SBM Board of Directors 2022 Election
This year’s Nominating Committee invites you to review the candidates listed below, then cast your vote for the people you believe will best serve you and the society. The voting form closed April 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET.
You may review candidates’ qualifications by reading their biographical information and personal statements, and by watching their short videos. Serving on the SBM Board requires a commitment of time, talent, energy, and creativity to advance the society’s goals and mission.
Voter Eligibility
You are eligible to vote if you are a full, fellow, emeritus, fellow emeritus, or transitional SBM member, and you have paid 2022 membership dues.
Want to join SBM, renew, or change your membership type? Visit www.sbm.org/membership. If you are unsure of your eligibility to vote, contact the national office at (414) 918-3156.
Open Board Positions
President-Elect
Duties
- Serves a one-year term beginning in April 2022, ascends to president for one year, and then serves as past-president the following year
- Serves as chairperson at any meeting, other than the annual meeting, in the absence of the president
- Performs the duties of the president in case of absence, disability, or resignation
- Makes council and committee chair appointments, subject to Board confirmation
- Works closely with the president on all executive matters
- As president, attends and schedules meetings of the Board, the annual meeting of the society, and any special meetings that may be called; prepares the agendas for the meetings; is responsible in all matters, stated or implied, that are related to welfare, stature, and proper operation of the society; and performs other duties as necessarily incident to the office of president or as may be prescribed by the Board
- As immediate past-president, presides at the annual Board meeting in the absence of the president, and at all meetings in the absence of both the president and president-elect
Bernard Fuemmeler, PhD, MPH
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Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD
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Member Delegate
Duties
- Serves a three-year term beginning in April 2022
- Represents the broad-based interests of the membership
- Serves on the Executive Committee as a voting member
Please rank your first and second preference for Member Delegate. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first preference votes will have their second preference votes assigned to the remaining candidates. This process will repeat until a candidate crosses the 50% threshold.
Joanna Buscemi, PhD
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Scherezade Mama, DrPH
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Kenneth Tercyak, PhD
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Amendments to the bylaws of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Inc.
Instructions: Please cast your vote for or against the following proposed amendments to the corporation’s bylaws. The amendments are proposed by the SBM Board of Directors, and are summarized below via a side-by-side comparison.
- Amendment 1 would codify the Board of Directors’ right to create SBM policies, including a Code of Ethics; would reiterate the privilege of SBM membership in accordance with SBM’s Code of Ethics and Enforcement Policy; and would remove Board Member disciplinary procedure language as that is governed by SBM’s Code of Ethics and Enforcement Policy.
- Amendment 2 would make several changes to align with SBM’s new Board-approved organizational chart. This amendment would reconfigure councils and committees, including changing some council and committee names and descriptions, and listing fewer committees to provide greater flexibility to the Board of Directors. Committees no longer listed in the Bylaws would continue their work under the new organizational chart, but would not be formally listed in the Bylaws. This amendment would also update and specify the processes for creating or dissolving councils and committees and for appointing council and committee chairs.
- Amendment 3 would use consistent terminology for Board Members and clarify Board quorum and majority.
- Amendment 4 would revise the indemnification section to correspond to updated provisions of New York nonprofit laws that require or permit indemnification under specified circumstances, and to explicitly permit SBM to carry insurance to cover pertinent risks.
- Amendment 5 would allow flexibility for today’s preferred digital communication styles.
Eligible voting members are those who have paid 2022 dues in one of the following member categories: full member, fellow, fellow emeritus, emeritus, or transitional.
