of NetWorks
• Aneesa Das, MD, FCCP, Vice-Chair, Council of NetWorks
• Hassan K. Bencheqroun, MD, FCCP, Immediate Past Chair, Council of NetWorks

Past Council of NetWork Chairs

2016 – David Schulman, MD, FCCP
2015 – Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP
2014 – Thomas Fuhrman, MD, FCCP
2013 – Burton Lesnick, MD, FCCP
2012 – Jay Peters, MD, FCCP
2011 – Phillip Marcus, MD, MPH, FCCP
2010 – Peter Spiro, MD, FCCP
2009 – Atul Mehta, MBBS, FCCP
2008 – Clayton T. Cowl, MD, FCCP
2007 – Nicola A. Hanania, MBBS, FCCP
2006 – Nicola A. Hanania, MBBS, FCCP
2005 – LTC Lisa K. Moores, MC, USA, FCCP
2004 – Keith L. Stein, MD, FCCP
2003 – Stephanie Levine, MD, FCCP
2002 – COL John P. Mitchell, MC, USAF, FCCP
2001 – Nancy Collop, MD, FCCP

As a backdrop to better understand the goals of the NetWorks, it is important to be aware of the overall strategic goals of CHEST, which are updated regularly.

CHEST Strategic Goals: (2018-2022)
To achieve the vision of CHEST, which is, “The American College of Chest Physicians is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team‐based care,” the following five goals have been developed:

1. CHEST provides innovative education customized to individual learner needs, designed to improve knowledge, competence, performance and patient outcomes.
2. CHEST is the premier resource for clinically relevant scientific research, guidelines, and implementation strategies and tools.
3. CHEST will increase the global impact of its education.
4. CHEST optimizes its assets to achieve its mission and vision.
5. CHEST has a strong and diverse financial base.

These goals provide the basis for the goals of the NetWorks, which are:

1. Provide a structure for all CHEST members to actively participate in the achievement of the strategic goals of CHEST. 
2. Offer a forum for members with similar interests to network. 
3. Create opportunities for collaboration in education, leadership, research, and advocacy activities. 
4. Promote career fulfillment through all of the above. 

Airways Disorders: Works to educate physicians and patients about airways disorders, which includes but is not limited to: asthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, and diseases of large and small airways.

Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery: Focuses on pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including issues related to critically ill patients.

Chest Infections: Serves as the main resource and forum for issues related to pulmonary infections for CHEST leadership, membership, and outside organizations.

Clinical Pulmonary Medicine: Offers a broad, non-disease specific platform for collaboration and networking, promotion of health and advancement of clinical medical knowledge for pulmonary medicine practitioners.

Clinical Research and Quality Improvement: Offers a clinical research, research ethics, and regulatory issues multidisciplinary discussion forum for all CHEST members interested in these activities.

Critical Care: Enhances the scientific knowledge, evidence-based medicine, and clinical practices that further our understanding of the mechanism and management of acute and life-threatening critical illness, as well as, the organizational attributes associated with the optimal delivery of critical care services.

Disaster Response and Global Health: Works to deliver timely and relevant disaster medicine education to CHEST members.

Home-Based Mechanical Ventilation and Neuromuscular Disease: To promote knowledge and education of clinicians, caregivers and patients on the long-term respiratory care of individuals with neuromuscular conditions and individuals requiring home-based mechanical ventilation to maximize their quality of life and home-based living.

Interprofessional Team: Promotes synergistic collaboration among all healthcare professionals in order to enhance the care of patients with respiratory/cardiac disorders in a variety of settings with a focus on leadership, education, research and communication.

Interstitial and Diffuse Lung Disease: Advocates for patients with IDLDs by educating health-care providers and patients. 

Interventional Chest/Diagnostic Procedures: Focuses on invasive procedures performed by chest physicians.

Occupational and Environmental Health: Promotes the advancement of patient care and public health in order to reduce the incidence of occupational and environmental lung disease and other conditions attributable to toxic inhalation exposures.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Focuses on education, awareness, and project implementation related to palliative and end-of-life care. Clinical issues range from pain management to cultural diversity in palliative care. 

Pediatric Chest Medicine: Advances the clinical practice of pediatric chest medicine through the enhancement of knowledge, promotion of best practices, and optimum care of our patients; pediatric-focused research; and advocacy for pediatric causes.

Practice Operations: Stimulates the exchange of ideas and knowledge between physicians and administrators in order to enhance patient care delivery and experience, improve patient outcomes, improve operational efficiency, as well as optimize reimbursement.

