The Department serves as the liaison to over 500 Fellow and Junior Fellow Officers. ACOG is comprised of 11 districts and 89 sections, each of which has Fellow and Junior Fellow officer categories. The Department organizes projects for the membership and oversees several ACOG awards. The Department is also the liaison between the Fellow and the Junior Fellow membership of the Congress, and coordinates all programs and projects for the Junior Fellows.
There are eight district offices at national (District I, District III, District IV, District V, District VI, District VII, District VIII and District IX) that maintain comprehensive communication networks with district and section officers, serving as a resource for their advisory council members. Each has a district project manager who maintains list server services, websites, assists with writing district newsletters, coordinates District Advisory Council meetings, and plans and implements projects and programs. Toll free numbers are now available to the members of these districts:
District I - 800-598-8048, Megan Willis, Project Manager
District III - 888-872-7813, Christine Himes, Project Manager
District IV - 800-598-5188, Barbara Kallas, Project Manager
District V - 866-470-2354, Katherine Miller, Project Manager
District VI - 800-598-3993, Stephanie Williams, Project Manager
District VII - 800-782-1828, Sophie Barry, Project Manager
District VIII - 800-598-7333, LaShawn Jordan, Project Manager
District IX - 877-759-0155, Michelle Clark, Project Manager
Annual projects include the Fellow and Junior Fellow officer elections, orientation training for officers, three Council of District Chairs (CDC) meetings, a CDC retreat, two Junior Fellow Congress Advisory Council (JFCAC) board meetings, the National Congress Advisory Council Meeting held during the ACM, the ACOG Physician Placement Service, and the Silver Badge Luncheon Meeting for Past District Chairs. The Department also maintains and distributes the district and section officer rosters for the 11 districts and the regional staff offices, coordinates the monthly on-line resource mailings to all members, develops and updates district meeting charts and advisory council meeting charts with VP and National Officer attendance.
Council of District Chairs
The CDC, composed of the chairs of the 11 districts of ACOG, meets 3-4 times annually at the time of the Executive Board meetings, and holds an annual retreat. It provides a forum for discussion in such areas as education, organization, meetings, communications, finance, and government relations, as it pertains to the various districts. The Council also acts as the Awards Committee for the Wyeth-Pharmaceuticals Section Award, reviews nominations for the National Outstanding District Service Award, is responsible for the National Congress Advisory Council meeting, and makes recommendations to the Executive Board.
Junior Fellow Congress Advisory Council
The JFCAC is the governing board for approximately 10,000 Junior Fellows. The board consists of 26 voting members, 11 Junior Fellow district chairs, 11 Junior Fellow district vice chairs, 3 Junior Fellow national officers, and a Fellow district chair who serves as National Advisor. The JFCAC meets three each year. Junior Fellow Web Site
Congress Advisory Council
The Congress Advisory Council Meeting is held annually on Sunday afternoon during the Annual Clinical Meeting. The CAC is composed of all District and Section Officers, as well as the current and past national officers, ACOG Committee Chairs and the Vice Presidents. The meeting is to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas among the Congress leaders.
Fellow and Junior Fellow Officer Elections
Each year the department coordinates the election notices to form nomination committees, compiles nominations, and prepares online ballots for the Fellow District and Section officer elections, as well as the Junior Fellow District officer elections. The results of the Fellow District and Section elections are announced at the Annual Clinical Meeting. The results of the Junior Fellow district elections are announced at the fall District meetings.
Fellow and Junior Fellow Officer Orientations
A Fellow Section Officer Orientation is held annually in June, and the Junior Fellow District Officer Orientation is held annually in January in addition to a Junior Fellow Section Officer Orientation which is helod in late February/early March. The purpose of these orientation programs is to familiarize incoming officers with the ACOG National office, its staff, and the structure of the organization.
District & Section Officer Support
The Department provides support for all District and Section Officers, serves as the key point of contact for over 500 ACOG officers, answers inquiries, solves problems, and tracks concerns as identified by the officers.
