Committees and Task Forces

 
The Society is “member driven.” What this means is that without you – our members– volunteering your expertise and time, the role that ASTMH plays on the U.S. and global stage would be significantly lessened. You provide the review of the scientific content at the Annual Meeting; you review manuscripts for AJTMH; you determine the content and speakers for the Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health and the Pre-Meeting Courses; you are the committees that think about the needs of our younger members, our international members, our awards, fellowships and speakers for lectures, and you are elected by your fellow members to lead the Society and our five subgroups, which are where so many of our members make new connections, hone their scientific interests and are exposed to what it means to say that ASTMH is their professional home.  

Quite simply, ASTMH would not be what it is without you.

If you want to know more about a committee or task force, please contact the staff person listed.

Awards and Fellowships
 
Alan J. Magill Fellowship Committee
Responsible for the review and selection of the awardee. This annual award of $50,000 is for early-to-mid-career candidates   in low/low-middle income countries and provides funding for mentorship, career and/or development projects focusing on leadership development in tropical medicine/global health. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Annual Meeting Travel Awards Committee
Responsible for the review and selection of qualified students, early-career investigators and scientists actively working in the tropical medicine field to attend and participate (poster or oral presentation) in the Annual Meeting. These awards facilitate participation for those who might not otherwise be able to attend. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Benjamin H. Kean Travel Fellowship in Tropical Medicine Committee
Responsible for the review and selection of candidates for this research travel award, which provides travel expenses for medical students who arrange clinical or research electives in tropical areas. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Burroughs Wellcome Fund-ASTMH Fellowship Committee
Responsible for the review and selection of candidates for individuals to conduct research in tropical infectious diseases. The fellowship provides one year of support of $65,000 and with the successful completion of certain criteria, a second award of $65,000 is offered. Financial support is graciously provided by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Centennial Travel Award
Responsible for the review and selection of the awardee. This annual award provides $25,000 for hands-on field experience to students studying the laboratory and epidemiologic aspects of tropical diseases. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Communications Award Committee
Responsible for selection of the awardee for the annual Communications Award, which recognizes exceptional achievement in tropical medicine journalism. Staff support: Please contact Doug Dusik Senior Manager, Communications.
 
ASTMH Distinguished International Fellow Committee
Responsible for the review of candidates for this prestigious honor, which recognizes up to eight non-U.S. individuals who have made eminent contributions to a particular aspect of tropical medicine/global health or hygiene. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Donald Krogstad Research Award for Early-Career Malian Scientists
Responsible for the review and selection of the awardee. This annual award of $25,000, made possible through the generosity of the Krogstad family, is for early-career scientists from Mali to pursue research in tropical medicine and/or public health with the goal of improving the lives of Malians. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Fellow of ASTMH (FASTMH) Committee
Responsible for the review of candidates for this prestigious honor, which recognizes ASTMH members who have sustained professional excellence in any phase of tropical medicine, hygiene, global health and related disciplines. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Medals Committee
Comprised of recent ASTMH presidents, who determine the medal recipients for the Society-level medals: Bailey K. Ashford, Ben Kean, Donald MacKay, Joseph Augustin LePrince, Clara Ludlow and Walter Reed. Staff support: Please contact Doug Dusik Senior Manager, Communications.
 
Robert E. Shope International Fellowship Committee
Responsible for the review and section of the awardee. This annual award provides $25,000 to support international training opportunities in arbovirology and emerging diseases for those with MD, DVM, PhD or related doctoral degrees. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Young Investigator Award Committee
Responsible for the review and selection of the applicants to participate in the Young Investigator Award competition at the Annual Meeting. Committee members’ obligations can include serving as a judge at the event at the Annual Meeting. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn, Manager, Membership.
Download the Guidelines
Submit your application to Buffy Finn by May 8, 2023.
 
Membership
 
International Members Committee - Donate to the LMIC Membership Campaign
Charged with generating ideas to attract new non-U.S. members, retain existing non-U.S. members and enhance overall participation of international members in ASTMH. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Membership Committee - Donate to the LMIC Membership Campaign
Develops and oversees all Society membership initiatives. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Student Trainee Committee
Charged with identifying efforts to strengthen engagement with and opportunities for trainees, students, pre-doctoral, post-doctoral trainees and early-career professionals with an interest in and passion for tropical medicine/global health. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Scientific Program and Clinical Excellence

Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health (CTropMed®) Committee
Led by ASTMH’s subgroup the Clinical Group, this committee oversees the CTropMed® Examination, including item writing, item review, content development and review of applications to sit for the examination. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Digital Education Committee
The Digital Education Committee is charged with providing direction and support for digital educational activities of the Society. Staff Support: Please contact Miranda Rogliano, Project Manager.
 
Diploma Course Certification Committee
Led by ASTMH’s subgroup the Clinical Group, this committee reviews and approves diploma course applications to become an ASTMH-approved Diploma Course. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
AJTMH Editorial Board
Oversees editorial content of monthly Journal.  Staff support: Please contact Cathi Siegel, AJTMH Managing Editor.
 
Scientific Program Committee
The Scientific Program Committee is responsible for the scientific review of the abstracts, posters and symposia submitted for the Annual Meeting. See list of committee members here. Staff support: Please contact Judy DeAcetis, Administrative Manager-Scientific Program.

Soper/Craig Annual Meeting Lecture Committee
The Soper/Craig Annual Meeting Lecture Committee is responsible for selecting a presenter for the Charles Franklin Craig Lecture and Fred L. Soper Lecture that are held in alternate years at the Annual Meeting. Staff support: Please contact Judy DeAcetis, Administrative Manager-Scientific Program.
 
Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers’ Health Committee
Led by ASTMH’s subgroup the Clinical Group, this committee determines the content and faculty for the annual Update Course. This virtual course has an emphasis on preparation for the CTropMed® examination. Staff support: Please contact Buffy Finn Manager, Membership.
 
Development/Fundraising
 
Development Committee
At the direction of the Board of Directors and aligned with the Society’s strategic plan, identifies prospective donors and partners with the goal of enabling the Society to support its mission through the creation of new revenue streams. Staff support: Please contact: Rebecca Hamel, Manager, Development.
 
Governance
 
Board of Trustees
The Board of Directors are elected by the members of the Society to provide the strategic direction for the Society. Each member of the Board has a legal obligation to ensure that the Society is well managed and serves in the best interests of the Society and its members. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships.
 
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee is charged with determining the slate of candidates each year for open Board positions and the President-elect for the Society. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz Manager, Board and Fellowships. For questions about nominations for any of the five subgroups, please contact Buffy Finn, Manager, Membership.
 
Task Forces
 
Green Task Force
Charged with identifying opportunities that ASTMH can use to reduce its carbon footprint and promote environmentally sustainable efforts within the ASTMH community. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships. 

Inclusion/Respect Task Force
Charged with identifying opportunities that further ASTMH’s commitment to the open exchange of ideas, freedom of thought and expression, and productive scientific debate that are central to our mission. Staff support: Please contact Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships. 
 
GoTropMed