Current Bylaws |
Bylaws as Proposed to be Amended |
| Amendment 1: | |
| None, this Article is new |
Article XVIII: Policies, Procedures, Code Of Ethics: Enforcement: The Board of Directors or designated committee of the Board, by resolution, shall adopt such rules, regulations, policies and procedures as it may deem necessary and appropriate to the operation of the Society, including, but not limited to, a Conflicts of Interest Policy, a Code of Ethics and policies and procedures to enforce any and all of the foregoing, which shall be binding upon all members, officers, Board Members, and awardees of the Society; provided, however, that no rule, regulations, policy or procedure may be adopted by the Corporation that is contrary to these Bylaws and applicable law as may be amended from time to time. |
| Article IV: Section 1: There shall be seven categories of membership: Full, Student in Training, Transitional, Associate, Fellow, Affiliate and Emeritus. |
ARTICLE IV: Section 1: There shall be seven categories of membership: Full, Student in Training, Transitional, Associate, Fellow, Affiliate and Emeritus. Membership of any category in the Society shall be a privilege and not a right. |
| Article VII: Section 3. Removal: Failure by any officer, council or committee chairperson to attend two consecutive Board meetings without just cause may be grounds for removal from office and from the Board by a two-thirds vote of the Board. A member of the Board of Directors will be given four (4) weeks prior written notice of the Board's intention to remove him/her so that he/she may prepare and present a defense. |
Article VII: Section 3. Removal: Failure by any Board Member to attend two consecutive Board meetings without just cause may be grounds for removal from office and from the Board by a two-thirds vote of the Board. |
| Amendment 2: | |
| ARTICLE VII: Section 2. Composition of Board: Except for the initial Board set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Society, the Board shall be comprised of the following voting Members: President, Immediate Past-President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, three (3) elected Member Delegates, and Chairs of the seven (7) Councils: Education, Training, and Career Development, Publications & Communications, Membership, Council on Special Interest Groups, Scientific & Professional Liaison, Health Policy Council, and Digital Health Council. The seven (7) Council Chairs shall be responsible to the Board for actions taken, statements made, or reports issued in the name of the Society by the Councils and/or committees under their jurisdiction. A Board Member may not concurrently hold more than one position on the Board. If a Chair of one of the seven (7) Councils is elected to another office, the President shall, with the approval of the Board, appoint a member to complete that Chair's term of office. In no event shall any member of the Board be allowed more than one vote. |
ARTICLE VII: Section 2. Composition of Board: Except for the initial Board set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Society, the Board shall be comprised of the following voting Members: President, Immediate Past-President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, three (3) elected Member Delegates, and Chairs of the six (6) Councils: Advocacy Council, Development Council, Membership Council, Professional Advancement Council, Publications Council, and Scientific Education Council. The Council Chairs shall be responsible to the Board for actions taken, statements made, or reports issued in the name of the Society by the Councils and/or committees under their jurisdiction. A Board Member may not concurrently hold more than one position on the Board. If a Chair of one of the Councils is elected to another office, the President-Elect shall, with the approval of the Board, appoint a member to complete that Chair's term of office. In no event shall any member of the Board be allowed more than one vote. |
| ARTICLE VIII: Councils: Councils may be created by these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board or of the general membership, to function on behalf of the Board in a manner provided for in the Bylaws or in the aforesaid resolution or resolutions or letters of Presidential appointment. Councils constituted by any other means shall not be recognized as representing the Society. Permanent councils of the society include: Digital Health, Education, Training & Career Development; Health Policy; Membership; Publications & Communications; Council on SIGs; and Scientific and Professional Liaison. Each permanent council will have no fewer than five members. One member will be appointed Chairperson by the President-Elect and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall maintain balanced professional representation of the Board by appointing council chairs representing diverse disciplines in the behavioral and biomedical fields. All Council chairs and council members must be members of the Society in good standing. The council chair will be responsible to appoint members to their council with final approval by the Board. The council chair and council members will serve a three-year term. Section 1. The seven (7) permanent Councils are: (a) Council on Special Interest Groups (SIG). This Council is charged with developing and fostering scientific activities in specific fields and specialties, joint interdisciplinary programs and services with other professional organizations, and represents scientific specialties of the Society in the international behavioral medicine community. (b) Digital Health Council. This Council will support the Board’s work broadly related to: developing partnerships with the digital health industry and other professional societies focused on digital health; positioning SBM as a leader in the development, dissemination, and evaluation of high impact, evidence-based digital health solutions; identifying opportunities for SBM to create educational content that can be disseminated via technology-mediated channels to raise awareness of SBM’s work and potentially generate revenue for the Society; working to secure funding for Annual Meeting activities through an expanded digital health vendor presence at the Annual Meeting; supporting SBM members doing digital health research by making connections