Junior Fellow Support
The Department works with the officers of the Congress and the ob-gyn residency program directors to recruit residents as ACOG members. A benefits brochure outlines the benefits of membership to ob-gyn residents and young physicians starting out in practice. Junior Fellow activities are promoted through the ACOG newsletter, the CREOG newsletter, and at Junior Fellow district and section meetings. The department coordinates all Junior Fellow activities for the JFCAC, officer elections and the Junior Fellow section officers. For further information, please contact Christine Himes at chimes@acog.org.
Meeting Support
Meeting coordination is provided for Junior Fellow annual fall meetings when held separately from the Fellows in coordination with staff in the Department of Meetings Support Services. The Department also coordinates Junior Fellow section meetings and resident day meetings scheduled throughout the year for all ten Districts.
Silver Badge Club
The Silver Badge Club is comprised of the Past Fellow District Chairs. A luncheon Meeting is held annually during the Annual Clinical Meeting. The meeting provides all past and current ACOG Fellow district chairs an opportunity to gather at the Annual Clinical Meeting. The department writes and distributes their annual newsletter. For further information, please contact LaShawn Jordan at ljordan@acog.org.
Physician Placement Service (ACOG Career Connection)
ACOG Career Connection, a member of HealtheCareers Network is a physician network database that provides regularly updated job opportunities, specifically for obstetrics and gynecology. The department of District and Section Activities serves as a the HealtheCareers Network liason and assists in promoting and marketing this service to ACOG members, as well as coordinating the ACOG job placement booth at the ACM, job fairs, and district meetings.
Officer Rosters
Fellow and Junior Fellow Officer Rosters are maintained and distributed by this department for ACOG use. The department also updates and distributes a roster of regional staff. Currently there are 28 regional offices for various districts and sections. Requests for mailing labels for ACOG officers and the regional offices are also coordinated and distributed by this Department.
Other Department Services Include:
- Design and update of the Junior Fellow Web Site and the Physician Placement Web Site which are linked to the ACOG site on the Internet
- Bylaws/Policy and Procedures preparation for the Districts - review for consistency with national staff, and prepare copy for printing
- Officer stationery requests and officer certificates of appreciation and special recognition awards
- Design and distribution of section meeting programs and section newsletters, many mailings for districts and sections (flyers and special announcements). The copying and distribution of minutes from District and Section meetings
- Quarterly distribution of membership statistics, meeting charts, and various information to Fellow and Junior Fellow District and Section officers
Department of District & Section Activities Staff
Mary Behneman, Director (202) 863-2533
mbehneman@acog.org
Megan Willis, Project Manager, District I & Fellow Officer Elections
(202) 863-2531 or (800) 598-8048
mwillis@acog.org
Christine Himes, Project Manager, District III, Department Manager & Junior Fellow Activities
(202) 863-2561 or (800) 888-782-7813
chimes@acog.org
Barbara Kallas, Project Manager, District IV & Young Physicians
(202) 863-2441 or (800) 598-5188
bkallas@acog.org
Katherine Miller, Project Manager, District V & Medical Students
(202) 863-2532 or (866) 470-2354
kmiller@acog.org
Stephanie Williams, Project Manager, District VI Office
(202) 863-2588 or (800) 598-3993
sewilliams@acog.org
Sophie Barry, Project Manager, District VII Office
(202) 863-2456 or (800) 782-1828
slbarry@acog.org
*LaShawn Jordan, Project Manager, District VIII, CDC, & Silver Badge
(202) 314-2332 or (800) 598-7333
ljordan@acog.org
*Michelle Clark, Project Manager, District IX Office
(202) 863-2564 or (877) 759-0155
mclark@acog.org
Wanda Proctor, Project Coordinator, Junior Fellows
(202) 314-2344
wproctor@acog.org
Tamara Kelly, Department Support Staff
(202) 314-2346
tkelly@acog.org
*Note: District VIII and IX staff report to James Lumalcuri
(202) 863-2485 jlumalcuri@acog.org