2026 Board of Directors Nomination Submission

2026 USASP Board of Directors Call for Nominations

USASP is accepting nominations for three Director positions and the officer position of Secretary.

USASP is committed to a transparent nomination and election process and to Board leadership that reflects the breadth and diversity of its membership. Eligible members who meet the criteria below are encouraged to submit the required nomination materials.

Deadline: October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

USASP members will be invited to vote in November 2026.

The terms for the incoming Directors and Secretary will begin on March 18, 2027, at the conclusion of the 2027 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Board Member and Officer Responsibilities

• Attend the in-person Board meeting held in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Meeting. In 2027, the Board meeting will be held on the morning of March 15 in Denver, Colorado. USASP will cover the cost of one additional hotel night before the Board meeting.

• Attend at least two virtual Board meetings each year, generally held in October/November and January/February.

• Serve on one or two USASP committees, providing feedback and updates to the Board.

• Participate in strategic planning activities.

• Respond promptly to Board communications, including requests for discussion and voting.
  

General Eligibility Criteria for Officer and Director Positions:

• Be an active USASP member in good standing with at least one year of active membership.

• Have recent experience serving on a USASP committee or task force, or comparable service experience in another organization.

• Be an active member of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Officer Position

Secretary (Three-Year Term)

The Secretary oversees processes for maintaining USASP's corporate and membership records, including the preparation of minutes for meetings of the membership, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. The Secretary also helps ensure that required organizational records are properly maintained and filed and performs other duties assigned by the President or Board. Under the bylaws, the Secretary may serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms.

Board of Directors (Three-Year Term)

Directors advise the President, provide guidance on matters before USASP, and support the Board's decision-making. Each Director also serves as the Board liaison to at least one USASP committee or task force.

The criteria for the open seats are intended to promote balance in the experience and expertise represented on the Board. Each seat corresponds to the Primary Designation self-identified in a member's USASP membership profile.

Seat 1: Mid- to senior-career member (e.g., Associate or Full Professor, Senior Scientist, Director, or equivalent) whose Primary Designation is Basic Research-Preclinical Animal or Basic Research-Preclinical Human.

Seat 2: Mid- to senior-career member (e.g., Associate or Full Professor, Senior Scientist, Director, or equivalent) whose Primary Designation is Clinical Care or Patient Advocacy.

Seat 3: Mid- to senior-career member (e.g., Associate or Full Professor, Senior Scientist, Director, or equivalent) whose Primary Designation is Behavioral and Social Sciences or Population Health and Health Services.

Nominating Materials

Each nominee may be considered for only one Director seat or officer position in a given election year.

The following materials are required for a complete nomination:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV)

• A one-page personal statement explaining why the nominee would like to serve USASP as a Director or Secretary. The statement should describe relevant service and leadership experience and the nominee's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.

• In the form, you will be asked to disclose any Financial Conflicts of Interest

• A professional headshot for use in election and ballot materials

Nomination Process

• Deadline: October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

• Submit all materials through the Fourwaves submission portal.

• The Nominations Committee will review all submitted materials. 

• Nominees who meet the criteria and are approved by the board for the position sought will be included on the ballot.

USASP believes that diverse perspectives are essential to addressing the burden of pain. We encourage nominations of members representing different disciplines, career paths, practice settings, geographic regions, and personal and professional backgrounds, including people with lived experience of pain and individuals from groups historically underrepresented in pain research, care, and advocacy. USASP is committed to an inclusive and accessible nomination and election process.