Committees and Teams
Committees and Fast Action Teams (FATs) are the driving force of MAOPS. FATs have replaced many standing committees. FATs allow us to more effectively address issues at hand. The FATs, which will be formed when a specific need arises, will perform their work (usually 1 – 2 meetings) and then disband.
Note: Members may apply at any time, but appointments are made annually by the President-elect and take effect upon their installation as President each spring. Terms are generally one year in length or until the next President is installed.
MAOPS Standing Committees
MAOPS AOA Delegates
Description: MAOPS Delegates to the AOA House of Delegates are responsible for advocating for Missouri DOs at the national organization. The committee reviews resolutions proposed by affiliates around the country, develops positions on those resolutions, then advocates for those positions during the AOA House of Delegates. Delegates provide the voice for Missouri DOs at the national level.
Meetings: Three MAOPS caucus meetings (one virtual, two in Chicago) plus attendance at the AOA House of Delegates (Friday – Sunday in July). While rare, a special session of the AOA House of Delegates may be called, necessitating additional meetings.
Annual Time Commitment: 3 hours of work prior to first caucus meeting, then 4 days (including travel time) in July to attend and participate in activities at the House of Delegates.
Requirements: Must be a MAOPS and AOA member able to travel to Chicago in July to attend the AOA House of Delegates.
Other: MAOPS provides lodging for Delegates while in Chicago, as well as several meals and a stipend to assist with costs of travel and participation. If you are detail-oriented and interested in how national organizations develop their positions, this is an opportunity for you.
Leadership Development Committee
Description: This committee is responsible for annually developing the slate of MAOPS officers for election by the Board, nominating Trustees for election by members, making recommendations to the Board of Trustees for the organization’s AOA Delegates, and selecting and monitoring the progress of Wetzel Scholars and Fellows. The committee also leads efforts on leadership development activities such as educational programming and identifying and developing engagement opportunities for members.
Meetings: 2- 3 annually. Most are virtual, but occasional live meetings occur at the annual conference.
Annual Time Commitment: 10 hours (3 meetings plus prep work, email communication, review of documents and programs)
Requirements: A MAOPS physician member for at least one year; willingness to serve as an adviser to a Wetzel Scholar or Fellow.
Finance & Audit Committee
Description: The MAOPS Finance and Audit Committee is responsible for preparing and reviewing the MAOPS and Wetzel Foundation budgets to ensure they are sufficient to meet strategic goals, assisting with audits or reviews, developing, and presenting financial information and budgets to the Board of Trustees, reviewing budget projections and reports from staff monthly, monitoring investments, and performing the annual review of the executive staff.
Meetings: 3 annually, plus monthly review of financials. One meeting per year is live and includes an annual report from the investment consultant as well as executive staff reviews. This typically occurs in August.
Annual Time Commitment: 20 hours (3 meetings plus prep work; monthly financial review, one live meeting including travel time)
Requirements: Strong interest in finance with a history of engagement with MAOPS in other capacities, including an understanding of the relationship between the mission, strategic plan, and budget.
Membership & Marketing Committee
Description: This committee works closely with MAOPS staff to develop effective strategies to increase and maintain membership overtime.
Meetings: 3-4 virtual annually, plus some email correspondence
Annual Time Commitment: 6-10 hours (meetings and meeting prep)
Requirements: Interest in spreading the word about MAOPS and its mission, and seeking ways to increase membership.
Annual Conference Team
Description: The MAOPS Annual Conference Team is responsible for developing and coordinating all aspects of the Midwest Osteopathic Annual Conference. This team is also responsible for monitoring both MAOPS AOA and ACCME accreditations, ensuring all educational events meet standards. It has two subcommittees to work exclusively on virtual educational events.
Meetings: 5-6 annually, including one weekend in June.
Annual Time Commitment: approximately 25 hours, including the weekend retreat and responsibilities at the conference.
Other: All team members must attend the summer planning meeting and the annual conference. Each must also plan to moderate educational sessions during the annual conference and assist in hosting events and registration at the event.