Pulmonary Physiology, Function, and Rehabilitation: Focuses on increasing the understanding of pulmonary physiology and function and incorporating that knowledge into clinical practice, including pulmonary rehabilitation.  

Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Focuses on helping the pulmonary vascular disease community, including physicians, allied health-care professionals, and patients, to achieve the best possible patient-focused care through advancement of education and research. 

Respiratory Care: Works to improve patient care through education, research and collaboration supporting providers of respiratory therapy services across the healthcare continuum. Respiratory Care touches almost every other CHEST NetWork by focusing on the delivery of respiratory therapy services, collaborative care and the education of RC practitioners. The NetWork is unique in its collaboration with multiple external professional organizations and in the number of its members who represent CHEST to these organizations.

Sleep Medicine: Strives to promote sleep medicine as a specialty, provide educational and research opportunities, and raise awareness of issues pertinent to the practice of sleep medicine. 

Thoracic Oncology: Advances the concept of multidisciplinary care of the patient with thoracic cancer.  

Transplant: Promotes education and advancement in transplantation medicine to health-care providers and patients by identifying clinical problems in this subspecialty and addressing the dissemination of information.

Women's Lung Health: Works as an interdisciplinary group of members with common interests unique to patient-based and/or member-based issues related to gender differences in patient health across the lifespan continuum. This NetWork is open to anyone (men or women) interested in promoting an awareness and understanding of gender issues to optimize healthcare.. 

Composition
Individual NetWork membership includes:

• CHEST members-at-large who have identified their interest in the NetWork.
• A leadership committee designated as the "steering committee."
• Support by a CHEST staff liaison.

Steering Committee

• Consists of up to ten voting members: a Chair, Vice-Chair, and up to eight members-at-large.
• The Immediate Past Chair of the steering committee shall be referred to as the ex officio member and shall serve in an advisory capacity for one two-year term as a non-voting member.
• A maximum of two consultants, deemed so because of particular expertise felt critical to the steering committee, may be appointed to the steering committee in a non-voting capacity, by vote of the steering committee, for renewable two-year terms.
• A non-voting in-training member will be elected to each steering committee for up to two renewable one-year terms; because these positions became available for the first time this year, only half of NetWork Steering Committees will have an in-training member during this cycle.

Eligibility
All NetWork participants must be an enhanced- or premium-level member of CHEST and current in their dues. Any member delinquent in their dues for more than three consecutive months will not be eligible to participate in NetWork activities. NetWork leadership delinquent in their dues will be asked to become current with their dues or forfeit their position.

Steering Committee Appointments

Recommendations for open steering committee positions shall be solicited from the general NetWork membership via e-mail usually during April or May. 

• Candidates will be asked to provide a brief (two-to-three sentences) goal statement describing why they are interested in serving on the steering committee and ideas on how to strengthen NetWork engagement. 
• The current steering committee shall review the candidates’ goals statement and vote to determine who shall be asked to fill the vacancies. 
• An individual cannot serve on more than two NetWork steering committees at a time. 
• The names of those chosen by the steering committee to fill the vacancies will be forwarded to CHEST President-Elect for approval. 
• CHEST staff will notify the candidates and steering committee of the outcome. 
• In the case of a tie, CHEST President-Elect will make the final decision. 

Terms of Office
The members-at-large serve on the steering committee for a two-year term and shall be eligible for reappointment for one sequential additional term.

• Reappointment is at the discretion of the NetWork Chair, based upon performance during the member’s term.
• Members-at-large can be reappointed to the steering committee after a two-year hiatus, through the traditional process.
• Additional sequential terms can be recommended, without hiatus, if no new members-at-large express interest in an open position. All such recommendations require the approval of CHEST President-Elect. 

Steering Committee Member Resignations

• In the case that a steering committee member finds it necessary to resign due to inability to participate, or for any other reason, the member shall provide written notice to the steering committee Chair. 
• A steering committee member may be considered inactive due to lack of participation or response. In this circumstance, the Chair of the steering committee shall send notification in writing to the inactive member about the member’s inactive status. The member may choose to renew participation on the steering committee or resign. 

Open Steering Committee Positions
Vacancies on a NetWork steering committee can be filled during the year. Any voting member of the steering committee may submit the name of a person to fill a vacancy. The individual nominated will be recommended by vote of the steering committee and approval by CHEST President (November to May) or President-Elect (June to October). In such cases, those new members who join the steering committee on or after June 1 will be able to participate in NetWork leadership activities, but will officially begin their term during the next annual CHEST meeting.

