Evaluation Process & Criteria
Each Nomination & Appointments committee member engages in discussions with the current committee chairs and staff liaisons of the committees to which they have been assigned to understand the specific competencies and skills demanded by each role. These dialogues illuminate perspectives lost by those rotating off at the end of the year, guiding the search for fresh perspectives and talent. Nominee demographics are taken into consideration, but so are the key skill sets and expertise of members who could be rotating off the committee.
Diversity & Inclusion
A delightful surprise awaited me in the form of a comprehensive snapshot of the demographics of every committee, as well as the nominees, along with a chart illustrating how members rotating off would affect the current demographic balance. This meticulous attention to diversity underscores the ACR’s commitment to ensuring everyone gets a seat at the table. Reviewers are reminded of the critical importance of being aware of our biases throughout the process, fortifying our resolve to judge applications with impartial eyes.
Application Review
Applicants can self-nominate or be nominated by another member of the ACR. The nominations window is from April 1 to June 1 each year. Starting in mid-June, each reviewer assesses the candidates who selected their assigned committee as their first, second or third preference. Responses to the application questions, curriculum vitae and demographic information, as well as any additional materials, such as letters of recommendation or personal statements, are reviewed.
The challenge lies in achieving a balanced alignment with committee needs while shaping a committee that is inclusive of the diversity of voices present across the ACR membership. Reviewers exchange feedback, carefully evaluating each application—an average of two to three reviewers per application—each bringing a discerning eye tailored to their assigned committee’s requirements.
What proved stimulating was realizing that each committee shares universal qualities, such as the need for diverse representation and perspectives, while also possessing specific requirements, like expertise in registries or informatics for the Registries and Health Information Technology Committee. Discussions about committee needs and competencies with current chairs and staff liaisons are invaluable in this regard.
The review process culminates in the creation of a preliminary list of selected members determined by those rotating off the committee. On average, two to three alternates are also preselected and placed in a pool of alternates for committees. For context, there were 159 applicants for a total of 58 positions in 2024. This preliminary list is discussed during the in-person meeting of the Committee on Nominations & Appointments in July.