between academic researchers and industry and facilitating SBM recognition of member digital health contributions. (c) Education, Training & Career Development Council. This Council is responsible for identifying existing education and training programs and promoting the development of new interdisciplinary education, training, and career development efforts in behavioral medicine. (d) Health Policy Council. This Council is charged with developing and fostering health policy initiatives and activities congruent with the mission of the society. Moreover the Council is responsible for ensuring coordination of the activities of the Health Policy Committee and the Civic and Public Engagement Committee. (e) Membership Council. This Council is charged with building and maintaining a multi-disciplinary membership of behavioral medicine professionals. The Membership Council is responsible for the evaluation of applications for membership and the establishment of appropriate criteria for membership. (f) Publications & Communications Council. This Council is responsible for disseminating the highest quality scientific information and literature to members, non-member health professionals, and the general public. (g) Scientific & Professional Liaison Council. This Council is charged with developing and fostering joint interdisciplinary programs and services with other professional organizations. |
ARTICLE VIII: Councils: The Board of Directors will set policies for creating and dissolving councils, to function on behalf of the Board with respect to matters of interest to the Society. Councils constituted by any other means shall not be recognized as representing the Society. Each council will have no fewer than five members. One member will be appointed Chairperson by the President-Elect and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall maintain balanced professional representation of the Board by appointing council chairs representing diverse disciplines in the behavioral and biomedical fields. All Council chairs and council members must be members of the Society in good standing. The council chair will be responsible to appoint members to their council with final approval by the Board. The council chair and council members will serve a three-year term. Section 1. The six (6) Councils are: (a) Advocacy Council: This council is responsible for advancing the Society’s health policy priorities. (b) Development Council: This council is responsible for Society fundraising and other financial support. (c) Membership Council: This council is responsible for building and maintaining a multi-disciplinary membership of diverse behavioral medicine professionals. This council is responsible for the evaluation of applications for Society membership and the establishment of appropriate criteria for membership. (d) Professional Advancement Council: This council is responsible for supporting members’ careers over their life course, via trainings, programs, networking, mentoring, and other opportunities such as leadership roles and award recognition. (e) Publications Council: This council is responsible for disseminating the highest quality scientific information and literature to members, non-member health professionals, and the general public. (f) Scientific Education Council: This council is responsible for supporting members’ scientific pursuits, via scientific education, trainings, and events, including the Society’s annual meeting |
| ARTICLE IX: Committees: Section 1. There will be eight (8) standing committees: (a) Nominating Committee: The President with the approval of the Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee which reflects the multidisciplinary composition of the voting membership. The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven (7) Full Members. The chair for this committee should be the immediate past president. In the event the Immediate Past President is not available, the President shall appoint another officer to serve as chair. (b) Finance Committee: This committee shall be responsible for recommendations regarding fiscal policy to the Board, including but not limited to proposals and recommendations regarding investment and management of Society reserves. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as chair and shall propose a budget for the next fiscal year for approval by the Board. The Secretary-Treasurer/Finance Committee chair shall review expenditures periodically and advise the President in advance of any proposed expenditures which are in excess of the budget or which might reasonably appear to become in excess of the budget. The President-elect shall appoint Finance Committee members consisting of the Chair of the Development Committee and at least one other full member of the Society. The term of office for all members of the Finance Committee shall be for three (3) years and members on this committee shall not serve more than two (2) successive terms. (c) Health Policy Committee: The Health Policy Committee will identify, assess and develop key opportunities to inform the policy debate at the federal and state level on issues related to the SBM mission. The Committee may develop policy positions for the Society to be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee acting for the Board. These shall highlight the contributions of behavioral medicine in advancing healthcare and public health. The Committee may work with other Committees and Councils of the Society in its policy work and establish relationships with other scientific groups and associations involved in public policy. The President-Elect with approval of the Board shall name a Committee Chair. The Committee Chair shall invite up to ten (10) other Society members to serve on the Committee who have interest and experience in health policy issues. The term of office for the Chair shall be three (3) years. The Chair shall not serve more than one term. The President and President-Elect will participate as ex-officio members. (d) Program Committee:
(f) Awards Committee: The Awards Committee is charged with soliciting, reviewing, and recommending for selection the nominations for Society of Behavioral Medicine Achievement Awards and Fellow membership status. All recommendations for award recipients are subject to approval by the SBM Board of Directors. The Committee is also charged with providing recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding awards policy. In addition to coordinating with the ETCD Council in determining student and mentor related awards, the Awards Committee may also consult and utilize other members and/or other Councils or Committees of the Society in the review process. The Awards Committee is additionally charged with considering members for the status of Fellow subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Awards Committee consists of the chair, appointed by the President for a 3-year term, the Chair of the ETCD Council and five members selected by said chair, which should represent a balance of clinical, (eg: clinical psychology, medicine, nursing, public health) and non-clinical (eg: basic behavioral, basic biomedical science) disciplines, for staggered terms. (g) Civic and Public Engagement Committee: The Civic and Public Engagement Committee is charged with continuously monitoring the health policy environment for the purposes of identifying opportunities for endorsing and/or advocating for policies or policy changes congruent with the mission and vision of the Society. The environment includes, but is not limited to, current or proposed laws, regulations, and practices. Activities may include the development and publication of position statements, journal articles, opinion pieces, letters to editors, blogs, tweets, and legislator or regulator education. Messages must comply with 1) Executive Committee or Board-approved content and 2) IRS regulations covering 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organizations. The Committee consists of a chair, appointed by the President-elect for a 3-year term, and at least two other Society members appointed by the Chair to serve 3-year terms. Section 2. There will be one (1) special committee: (a) Audit Committee: The Audit Committee shall receive, review, and recommend approval of the annual audit report from the auditors and ensure that the full Board and the staff are aware of and responsive to any issues raised by the auditors. The Audit Committee shall consist of three (3) full members. When the Audit Committee is initially formed, the President-Elect, with approval of the Board, shall name three (3) former Board members to the Committee, one appointed for a three-year term, a second member appointed for a two-year term, and a third member to be appointed for a one-year term. The President-Elect, with approval of the Board, shall name the first Chair who can be any one of the initial three members. In subsequent years, the President-Elect, with Board approval, shall appoint members, as needed, as well as the Chair; the Chair shall be chosen from among members who have served at least one year on the Finance and/or Audit Committee. |
ARTICLE IX: Committees: The Board of Directors may from time to time establish or dissolve committees, to function on behalf of the Board with respect to matters of interest to the Society. One member will be appointed Chairperson by the President-Elect and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall maintain balanced professional representation of the Board by appointing committee chairs representing diverse disciplines in the behavioral and biomedical fields. All committee chairs and committee members must be members of the Society in good standing. The committee chair will be responsible to appoint members to their committee with final approval by the Board. The committee chair and committee members will serve a three-year term. Section 1. There will be two (2) standing committees: (a) Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee: The Leadership Identification and Inclusion committee shall solicit and review candidate nominations for elections of Society Board of Directors’ officers, in accordance with SBM’s Bylaws and Policies. This committee shall ensure the Society has a full slate of candidates for elections, while considering the diversity of the Society’s membership. The Immediate Past-President with the approval of the Board shall appoint a Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee which reflects the multidisciplinary composition of the voting membership. The committee shall consist of seven (7) voting Members. The chair for this committee should be the Immediate Past President. In the event the Immediate Past President is not available, the President shall appoint another officer to serve as chair. (b) Audit Committee: The Audit Committee shall receive, review, and recommend approval of the annual audit report from the auditors and ensure that the full Board and the staff are aware of and responsive to any issues raised by the auditors. The Audit Committee shall consist of three (3) full members. When the Audit Committee is initially formed, the President-Elect, with approval of the Board, shall name three (3) former Board members to the Committee, one appointed for a three-year term, a second member appointed for a two-year term, and a third member to be appointed for a one-year term. The President-Elect, with approval of the Board, shall name the first Chair who can be any one of the initial three members. In subsequent years, the President-Elect, with Board approval, shall appoint members, as needed, as well as the Chair. |
| ARTICLE V: Section 3: Nomination of Officers: The Nominating Committee shall invite suggestions from the membership for nominations for those offices that are vacant or are about to expire, allowing at least thirty (30) days for such suggestions. The Nominating Committee shall place on the slate for election of officers the name of the qualified candidate receiving the largest number of nominations by the membership. In addition, the Nominating Committee may add to such slate additional member-suggested names or names of candidates of its own choice. The Nominating Committee shall strive to maintain balanced professional representation among SBM's officers including a balance among the professional groups and disciplines whose diversity is a major strength of the Society. At least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting of members for any year, the Nominating Committee shall release to the membership the slate for the election of officers with no fewer than two (2) candidates for each office. Voting and counting of votes for election of officers shall be by the Hare system. As used here, the Hare System will be based on members ranking the candidates for each office for which there are more than two candidates. If a candidate wins more than half of the 1st-place votes, that person shall be declared elected. If not, the candidate with the fewest 1st-place votes shall be removed and the second place votes of those who voted for that person shall be assigned to the remaining candidates. This shall be repeated until one candidate receives more than half of the votes. |
