ATS Leadership Election 2025

The Board Nominating Committee, chaired by former president, Gregory Downey, MD, ATSF, FRCP(C), conducted a rigorous vetting of ATS members who responded to the call for nominations. The vetting process included submission of a letter of interest, written responses to specific questions, letters of support, virtual interview, feedback from colleagues and committee members, and input from staff.  The committee also evaluated the candidates based on the competency framework - Leadership/Strategy, Financial Acumen, Innovative Thinking, Engagement and ensuring overall Diversity and Cultural Fit.

This year, there was an exceptional pool of applicants, as you can imagine this was not a simple task. In accordance with the recently amended bylaws, the ATS Board of Directors will consist of 15 at-large directors, one public member (Public Advisory Roundtable) who will serve staggered terms, and the CEO as an ex-officio, non-voting member.  We are pleased to present the following slate for your consideration.

Secretary

At-Large Directors

3-Year Term (May 2025 – May 2028)

2-Year Term (May 2025 – May 2027)

1-Year Term (May 2025 – May 2026)

Public Member (May 2025 – May 2027)

Petition Period: April 1 - 26, 2025
Voting (FOR or AGAINST): April 28 - May 10, 2025
Notification of Results: May 12, 2025

Election

Members will have the opportunity to vote for or against the slate as presented. If there are no objections to the slate, the election will be held April 28 - May 10, 2025. Per the bylaws, we must have a minimum of 500 members casting their vote.

Petition Process for Objecting to the Slate

Purpose

This process is intended to provide guidance for members to formally object to the proposed slate of officers and at-large directors.

Objection Period

Members shall have a 25-day period from the date of the slate’s official announcement to submit their objections. This year, the period will begin on April 1, 2025, and end on April 26, 2025.

Submission of Objections

• Objections to the entire slate must be submitted in writing via email to election@thoracic.org
• Each objection must include the member’s full name, membership number, and a statement indicating the reason for their objection to the slate.
• Duplicate or incomplete objections will not be counted.

Minimum Threshold for Consideration

For an objection to be considered valid and warrant a review by the Board Nominating Committee, a minimum of 15% of the society members (2,400) must object and individually submit a letter which states the reason for their objection and must be received within the 25-day period.

Verification Process

• The Board Nominating Committee will verify the validity of objections to ensure that only unique and eligible members’ objections are counted.
• A final report on the objection count will be published after the objection period closes.

Outcome of a Successful Objection

If the required threshold of 2,400 unique objections is met:

• The membership will be immediately informed of the next steps.
• The current officers and board members would remain in office until a new slate is developed by the Board Nominating Committee.

No Changes if Objections Fall Below the Threshold

If fewer than 2,400 unique objections are received within the designated period, the slate will remain unchanged, and the election process will proceed as scheduled.

Final Authority

The Board of Directors retains the authority to resolve any disputes regarding the objection process. Their decision will be final and binding.

This process ensures a fair and transparent process for members to express their concerns while maintaining the integrity of the nomination process.