Vice-Chair Elections and Succession to Chair
Every two years, usually in March or April, CHEST staff will send a call for nominations to current steering committee members for selection of a new Vice-Chair.

• Those eligible for consideration for this position must currently serve as a voting member of the NetWork steering committee.
• Candidates must be an FCCP in order to be considered, except for Interprofessional Team and Practice Operations leadership roles. 
• Interested parties will be asked to provide a brief (two to three sentences) goal statement describing why they are interested in serving as Vice-Chair and ideas on how to strengthen NetWork engagement.
• The current steering committee shall review the candidates’ goal statement and vote. 
• A tally shall be compiled, and the result will be forwarded first to the Council of NetWorks leadership and then to CHEST President-Elect for approval. 
• CHEST staff will notify the candidates and steering committee of the outcome. 
• In case of a tie between two candidates, the President-Elect will make the final decision. 
• The Vice-Chair shall serve in this position for a single two-year term. 

Those eligible for the Vice-Chair position must currently serve as a voting member of the NetWork steering committee. If no one from the steering committee is nominated, members within three years of finishing their terms, not to include Ex-Officios, are eligible to run for NetWork Vice-Chair.

As the incoming Vice-Chair assumes his/her role, the current Vice-Chair shall move to the office of Chair, pending the approval of CHEST President-Elect.

• The Chair of each NetWork shall serve in this capacity for a single two-year term.

An individual cannot serve as the Chair and/or Vice-Chair of more than one CHEST NetWork or Committee at a time.

The new steering committee members, the new Vice-Chair, and the new Chair shall take office immediately following their NetWork Featured Lecture at CHEST.

NetWork Steering Committee

General

• Serve as the governing body of the NetWork.
• Ensure full representation of NetWork members and their interests.

Responsibilities

• Develop and reassess the NetWork mission statement, vision, and goals, as needed.
• Generate and implement relevant programs and projects that are consistent with CHEST’s mission and strategic goals.
• Serve as expert resources to groups internal and external to CHEST.
• Provide expertise and personnel, as requested, to support evidence-based guideline development of the Guidelines Oversight Committee.
• Provide broad-based input to CHEST’s Education Committee, Training and Transitions Committee, Guidelines Oversight Committee, and/or other CHEST Committees, regarding potential issues of interest. Such input shall be communicated through the NetWork Chair and/or a steering committee representative.
• Participate in the selection of and monitor the progress of the Distinguished Scholars, as requested by The CHEST Foundation. 

Participation

• Complete and submit a CHEST Conflict of Interest form.
• Participate in all NetWork steering committee conference calls.
• Advise the Chair and liaison of an inability to participate. The Chair shall have the authority to terminate any steering committee member who fails to participate in at least 50% of NetWork meetings annually.
• Decisions made by the committee must be agreed to by a quorum. A quorum is defined as a majority of the voting members of the committee.

CHEST Meeting

• Attend the NetWork Featured Lecture/business meeting at CHEST.
• Organize a dynamic NetWork Featured Lecture with advance posting of the agenda.
• Choose and develop the designated number of “NetWork Highlights” to be presented as topics on the program at CHEST (refer to procedure in section on topic submission for the CHEST Meeting).
• Participate in the grading process of all other topics submitted, including moderating posters for CHEST as part of the curriculum associated with the NetWork.

Communication with Membership

• Assist with writing articles on NetWork activities for The CHEST Physician publication as requested.
• Delegate responsibilities to NetWork general members, as appropriate.

• Develop and reassess the NetWork mission statement, vision, and goals, as needed.
• Generate and implement relevant programs and projects that are consistent with CHEST’s mission and strategic goals.
• Serve as expert resources to groups internal and external to CHEST.
• Provide expertise and personnel, as requested, to support evidence-based guideline development of the Guidelines Oversight Committee.
• Provide broad-based input to CHEST’s Education Committee, Training and Transitions Committee, Guidelines Oversight Committee, and/or other CHEST Committees, regarding potential issues of interest. Such input shall be communicated through the NetWork Chair and/or a steering committee representative.
• Participate in the selection of and monitor the progress of the Distinguished Scholars, as requested by The CHEST Foundation.

Participation

• Complete and submit a CHEST Conflict of Interest form.
• Participate in all NetWork steering committee conference calls.
  • Advise the Chair and liaison of an inability to participate. The Chair shall have the authority to terminate any steering committee member who fails to participate in at least 50% of NetWork meetings annually.
• Decisions made by the committee must be agreed to by a quorum. A quorum is defined as a majority of the voting members of the committee. 