ARTICLE V: Section 3: Nomination of Officers: The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee shall invite suggestions from the voting membership for nominations for those offices that are vacant or are about to expire, allowing at least thirty (30) days for such suggestions. The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee shall place on the slate for election of officers the name of the qualified candidate receiving the largest number of nominations by the membership. In addition, the Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee may add to such slate additional member-suggested names or names of candidates of its own choice. The Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee shall strive to maintain balanced professional representation among SBM's officers including a balance among the professional groups and disciplines whose diversity is a major strength of the Society. At least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting of members for any year, the Leadership Identification and Inclusion Committee shall release to the voting membership the slate for the election of officers with no fewer than two (2) candidates for each office. Voting and counting of votes for election of officers shall be by the Hare system. As used here, the Hare System will be based on members ranking the candidates for each office for which there are more than two candidates. If a candidate wins more than half of the 1st-place votes, that person shall be declared elected. If not, the candidate with the fewest 1st-place votes shall be removed and the second place votes of those who voted for that person shall be assigned to the remaining candidates. This shall be repeated until one candidate receives more than half of the votes. |
| Amendment 3: | |
| ARTICLE VII: Section 4. Meetings: Meetings of the Board shall be held no less than two (2) times during each administrative year at such time and at such place as the Board may prescribe. Other meetings of the Board may be called by the President or at the request of any three directors by notice mailed, delivered, or e-mailed to each member of the Board, not less than one week before the meeting is held. The President may invite other persons to attend any Board meeting ex-officio. Action taken with the consent of a majority of Directors shall constitute a valid action of the Board and shall be reported at the next regular meeting of the Board. … |
ARTICLE VII: Section 4. Meetings: Meetings of the Board shall be held no less than two (2) times during each administrative year at such time and at such place as the Board may prescribe. Other meetings of the Board may be called by the President or at the request of any Board Members by notice mailed, delivered, or e-mailed to each member of the Board, not less than one week before the meeting is held. The President may invite other persons to attend any Board meeting ex-officio. Attendance by a majority of the Board Members shall constitute a quorum. Action taken with the consent of a majority of Board Members participating in a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute a valid action of the Board. … |
| ARTICLE VII: Section 6. Compensation: No officer, or member of the Board of Directors of the Society may receive a fee for any services rendered to the Society except for situations expressly approved by the full Board of Directors. Additionally, officers or directors may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred by attending meetings. |
ARTICLE VII: Section 6. Compensation: No officer, or member of the Board of Directors of the Society may receive a fee for any services rendered to the Society except for situations expressly approved by the full Board of Directors. Additionally, Board Members may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred by attending meetings. |
| Amendment 4: | |
| ARTICLE XV: Indemnification of Liability for Directors and Offices: A director, officer, employee, or member of the corporation is not liable on the corporation’s debts nor obligations and a director, officer, member, or other volunteer is not personally liable in that capacity, for a claim based upon an act or omission of the person performed in the discharge of the person’s duties, except for a breach of the duty of loyalty to the corporation, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, or for a transaction from which the person derives an improper personal benefit. |
ARTICLE XV: Indemnification: The Society shall, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, indemnify its Officers, Board Members, employees and volunteers and their respective heirs and personal representatives against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses and costs, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, or in connection with any appeal therein, asserted against the Officer, Board Member, employee or volunteer by court action, or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person was an Officer, Board Member, employee or volunteer of the Society and acting in good-faith for a purpose which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Society, and was not unlawful, unethical or immoral. Expenses so incurred by any persons in defending any such action, suit or proceeding shall likewise at their request be paid by the Society in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding to the full extent that advancement of expenses may be permitted by applicable law. In order to assure adequate indemnification, the Society may purchase and maintain appropriate Directors and Officers (“D & O”) liability insurance coverage. |
| Amendment 5: | |
| None, this section is new. | ARTICLE XIX: Notices: Any written notices under the Bylaws can be delivered in any electronic form. |