Hear What the Division Directors Task Force Has Accomplished

As one of his presidential initiatives, Thomas A. Fleisher, MD, FAAAAI, appointed an Allergy/Immunology Division Directors Task Force. The task force is chaired by Aidan A. Long, MD, FAAAAI, and includes James T. Li, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, Jordan Orange, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, and Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD, FAAAAI. 

“The critical question being investigated by the Division Directors Task Force is: how can the AAAAI better support new allergy/immunology (A/I) division directors?” said Dr. Long. “After holding several conference calls, completing a literature review, performing outreach to academic bodies and discussing the topic with individual leaders, the task force recommended the AAAAI develop a set of activities and resources designed specifically for new A/I division directors.”

“The task force has been working to produce several tangible outcomes: a resource package for new division directors that would help with specific areas of need, a comprehensive directory of division directors and increased communication platforms to facilitate success,” said Dr. Fleisher. “One of the biggest pieces of the third outcome is a mentoring program that will assist recently appointed directors in the many aspects of their new position and in doing so tap into the vast experience and knowledge among more senior division directors.”

In a series of conference calls, the task force developed a “Scope of Practice” to address the day-to-day administrative issues that confront division directors. Those tasks include clinical care, teaching, research, financial management, operations management, human resource management marketing and their role as ambassador. They also began to assemble a bibliography of leadership skills literature and an accompanying directory of leadership education opportunities to assist division directors.

To develop a community, the task force had to first identify the community. A/I program directors were surveyed to determine their program’s division director. AAAAI members serving as medical school faculty at intuitions without an A/I fellowship program were also surveyed. These efforts resulted in identifying almost 140 division directors.

These directors were invited to join the A/I Division Directors Committee Meeting in Atlanta. This meeting will be first gathering of division directors at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. The focus and future plans of the division directors will be discussed at this open meeting.

To ensure accurate tracking of division directors and department leadership, the following occupations have been added to the membership directory: division director, division chief and section head. The task force asks that all members update their occupation as needed.

For information about the A/I Division Directors Committee, contact staff liaison Jerome Schultz at jschultz@aaaai.org.