CHEST Meeting

• Attend the NetWork Featured Lecture/business meeting at CHEST.
• Organize a dynamic NetWork Featured Lecture with advance posting of the agenda.
• Choose and develop the designated number of “NetWork Highlights” to be presented as topics on the program at CHEST (refer to procedure in section on topic submission for the CHEST Meeting).
• Participate in the grading process of all other topics submitted, including moderating posters for CHEST as part of the curriculum associated with the NetWork.

Communication with Membership

• Assist with writing articles on NetWork activities for The CHEST Physician publication as requested.
• Delegate responsibilities to NetWork general members, as appropriate.

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NetWork Steering Committee In-Training Members

General

• Serve as a non-voting participant in the steering committee which is the governing body of the network.
• Ensure representation of in-training physicians in the steering committee

Responsibilities

• Review and assess the Network mission statement, vision, and goals
• Develop mentorship relationships with the steering committee members
• Maintain regular interaction with the Vice-Chair of the Network who will act as a mentor in the activities of the Network and Network Steering Committee
• Active participation in the Network activities including but not limited to conference calls, projects, and leadership
• Serve as a resource for insight into the needs of the in-training physicians in terms of leadership, membership goals, and education from the NetWork

Participation

• Complete and submit a CHEST Conflict of Interest Form
• Participate in all Network Steering Committee conference calls.
  • Advise the Chair and liaison of an inability to participate. The chair has the authority to terminate any steering committee member who fails to participate in at least 50% of Network meetings annually

Chest Meeting

• Attend the Network Featured Lecture/business meeting at CHEST.
• Participate in the Network’s process of development and selection of the Network Featured Lecture as well as development and selection of Network Highlight Lectures for CHEST.

Communication with Membership

• Assist with writing articles regarding Network activities for The CHEST Physician publication as requested.

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NetWork Vice-Chairs

Responsibilities

All responsibilities of the steering committee members shall apply to the Vice-Chair. In addition, the Vice-Chair shall:

• Preside over meeting or conference calls in the absence of the NetWork Chair.
• Take minutes at all NetWork meetings and conference calls and work with CHEST staff to distribute.
• Assume the role of Chair at the end of the current Chair’s term, pending approval of the President-Elect.
• Serve as mentor to the in-training member of the NetWork steering committee
• Other specific duties of the Vice-Chair are at the discretion of the NetWork Chair.

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NetWork Chairs

General 

All responsibilities of the steering committee members shall apply to the Chair. In addition, the Chair shall:

• Be familiar with CHEST mission statement, CHEST vision statement, CHEST strategic plan, the NetWork mission statement, NetWork vision, goals, and responsibilities of NetWork steering committee members.
• Govern the NetWork, including recognition of outstanding efforts of NetWork members and counseling of inactive or nonresponsive members.
• Serve as a resource to CHEST Board of Regents, as needed, on issues of clinical, political, social, and financial importance.
• Respect confidentiality of CHEST, the NetWorks, and members.

Responsibilities

• Work with members to develop a NetWork mission statement, vision, and goals, as necessary.
• Review information (correspondence, agendas, etc) from CHEST staff.
• Work with NetWork members and CHEST staff to recommend policies and projects for consideration by the appropriate body.
• Keep roles and responsibilities of NetWork members updated based on project needs.
• Be available and prepared to lead NetWork steering committee conference calls.
• Work with CHEST staff to create agendas for meetings and conference calls.
• Discuss actions and recommendations with CHEST staff following meetings and conference calls.
• Work with Vice-Chair and CHEST staff to create and distribute minutes of meetings and conference calls within 4 weeks of the event to NetWork members.
• Delegate the coordination of NetWork projects to the steering committee, as well as to the membership at large.
• Evaluate the NetWork Steering Committee on an annual basis using an evaluation tool crafted and provided by the Executive Council of NetWorks
• Submit a written annual report of individual NetWork activities to the Chair of the Council of NetWorks.
• Collaborate with the Vice-Chair in NetWork leadership decisions.
• Recommend to CHEST President-Elect the appointment of members to standing committees, ad hoc committees, and/or task forces, as requested.

Participation

• Serve as a member of the Council of NetWorks. Attend all Council of NetWorks meetings and conference calls to represent the interests of the individual NetWork.