Legislative and Regulatory Committee
Description: The MAOPS Legislative and Regulatory Committee is responsible for developing the annual legislative and regulatory priorities for the organization, monitoring proposed legislation and regulation, providing direction to the MAOPS lobbyist and Central Office team regarding legislative and regulatory issues, and annually reviewing and amending MAOPS policies scheduled for sunset. While not a requirement, members of the committee are highly encouraged to participate in the MAOPS D.O.c.-A-Day program annually, support the Missouri Osteopathic Political Action Committee as a Capitol Club member, and become a key contact with their Representative and Senator.
Meetings: The committee is scheduled to meet virtually three times per year, with pop-up meetings possible. Email communication is essential as staff often requires input from the committee on legislative and regulatory issues.
Annual Time Commitment: 10 hours (2 hours per meeting with prep time, email correspondence between meetings, 3 hours of reference committee work)
Requirements: An interest in the legislative and regulatory processes and willingness to make the time commitment.
Virtual CME Committee
Description: The Virtual CME Committee focuses on the virtual CME program known as the VOC. The committee selects topics, develops curriculum, contacts speakers, and reviews presentations and the virtual platform before the VOC launches.
Meetings: 3-5 annually (virtually via Zoom)
Annual Time Commitment: 10-15 hours – This includes meeting prep, attending meetings, contacting speakers, email review of agendas, reviewing and revising Activity Planning Worksheets (APWs), reviewing videos for quality & to ensure speakers don’t show bias, and moderating the live VOC.
Requirements: Must have an interest in education and a desire to learn more about continuing medical education trends and accreditation.
Other: MAOPS seeks partners from around the country for the VOC, and it provides an excellent opportunity to work with physicians from outside the state. The team also works closely with MAOPS & OPSO Central Office staff, offering the opportunity to learn more about the association’s educational programming and the processes behind them.
Award Selection Team
Description: The MAOPS Awards Selection Team is a subcommittee of the Leadership Development Committee (LDC). Lay members of this team join some members of the LDC to review nominations for MAOPS awards and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Team also makes suggestions to improve the Awards Program and actively promotes the program to ensure those within the profession deserving of recognition receive it. Members of the team also assist in notifying award recipients and/or presenting the awards at the annual convention.
Meetings: 1- 2 annually (virtual)
Annual Time Commitment: less than 4 hours (1 -2 meetings plus prep time)
Requirements: Interest in recognizing osteopathic physicians and friends of the profession and willing to make the time commitment.
Scholar and Fellow Selection Team
Description: This team reviews applicants for the MAOPS Wetzel Scholar and Fellow Programs, determines finalists, conducts interviews of finalists, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Lay members of this team will join select members of the MAOPS Leadership Development Committee for this process. Members may also be asked to serve as an adviser to a Scholar or Fellow.
Meetings: 2 virtual annually, plus some email correspondence
Annual Time Commitment: 6 hours (meetings and meeting prep, including one long evening to conduct virtual interviews)
Requirements: Interest in students, residents, and especially leadership development.
Accreditation Team
forming in 2027
Description: This committee will be responsible for ensuring that MAOPS maintains its AOA and ACCME accreditation status. While the team will meet infrequently, it will be responsible for being responsive to staff on questions regarding accreditation. When reaccreditation cycles come up, the team will assist in preparation, as well as be present for the reaccreditation interviews. The committee will also be responsible for settling disputes with CME providers for which MAOPS serves as the accreditor, developing policy on accreditation requirements and expectations for customers and for staff, and making decisions about anything related to accreditation. Beyond accreditation, the committee is responsible for ensuring that MAOPS CME programs are of high quality, both virtual and live.
Meetings: As needed
Requirements: Committee members should have a strong understanding of the accreditation process (or willing to learn), and stay on the committee for a period of time.
Affiliate Alignment Team
forming in 2027
Description: This team will be responsible for reviewing MAOPS policy for affiliates, determining which current affiliates desire to remain active, identifying guidelines for affiliates to remain active, and developing a common dues structure for each affiliate. The committee will develop policies for affiliates to abide by to better unify affiliates with the MAOPS strategic priorities, and to clearly articulate the services MAOPS will provide for affiliates and those for which the affiliate is responsible. Any fees paid by the affiliate to the central office for services will also be established by this committee.
Meetings: 2-3 times per year, plus frequent email correspondence.