Special Interest Groups

ON THIS PAGE:

ROLES · STRUCTURE · COMMUNICATION · ANNUAL MEETING · CONVENORS · ROLE AT ASM · REPORTING · NEW SIGs · ALF RELATIONSHIP

ROLES OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)
The SIGs perform important functions within the TSANZ. Their general aim is to foster research collaboration and exchange of information among physicians and scientists within a common, defined area of interest. They also perform four other key roles.

• To contribute to the development and staging of Scientific Sessions at the ASM
• To provide advice to the Executive and Standing Subcommittees of TSANZ
• To provide advice to the Australian Lung Foundation and its consultative Groups on Medical and Scientific Matters
• To keep the broader membership of the TSANZ aware of their activities through regular contribution to the Thoracic Society News

Members of TSANZ are free to join any or no SIG and may join more than one. Members may log into their account on the TSANZ website and include themselves in any SIG that interests them.

The current SIGs are as follows:

Asthma/Allergy Convenors: A/Prof Philip Bardin,  Prof John Wilson, Dr Janet Rimmer	Paediatric Convenors: A/Prof Graham Hall, Dr Sarath Ranganathan
Cell Biology / Immunology Convenors: Dr Janette Burgess, A/Prof Steven Mutsaers	Physiotherapy Convenor: Mrs Nola Cecins
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Convenors: Dr Ian Yang, Dr Richard Wood-Baker	Primary Care Convenor: Dr Wai Kuen Chow
Cystic Fibrosis Convenors: Dr Peter Wark, Dr Claire Wainwright	Respiratory Infectious Diseases Convenors: Dr Justin Waring, Dr Steven Lindstrom
Interventional Pulmonology / Bronchology Convenors: Dr David Fielding, Dr Martin Phillips	Respiratory Nurses Convenors: Mrs Victoria Perry, Ms Tod Adams
Lung Cancer Convenors: A/Prof Matthew Peters, Dr Jeffrey Bowen	Rural & Regional Convenor: Dr Ross Sellar
Occupational & Environmental Lung Disease/ Population Health Convenor: Dr Anthony Johnson	Sleep and Physiology Convenors: Dr Greg King, Dr Bruce Thompson
OLIV (Orphan Lung Disease/Lung Transplant/ Interstitial Lung Disease/Pulmonary Vascular Disease) Convenor: Dr Daniel Chambers	Tobacco and Related Substances Convenors: Dr Bill Musk, Dr Peter Franklin

  STRUCTURE OF SIG
In general, the SIG should have two convenors although one may only be necessary for smaller groups. In the past, it has been open to SIGs to have an executive structure including Secretary, Treasurer and Committee. The SIGs are not fund holders so there is no need for Treasurer functions although legitimate costs incurred in meeting the functions of a SIG will be refunded by the Treasurer.

In practice, it is preferable for the only office holders to be the convenors and for SIGs to form informal groups or working parties to address specific issues as they arise. Thus at any one time each SIG will be composed of

• Two convenors
• SIG members with a specific active task
• Passive SIG members

COMMUNICATION WITHIN EACH SIG
Email is the preferred form of communication within the Executive of each SIG and from the Convenors to SIG members and vice versa. The TSANZ office will maintain a current membership list to facilitate this. There is limited funding for phone hook-ups. Phone conferences should be preceded by email communication so that the matters of greatest significance are discussed. Mail-outs to SIG members will not be funded and paper communication with the broader membership should be through the Thoracic Society News.

 

SIG ANNUAL MEETING
The groups should meet annually in association with the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society. The Annual Meeting Program Subcommittee and PCO will generally allocate a suitable time for the larger SIGs and smaller groups can determine their own. SIG meetings are open to all members of the TSANZ, whether a nominated SIG member or not. All financial Society members, irrespective of membership status are entitled to vote at SIG meetings.

The format of this meeting is to be decided by the groups. Election of convenor(s) will take place at this meeting. At this meeting the following should be addressed

• Activity over the past year
• Current tasks and projects
• Future priorities

The level and range of activity should be judged against the role defined for the SIGs by Council and the Executive.

 

ELECTION OF CONVENORS
The position of convenor can be held for two years - once renewable. Where an election is necessary, this will be by first-past-the-post election to fill the one or two vacancies. When a convenor position is vacated between ASMs, the Executive will, after advice from the SIG, appoint a replacement convenor. That convenor must be elected or replaced at the next ASM.

 

THE ROLE OF THE SIG AT THE ASM
The SIGs play an important role in aiding the organization of the ASM.

• 1. Identification of areas of interest and priority for Plenary and other major sessions.
  1. Proposals for guest speakers or content of part of the Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting will be considered and acted upon by the Central Program Subcommittee.
  2. Factors considered will include the available time, appropriateness to the overall program and balance in meeting the needs of various Special Interest Groups.
  3. The final decisions regarding program content will be the responsibility of the Central Program Subcommittee.
• Organisation of one or more SIG sessions. These may be based on invited speakers, original research or a combination of the two.
• Review of Abstracts submitted that pertain to each SIG
• Nomination of an SIG member to facilitate Poster Discussion as needed.

REPORTING
Each SIG will produce a brief report summarising its activity that will be presented to the Council at its Annual Meeting and, after any necessary clarification, to the AGM of TSANZ. At least one of the Convenors of each SIG should attend the collective SIG convenors meeting at the ASM.

 

PROCESS OF ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW SIG
A proposal for the establishment of a new SIG should be put in the first instance to the convenor of SIGs who will place this before the Executive. The three criteria that need to be satisfied are:

• That the SIG be focussed on an area of important activity for the TSANZ within its aims.
• That the interest shown in the new SIG be sufficient to establish prima facie viability
• That there not be major overlap with an existing SIG

A convenor or convenors for each group will initially be appointed by the Executive subject to election by SIG membership at the next TSANZ ASM.

 

 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIGs AND AUSTRALIAN LUNG FOUNDATION CONSULTATIVE GROUPS
To achieve its aims and objectives, the Australian Lung Foundation has established a number of consultative groups in areas such as

• COPD
• Lung Cancer
• Respiratory Infectious Disease
• Asthma

These groups include many Society members but also allow recruitment of experts who are not Society members. This has the advantage that it allows inclusion of a range of professional and consumers who could not or do not wish to become members of TSANZ.

The Australian Lung Foundation groups do not answer to TSANZ but TSANZ has great interest in their activity. The Thoracic Society anticipates that there will be an interchange between its SIGs and the Australian Lung Foundation's CGs.

In terms of the interaction between SIGs and the Australian Lung Foundation groups, the TSANZ requires:

• The chair of the relevant SIG should be a member of the CG.
• On matters of Respiratory Medicine and Science, the Australian Lung Foundation should defer to the TSANZ for advice.