CHEST Meeting

• Preside at the annual open meeting of the NetWork and any other meetings of the NetWork steering committee. If absent, assign this function to the Vice-Chair of the NetWork.
• Serve as the NetWork liaison to CHEST Scientific Program Committee. If unable to participate, appoint a representative from the steering committee to serve as the liaison. The liaison shall serve for one 2-year term and shall actively participate in the voting and business of the committee.

Communication

• Report to the NetWork on a regular basis by conference call and e-mail.
• Write NetWork updates for CHEST publications as needed. Responsibility can be delegated to another member of the steering committee.
• Work with CHEST staff to distribute information to NetWork members.
• Channel communications (written or otherwise) through CHEST staff for distribution.

NetWork Steering Committee Term Renewal Process

CHEST and the CHEST NetWorks rely heavily on the volunteer work of the steering committee members to provide content for the CHEST Annual Meeting, ongoing content expertise, and deliverance of educational products to clinicians and patients, amongst many other roles.

NetWork Steering Committee members are elected to serve a 2-year term with an available renewal for a second term. As part of the appointment letter, the steering committee members are notified of the responsibilities, and new members are also provided a link to the NetWork Handbook, which provides the roles and responsibilities, as well. We have been fortunate by having a large number of dedicated applicants for each open position and having the majority of members working hard to advance the goals of their NetWorks. There does, however, remain a small minority of members who, for a variety of reasons, are not contributing to the NetWorks, to date. This document outlines the process for renewal of a NetWork Steering Committee member for a second 2-year term.

• Prior to each annual meeting, the NetWork benchmarks are due to be completed by the Chair and Vice-Chair that include review of each steering committee member’s contributions, to date. At this stage, it would be recommended that the Chair/Vice-Chair identify those members who are not meeting expected responsibilities, which may include not attending conference calls (minimum expectation is 50%), not grading abstracts, not attending the business meeting, not contributing to annual meeting contributions, etc. Individuals should be flagged to your NetWork liaison and to the Chair of the Council of NetWorks.
• Individuals who are flagged will receive a correspondence and/or personal contact from the Chair of the Council of NetWorks, reminding them of their responsibilities and inquiring whether they wish to continue in their NetWork role. Alternatively, if the Chair of the NetWork prefers, they may choose to personally contact the individual.
• In February/March, your staff liaison will provide NetWork Chairs with the list of individuals who are due to have their 2-year term renewed at the upcoming CHEST Annual Meeting in October. The Chair will make their recommendations for renewal to a second-year term. If the Chair makes a recommendation to not renew, they will briefly outline their reasons to the Chair of the Council of NetWorks. It is expected that these individuals would have been already identified by the process in points 1 and 2 and would have shown minimal to no improvement in meeting their responsibilities. Of note, Chairs may decide this individual might still benefit your NetWork and choose to continue to work with them. The recommendation will rest with the Chair of the NetWork.
• The Chair of the Council of NetWorks will review recommendations and approve any members who are recommended for nonrenewal and forward the list to the President of CHEST for final approval. The individual will receive official notification from CHEST thanking them for their service and notifying them that their official term will end at the upcoming CHEST Annual Meeting.
• An extra position will be opened as part of the annual spring steering committee nominations and election process.

The NetWork members are pivotal in determining the content of CHEST program. NetWork Highlight topics are submitted by the steering committees of the individual NetWorks. Other topics may be submitted by any CHEST member. These topics are subject to a grading process (described below) before being and accepted for the program. 

NetWork Highlight Topics
Each NetWork is responsible for submitting the designated number of NetWork Highlight topics for the program at CHEST. 

• Prior to the designated deadline date, the Chair of the NetWork organizes and facilitates a process with the steering committee to select and submit these topics on-line. 
• Approximately one week after the deadline date, each topic that has been submitted as a NetWork Highlight will be distributed to the appropriate NetWork Chair to assure that the correct topics have been submitted. 
• All NetWork Highlight submissions are reviewed according to the process established by CHEST Program Committee. 

Topics for General Submission
Submission and selection of these topics takes place as follows:

• CHEST members submit topic suggestions on-line prior to the designated deadline date (usually in November) 
• All topics are assigned to a NetWork for grading. 
• The topics (excluding NetWork Highlights) are graded by the appropriate NetWork steering committee and the Scientific Program Committee. 
• The Scientific Program Committee meets in January to finalize the topics that will appear in the program. 

How to Submit a Topic
All topics must be submitted on-line through CHEST’s Website. A call for topics goes out to the membership. At that time, the on-line form for submitting topics for CHEST is accessible from the home page at www.chestnet.org. The site remains open for submissions until the designated deadline date in late November/early December. Step-by-step instructions are available online.

