Roles and Responsibilities

Annual Meeting Co-Chairs

The BMES Annual Meeting Co-Chair role, in partnership with the BMES Staff, is the most critical volunteer position in ensuring that year’s program is as successful as possible!

The BMES Staff is responsible for the meeting’s overall management and logistical implementation, including contracted facilities and vendors. All financial and legal matters pertaining to the Annual Meeting are the fiduciary responsibility of the BMES Executive Director, who reports to the BMES Board of Directors.

• Role

  As Annual Meeting Co-Chairs, the overarching responsibility is to assist in program development within the parameters of the Board-approved budget and conference space available.

  The responsibilities and expectations of those in a Meeting Chair role include, but are not limited to:

  Planning

  • Review the post-meeting survey from the previous year with BMES program staff to identify areas for improvement and innovative ways to enhance the meeting.

  • Design and develop the overarching theme of the meeting.

  • Participate in regular planning calls with BMES program staff.

  Program Structure

  • Select appropriate education tracks for abstract submissions and platform sessions.

  • Provide, as needed, consultation to staff on the agenda, sessions, and descriptions, and review the outlined sessions and overall program. Note that the logistical matters are the responsibility of staff.

  Program Development

  • Identify and invite Track Chairs (more info on this role above).

  • Once a Track Chair is selected, Co-Chairs will assist by:

    • Determining program tracks and sub-tracks.

    • Assess the abstract scoring rubric prior to the abstract review window opening.

    • Assess the progress of track chairs on selection and assignment of reviewers, session chairs, and session assignments.

    • Participate in abstract system training and review abstracts as needed.

  • Track Chairs will assist Co-Chairs by taking the lead on:

    • Entering abstract reviewers into the system.

    • Assigning three submissions to each abstract reviewer.

    • Reviewing and approving submissions to be accepted/oral, accepted/poster, or rejected in the abstract system.

    • Selecting abstract reviewers.

    • Determining (based on submission counts) the number of podium presentations to accept and the number of sessions to be approved for the program.

    • Appoint session chairs and streamline the session tracking process for each track.

  Proxy Parameters 

  • Present progress updates to the Board via the Executive Director.

  • Promote the annual meeting to help reach the meeting’s fiduciary and attendance goals.

  • Be a liaison between members and staff/Board (social media, member questions about the meeting).

• Requirements

  • Team members must be current BMES members. Students, postdocs, and non-BMES members are not eligible to act as co-chairs.

  • Applicants must consist of 2-3 member teams from different institutions or companies.

  • Team members must have served or currently serve as a Track Chair for the BMES Annual Meeting.

  • Teams must be comprised of 2-3 established leaders in the field who hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher, or an equivalent level of experience in teaching track faculty, industry or government.

  Interviews will be conducted with the final candidates. Nominations are encouraged from individuals representing different sub-fields of BME.

Track Chairs

• Role

  As a Track Chair, you play an important role in the overall success of the BMES Annual Meeting. In this position, you will be asked to place abstracts that have been reviewed into an oral, poster, or rejected status based on the reviewers' scores. From there, track chairs will construct platform sessions from the selected and accepted oral presenters. 

  Track chairs are also responsible for identifying and inviting keynote speakers to sessions. They are also responsible for being a liaison with session chairs who provide on-site support. 

  Track chairs are provided with training sessions, materials, and a staff liaison to ensure project timelines and milestones are being met. 

  This role requires flexibility as changes in presenters' schedules and communications are needed.

  This role is important and only top candidates will be selected. Preference will be given to those who apply early.

• Requirements

  To serve, you must have successfully participated as a reviewer for a past Annual Meeting and be a current BMES member. Preference is given to prior session chairs.

  Students, postdoctoral associates, and non-BMES members are not eligible to act as track chairs. 

  Before applying, make sure that you are a current BMES member with no balance due.

Abstract Reviewers

• Role

  Knowledgeable reviewers are essential to ensure that the highest quality abstracts are accepted for presentation at the meeting. Reviews will be conducted online through an abstract submission system. 

  Reviewers will receive no more than twelve abstracts to grade. All reviewers will use a scoring rubric to score abstracts. System training sessions and materials will be provided. 

  Reviews are typically completed within two weeks, in the months of April and May. 

  Reviewers who complete assignments will also be asked to score late-breaking and undergraduate abstracts. Judging of these abstracts typically completed over two weeks in the month of July.

• Requirements

  To serve, you must be a current BMES member and either hold a faculty position, work in industry, or have obtained postdoc status. Student and non-BMES members are not eligible to act as abstract reviewers.

  Certification of participation is available upon successful completion of both general and late-breaking reviews and is provided upon request.