ASNR Constitutional Revision FAQ

The revised ASNR constitution enhances clarity, promotes equity across member types, increases transparency and inclusivity, and strengthens collaboration with neuroradiology specialty and regional societies.

The revision began with a member needs assessment to inform a strategic plan. Member feedback was also collected through town halls at and after the 2024 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. The Membership and Diversity & Inclusion committees provided recommendations, which the Ad Hoc Rules committee used to draft the revised constitution. The amendments met the required voting threshold and were approved.

The revised constitution includes:

  • Expanding the Advisory Council to include additional leaders, including the Presidents-Elect of the Specialty and Regional Societies, as well as all committee and study group chairs and co-chairs
  • Creating a pathway to Senior membership for imaging scientists aligned with the neuroradiologist pathway
  • Establishing a leadership succession plan from Secretary through President to increase operational familiarity
  • Limiting the Past President’s board term to one year with continued guidance via the Past President Association
  • Allowing Senior Members to directly vote for Board Secretary, Board Officer-at-Large, and Executive Council Member-at-Large from a slate of candidates proposed by the Nominating committee
  • Ensuring ongoing representation of non-academic neuroradiologists
  • Creating an Executive Council with representatives from Specialty and Regional Societies, and from  the ASNR Foundation for enhanced collaboration

A multi-year transition plan will be implemented to implement the governance changes prescribed by the new constitution. Future elections will follow the new framework. CEO Mary Beth Hepp will remain a non-voting member at Board, Executive Council, and Advisory Council meetings.

Only Senior Members practicing in the U.S. for at least 10 years can hold elected offices. This ensures officers are familiar with U.S.-based neuroradiology practices, aligning with ASNR’s mission.

The ASNR welcomes our international members to serve on and chair committees.

Elected offices, however, are restricted to Senior Members practicing in the U.S. to maintain governance that reflects domestic practice standards.

The 10-year U.S. practice requirement ensures officers have deep familiarity with U.S. neuroradiology standards, aligning with ASNR’s objectives.

The 3-year membership requirement for Senior Members (Article III, Section 2) ensures candidates have sustained engagement with ASNR’s mission and activities, promoting informed participation in voting and leadership roles.

Research fellows who are more than five years past their doctoral degree are no longer eligible for Member-in-Training status. They can apply for Member status. The Membership Committee will evaluate their eligibility.

The constitution allows Associate Members, including non-radiologist physicians, such as neurologists, to foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The Membership Committee’s judgment ensures only qualified candidates meeting defined criteria are approved. Senior Member status, required for voting and leadership, remains restricted to radiologists and imaging scientists with significant neuroradiology expertise.

The Board’s small size (President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, First Past-President and Officer-At-Large) ensures efficient decision-making.

The Executive Director, Mary Beth Hepp, attends meetings of the Board, Executive Council, and Advisory Council, offering continuity while preserving member-driven governance by serving in a non-voting capacity. 

After an initial transition period to implement the new changes, the Secretary and Nominating Committee members are elected annually. Every other year, the Board Officer-At-Large and Executive Council Member-at-Large are elected. Any member can be nominated, and Senior Members ultimately decide who is elected to represent them by voting on candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee.

The 5-year ascension (Secretary to Treasurer to Vice President to President-Elect to President) enhances leadership continuity and experience. Previously, the ascension was from Vice President, to President-Elect, to President, followed by three years as Past President. The new structure shifts toward future-oriented preparation, starting at Secretary and culminating in a single year as Immediate Past President, fostering a forward-looking leadership pipeline.

Guardrails include the Nominating Committee vetting candidates for skills and experience, Senior Member voting, and the ability to terminate membership for cause. The Board operates as a collaborative team, with members supporting and learning from each other, reducing the risk of high responsibility without prior experience, unlike the previous model where leaders could be elected to roles with increased responsibility with less experience on the ASNR Board.

The Vice President chairs the Advisory Council, assigns membership to our 22 committees, and performs other duties as assigned by the President. While not explicitly detailed, this flexibility allows adaptation to ASNR’s needs.

The Board Officer-At-Large is a neuroradiologist based in the U.S. representing non-academic neuroradiologists, and the Executive Council Member-at-Large is an interventional neuroradiologist based in the U.S. Both must be Senior Members.

The Executive Council serves as a strategic advisory body to the ASNR Board, offering input and recommendations on key issues the Board aims to address. It proactively proposes innovative ideas and concepts for consideration, helping shape the organization’s direction. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in aligning ASNR’s activities with those of specialty and regional neuroradiology societies, ensuring cohesive collaboration across the field.

In contrast, the Advisory Council focuses on execution and representation. It assists the Board by implementing approved ideas and concepts, translating strategic plans into actionable outcomes. Members act as ambassadors, promoting the Board’s vision within the neuroradiology community. The Advisory Council also evaluates and ranks Member-Centric Strategic Initiatives, providing critical feedback, and reports on committee progress to keep the Board informed.

The requirement for the Executive Council Member-at-Large to be an interventional neuroradiologist ensures representation of this critical subspecialty, reflecting its unique expertise. Other subspecialties (e.g., pediatric, head and neck, spine) are represented with the Specialty Society Presidents serving on the Executive Council.

The revised constitution fosters closer collaboration with specialty and regional societies by including their Presidents on the Executive Council and their Presidents-Elect on the Advisory Council. This ensures ongoing communication, aligns efforts with ASNR’s objectives, and creates opportunities for joint initiatives, such as shared research or educational programs, while the Executive Council’s inclusion of subspecialty leaders, like the interventional neuroradiologist Member-at-Large, enhances diverse representation and strategic coordination.

Committee duties and reporting are outlined in ASNR policies, not in the constitution, with the focus of all committees reporting to the Board of Directors.