Each NetWork shall be assigned a CHEST staff member who will serve as the official link from the NetWork to CHEST and its’ resources. The general role and basic responsibilities of the staff are as follows:

• Serve as an information resource and support to the NetWork members.
• Be familiar with all aspects of NetWork activities and CHEST policies related to those activities.
• Assist with distribution of information to NetWork members.
• Serve as CHEST resource at all NetWork meetings and conference calls.
• Work with the Vice-Chair to format the minutes and distribute them to the general NetWork membership.
• Provide support and keep an historical record of NetWork activities.
• Keep the NetWork informed of CHEST deadlines and work to see they are met.

CHEST occasionally receives requests from individuals and/or groups to establish new NetWorks. Given that resources are finite, it is in the best interest of CHEST to ensure that all NetWorks, but particularly new NetWorks, are viable and maintain sufficient value over time.

Any individuals or groups requesting the formation of a new NetWork need to submit a proposal with the following information to the Council of NetWorks for initial approval. Upon approval by the Council of NetWorks, the proposal will then be sent to the Board of Regents for consideration and/or approval.

• A description of the body of knowledge and/or area of interest to be addressed by the proposed NetWork.
• An estimate of the number of potential members and analysis of the potential for future membership growth.
• An analysis of current NetWorks to ensure that duplication of effort is avoided, ie, no current NetWork or committee is addressing the topic.

Council of NetWorks

The Chair of each NetWork shall comprise a body called the Council of NetWorks. The leadership of the Council of NetWorks consists of the 22 NetWork Chairs. The Council of NetWorks shall meet quarterly via conference call and face-to-face at the annual meeting. 

Only current members of the Council of NetWorks are eligible to run for a position on the Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks.

Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks

Composition/Terms of Office
The Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks will be composed of up to 11 members: the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Immediate Past Chair of the Council of NetWorks, and up to eight current NetWork chairs, of which two will be the Chairs of the Critical Care NetWork and the Sleep Medicine NetWork. The six additional members will be voted upon by all NetWork Chairs and approved by CHEST President-Elect. Terms of the Council Chair, Vice-Chair, and Immediate Past Chair will be 1 year, with transfer of chairmanship taking place at the Council of NetWorks meeting at CHEST each year in October/November. Terms of the eight Executive Committee members will end when they rotate off as NetWork Chair.

Only those who have been members of the Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks may run for the position of Council of NetWorks Vice-Chair. The Chair and Vice-Chair serve as members of CHEST Board of Regents during their term.

Scope of Authority/Accountability
The Executive Committee of the Council of NetWorks reports directly to CHEST Board of Regents through the seats of the Vice-Chair and Chair on the Board. The Chair of the Council of NetWorks is also a member of the Council of Advisors, a committee composed of specific leadership positions within the College to advise the President and other leadership on issues related to chest medicine. All NetWork Chairs are members of the Scientific Program Committee, with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council of NetWorks also on the Executive Program Committee.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a governing body for all NetWorks. 
• Review and approve NetWork project and funding applications as received on a monthly basis. 
• Identify key internal and external stakeholders to participate in projects, or serve as subject matter experts. 
• Facilitate communication among the NetWorks and other CHEST committees. 
• Identify NetWork experts to respond to requests and act as participants or CHEST representatives to external meetings/liaisons to other organizations, as well as internal panels or committees as needed. 
• Recognize and reward outstanding NetWork accomplishments at the annual meeting. 
• Hold monthly conference calls and two annual meetings to complete the business of the NetWorks. 
• Review, revise, and approve the NetWorks Handbook on a yearly basis. 

Over time, there may be an occasion that a NetWork no longer functions as a viable CHEST entity. In such instance, the following process has been developed to address inactive NetWorks.

• Underperforming NetWorks can be identified by members or CHEST staff.
• The NetWork in question will have had subpar performance over a period of time, which can be defined as:
  • Low or no participation on conference calls or meetings.
  • No collaborative activities.
• Underperforming NetWorks will be brought to the attention of the Council of NetWorks through CHEST staff.
• After one year of subpar performance, as defined above, the Council of NetWork leadership can take steps to revitalize NetWork activity, including:
  • Propose change in NetWork leadership.
  • Provide suggestions for activities.
• After two years of subpar performance, the Council of NetWorks can vote to dissolve the NetWork, with final approval by the Board of Regents.