Get Involved

As a member-led and driven organization, ACOG depends on the active participation of its members to help it grow by taking on a leadership or a volunteer role, or by voting. We encourage members across ACOG to take part in this process.

Below is more information to help members learn how they can participate. This resource describes positions, qualifications, processes and timelines for opportunities as a national officer, district or section officer, junior fellow leader, or committee member.

Fellow

Darney-Landy Fellows

The Darney-Landy Fellow position at ACOG is a one-year placement for obstetrician–gynecologists with fellowship training in complex family planning. It honors the clinical excellence of Phil Darney, MD, MSc, FACOG, and the collaborative advocacy of Uta Landy, PhD. This role offers obstetrician–gynecologists the opportunity to lend their expertise and training to ACOG's work in advocacy, education, and clinical guidance development related to contraception, abortion, and early pregnancy loss. Darney-Landy Fellows work in-house at ACOG, collaborating daily with ACOG leadership and staff, and are public spokespeople for ACOG regarding the critical nature of reproductive health care.

Learn more about ACOG's Darney-Landy Fellows.

National Level

Officer positions at the national level include President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Fellow-at-Large, and Young Physician-at-Large. All ACOG Fellows are eligible for national office, except for the Fellow-at-Large and the Young Physician-at-Large positions (which have certain eligibility criteria). A letter is emailed to Fellows each February outlining the National offices to be filled and how to become a candidate for one of the offices. Similar notifications occur through the ACOG website. Considerations for elected office include, leadership ability, availability, communication skills, prior experience, respect of ACOG members, and achievements in the profession.

Learn more about National elections.

District Level

Every year, each District elects or appoints a District Vice Chair who will serve two consecutive years as Chair Elect and Chair, respectively. The District Chair must serve on the Executive Board, consider and address issues that arise in the District, and coordinate the activities of Section Chairs within the District. Each District also elects a Secretary and a Treasurer for a term of one year. All officers must be a member of the District in which they are elected and remain so during their tenure of service.

The Nominating Committee solicits nominations each spring via email and website announcements. Candidates seeking nomination should submit their application materials by June 1. The Nominating Committee meets after August 1, selects a slate of candidates for each role, and presents the slate to the District Advisory Committee for approval. The slate of candidates must be finalized by December 1. Voting begins no later than December 15 and ends no later than February 1. Election results are announced during the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.

Learn more about District elections.

Section Level

Each Section elects or appoints a Chair and Vice Chair. Secretary and Treasurer positions are also available depending on the Section. All officers must be a member of the Section in which they are elected and remain so during their tenure of service. The Chair and Vice Chair must serve as members of the District Advisory Council, keep informed about the purposes and policies of ACOG, coordinate member activities to exert a strong influence on women's health, and stimulate interest in the ob-gyn specialty.

Note that the election process may vary by Section. Typically, the Nominating Committee solicits nominations between March and May via email and website announcements. Candidates seeking nomination should submit their application materials by June 1. The Nominating Committee meets after August 1 and selects a slate of one or two candidates for each office. Voting occurs between December and February and election results are announced during the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. 

Learn more about Section elections.

Young Physician

District Young Physician Representatives

The District Young Physician Representative primarily serves as the representative for the Young Physicians of the District (defined as being a Fellow for eight or fewer years). The District Young Physician Representative brings important ideas and perspectives related to transitioning from residency/fellowship to practice. They can also help the District Junior Fellow Officers represent the Junior Fellows in Practice (as they will likely have similar issues).  

The term of office will be two years and concomitant with the tenure of the District Chair. Learn more about this role.

National Young Physician-At-Large

The Young Physician-at-Large (YPAL) primarily serves as the representative for ACOG members who are within their first eight years of ACOG fellowship. The National YPAL brings important ideas and perspectives related to transitioning from residency/fellowship to practice to the ACOG Executive Board. They maintain bidirectional communication with the ACOG Executive Board to inform them of regional issues, while disseminating national information from the Executive Board back to the District level by way of the District Young Physician Representatives. The YPAL representatives focus on mentorship, career development, work/life balance, and ensuring Young Physician members throughout the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have access to the resources they need to be successful as they begin their career as an ACOG Fellow.

An email is sent to Fellows each February outlining open National positions and how to apply. Considerations for elected office include leadership ability, availability, communication skills, prior experience, respect of the ACOG members and achievements in the profession. Learn more about this role.

Other Opportunities

Committees

In order to serve on an ACOG committee, candidates must fill out the online ACOG Application for Committee Service. The President Elect begins the process of appointing new committee members to serve on ACOG committees in the fall. Committee terms begin at the conclusion of the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. Learn more about ACOG committees.

Mentorship

ACOG's Mentorship Program connects experienced ob-gyns with younger physicians (including those new to practice, Junior Fellows, and medical students) through a formal mentor-mentee matching program, and informal networking at meetings and events. Participants have the opportunity to develop a career-changing relationship that grows into a lifelong bond with colleagues.

Questions?

Do you have more questions about how to get involved at ACOG? Contact us at [email protected] or (202) 863-2531.