NYSAM Committees

Get more involved in NYSAM’s work by participating in our committees! See below for more information on the individual committees and email the committee chairs to learn more.

NYSAM operates several different committees including a, 1. Public Policy, 2. Communications 3. Education and Program, 4. Finance, 5. Medical Students/Residents/Fellows, 6. Membership, 7. Nominating and a new ad hoc committee, 8. Well Being.

1. Public Policy Committee – contact Colleen Parent, colleenparent@gmail.com
   • The Public Policy Committee will be responsible for identifying policy issues pertinent to addiction medicine, developing proposed positions on those issues, making recommendations to the Board for advocacy, and meeting with government and other regulatory bodies in order to implement public policy positions. The Public Policy Committee will also work to establish and maintain regular communication with government and regulatory bodies to assist in implementing policy positions. When two people co-chair the committee, each co-chair will have equal status to determine the policy positions that NYSAM pursues. All Public Policy statements must be in line with ASAM public policy. If ASAM does not have a policy statement, NYSAM will reach out to ASAM for counsel. All public policy positions must be written in collaboration with members of the public policy committee. All policy positions approved by the Public Policy Committee require the approval of 2/3 of the members of the Board to be adopted and implemented.
2. Communications Committee – contact Katherine Mullins, MD, katherine.mullins@nyulangone.org
   • Get involved to help ensure our membership is always up to date on the most recent policies, advocacy efforts, legislature, publications, webinars, and news on addiction and substance use in New York State and nationally. We work to keep the website and social media up to date and reflective of our most recent resources, webinars, and annual conferences.
   • The Communications Committee shall be responsible for the development and oversight of communications to the membership, including but not limited to newsletters, website content, use of the NYSAM listserv, and any other communications deemed necessary, or desirable, by the Board. Such duties may also be implemented by NYSAM staff under the guidance of the Communications Committee.
3. Education and Program Committee – contact Tiffany Lu, MD, tiffanylumd@gmail.com
   • The Education and Program Committee will be responsible for educational programs for NYSAM. The Committee will develop and implement a plan to enlighten and inform physicians and other medical personnel, addiction professionals, and the general public about issues related to addictive disorders and addiction medicine. The Education and Program Committee shall address the needs of NYSAM membership related to continuing medical education and shall plan such conferences and educational events as may be beneficial to the membership and other interested parties.
4. Finance Committee – contact Ross Sullivan, MD, sullivar@upstate.edu
   • The Finance Committee will be chaired by the Treasurer, and comprised of Board members who volunteer, or are assigned by the President. The Finance Committee has responsibility for periodic review of NYSAM fiscal policies and procedures, monitoring of fiscal management, and monitoring of NYSAM’s fiscal health. The Finance Committee reports its activities and findings to the President and Board regularly at meetings of the Board of Directors.
5. Medical Students/Residents/Fellows Committee – contact Cameron Kohji Ormiston, cameron.ormiston@icahn.mssm.edu
   • The new medical student, resident, and fellow committee is dedicated to planning and executing a variety of mentorship, training opportunities, and volunteering events for trainees interested in exploring careers in addiction medicine. We are currently looking to recruit current trainees for this committee, as well as established physicians with an interest in mentorship.
   • The Medical Students/Residents/Fellows Committee shall be responsible for the development of educational programs and student/resident/fellow membership programs, that are suitable for NYSAM medical student/resident/fellow members. These activities will be done in conjunction with the Education and Program Committee, Public Policy Committee, and the Membership Committee, as applicable. This committee will disseminate NYSAM communications and publicize NYSAM events to medical student/residents/fellows in NYS. The Chair of the Medical Students/Residents/Fellows Committee will be chaired by a Medical Student, Resident or Fellow as appointed by the President and approved by the Board.
6. Membership Committee – contact Kelly Ramsey, kellysramsey@yahoo.com
   • Collaborating with the ASAM Membership Committee and ASAM staff, the NYSAM Membership Committee will ensure that all NYSAM members are members in good standing with ASAM. The Membership Committee shall ensure that all membership categories are consistent with those of ASAM and that all New York State ASAM members are included on the NYSAM roster of members. The Committee also will recommend to the Board of Directors strategies for member recruitment and retention, to increase NYSAM membership. The Committee has responsibility to welcome new members, and to follow up with persons who do not renew their membership.
7. Nominating Committee – contact Kelly Ramsey, kellysramsey@yahoo.com
   • The Nominating Committee, chaired by the Immediate Past-President, shall be charged with preparing a slate of candidates for Officers of NYSAM in accordance with provisions of Chapter VI of these Bylaws. The slate should be representative of NYSAM’s diverse membership. No member of the Committee may nominate him/herself, and any Nominating Committee member who is nominated for a position within NYSAM must withdraw from voting for that position.
8. Well Being Committee – contact Dorothy Lennon, MD, DFASAM, dlennon@twcny.rr.com, or Kelly Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP, kellysramsey@yahoo.com
   • The purpose of the NYSAM Well Being Committee is to promote a culture of physical, psychological, and emotional well being for our NYSAM members working in the field of addiction by providing support that will promote their health.

For more info on eligibility from our Bylaws:
The membership of all committees shall be diverse and comprised of NYSAM members who volunteer and are approved by the Chairperson of the respective Committee, and by the Board of Directors. Membership in committees should be open to all NYSAM members every 2 years. Members of a Committee can serve for up to five years. Upon the completion of their 5-year term, additional Committee membership for up to five years can be continued at the discretion of the Committee Chair and the NYSAM President. Any NYSAM member or board member may not serve on more than 2 committees.