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Association of Physicians of Ross University in Dominica

P. O. Box 266, Portsmouth,

Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies

Tel: 809 - 445 - 5355 Ext. 260

Fax: 809 - 445 – 5383

e-mail at aprud2000@yahoo.com

Download a membership application (.pdf format)

Constitution of (APRUD) the

ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS OF ROSS UNIVERSITY IN DOMINICA

I Preamble

Recognizing the need for an organization that could assist in the professional, economic, and social growth, of the physicians who are affiliated to the educational, research, and health care aspects of the Ross University Community, we do hereby form an organization hereinafter identified as the Association of Physicians of Ross University in Dominica (APRUD).

II Purpose

The purposes of this association includes, but is not limited to

(1) maintaining the ethical conduct of the profession,

(2) assisting Ross Medical Students educationally & professionally,

(3) assisting the Medical School in the orientation & social integration of the students,

(4) contributing a professional input into the curriculum for the training of physicians,

(5) helping to ensure that Ross University produces competent physicians for the present and future,

(6) organizing educational programs & Continuing Medical Education (CME) for the medical community in Dominica,

(7) assisting its members in their research activities,

(8) representing the body of members to administrative, governmental and other organizations,

(9) negotiating and entering into agreements and contracts with financial institutions like insurance companies to enhance the well-being of its members,

(10) helping to arrange for professional legal insurance coverage for it’s members,

(11) providing technical consultations to health care authorities when needed,

(12) participating in social-welfare and community programs,

(13) providing opportunities for social interactions for the members and their families and friends, and,

(14) enhancing the image of Ross University School of Medicine locally and internationally.

III Membership

III . 1 There shall be five categories of membership namely, Full Members, Associate    Members, Affiliate members, Honorary Members and Student Members. Moral and ethical conduct is a pre-requisite for membership

III . 2 A Full member is defined as one who has successfully completed the prescribed medical education in a country, and holds a medical degree, MB, MD, or DO, and is eligible for licensing to practice as a medical doctor in that country and / or in Dominica, and who is activel participating in the educational or health care activities of Ross University. Ross University medical graduates by virtue of being an Alumni, are eligible for full membership. Senior Ross Faculty may be advanced from Affiliate membership to full membership as defined in section III. 4.

III .3 Associate member is defined as one who has successfully completed the prescribed medical education and holds a medical degree, MB or MD and is licensed in the Commonwealth of Dominica but who is not actively involved in teaching, health care, or research at Ross University. Such persons should receive the approval of the full members (by simple majority vote) of the association, by virtue of their showing special interest & support for the activities of the association.

III . 4 An Affiliate Member is defined as a full time Faculty of Ross University, but who does not hold a medical degree, and who is accepted for membership by a simple majority of full members on the recommendation of a full member of the association. An affiliate member who has achieved the rank of full Professor at Ross Unversity, and who has made a significant contribution to medicine, medical education, or health care, may be advanced to full membership by a simple majority of full members on the advise of the Executive Body.

III . 5 An honorary member is defined as one, whose outstanding achievements in the field of medicine, or, whose outstanding contributions to the cause of the association, is recognized by the association, and has had such honorary membership bestowed by a simple majority of the full membership on the recommendation of the Executive Body.

III . 6 A Student Member is defined as a Ross Medical Student in semester 5, or, a Ross Clinical Student in years 3 or 4, each of whom has been recommended to the association by a full member and who receives the approval of a simple majority of full members.

IV Administration

1. The General Body is defined as the assembly of the Full Members in good standing. There shall be at least one meetings of this body per University semester. The quorum for the general body shall be 30% of the membership. In the event that the quorum requirement in any general body meeting is not satisfied, the number of members who attended such meeting shall be the quorum for a subsequent meeting called for the same purpose, after providing due notice. Members of the general body can call an extraordinary general body meeting through a petition signed by 25% of the full membership, and submitted to the secretary.

2. The Executive Committee shall consist of six members, namely, President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations officer, and Immediate Past-President, duly elected from the full membership, by the General Body by a fifty percent plus one majority of the full members present and voting, at a General Body Meeting called for that purpose. The term of office for the Executive Committee Members shall be one year. Members are eligible for re-election to the same position only for one consecutive term. The Executive Committee is the Executive body of the Association

The Executive Committee can appoint subcommittees for specific purposes for a limited period of time not exceeding one year. All decisions of the committee shall be by consensus. When a consensus could not be reached, a simple majority of the committee members, is considered decisive. The person who chairs the committee meeting would only vote in the event of a tie.

3. The President is the chief executive officer of the Association. He/she would preside over all the General Body and Executive Committee meetings of the association. He/she shall place his/her hand and seal on all official documents including membership certificate, negotiable instruments and nonnegotiable instruments.

4. Vice- President shall assume the responsibilities of the president in the absence or removal of the president. He/she may be asked to chair subcommittees or be involved in any other activities delegated by the executive committee.

5. The Secretary is responsible for maintaining all documents including membership rosters, minutes of executive committee and general body meetings, and nonnegotiable instruments. He/she is also responsible for calling all meetings of the general body and the executive committee. The Secretary also should give an annual report to the general body regarding the activities of the association for that year.

6. The Treasurer is responsible for collection of dues, collection of other revenue, issuing proper receipts, paying all expenses on behalf of the association, maintaining all financial records, safe keeping all negotiable instruments, providing periodic reports to the executive committee regarding the financial status of the association, participating in all negotiations with other financial institutions involving financial entanglements and to provide an annual report to the general body

7. The Public relations officer shall be responsible for promoting the image of the    association, organizing social activities, recruitment of new members, arranging CME and research meetings, and liaising with the University and the general public as directed by the meeting of the general membership or, the executive body.

V Election

Election of officers shall be conducted during the first general body meeting of the calender year after giving due notice to its members in writing. A special committee appointed by the executive committee shall receive nominations and conduct the elections. Nominations from the floor during the general body meeting are acceptable if the nominees presented by the nominating committee failed to get the required majority. The new elected body shall take office during the same general body meeting.

VI Voting

Voting shall be by secret ballot. Only full members in good standing shall be eligible to vote.

VII Dues and Subscriptions

Full Members, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members, will pay an annual subscription ( as determined by the bye-laws ) to the treasurer. Student members in their clinical years will pay an annual fee of one quarter the full membership fee. Student members in their fifth semester, and honorary members, are exempted from the payment of an annual fee.

VIII Resignation, suspension and removal of members

In the event of resignation, disability, or suspension of a member, the officer who follows the hierarchy defined in paragraph 2 of section 4 will assume responsibility for the office until a meeting of the general body elects a replacement.

IX Amendments to the constitution

Any amendments to the constitution shall only be entertained after receiving a signed petition by two full members containing the request for such amendment. The suggested amendments should be intimated to its members at least thirty days in advance of the next general body meeting during which such amendments should be voted on. A two third majority of the members in good standing, present and voting is required to accept the amendment.

X Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the organization all the proceeds of the association shall go to Ross University / Princess Margaret Hospital ( PMH) / the Portsmouth Hospital / or, the Pan American health Organization ( PAHO ), in the order presented.

APRUD II June 1999

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