THORACIC SURGERY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS
(Revisions adopted 4/17/99)

Article I
Name
The name of this organization is the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, hereinafter referred to as "the TSDA".

Article II
Objectives
The objectives of the TSDA are to:

1. provide a forum for the interchange of ideas and information relating to the education of thoracic surgery residents;

2. assist in the identification and solution of educational and administrative problems that may arise in the conduct of thoracic surgery residency programs; and,

3. serve as the advocate of resident education in the various professional agencies, boards, councils and committees that influence the specialty of Thoracic Surgery.

4. represent the Directors of residencies in Thoracic Surgery that have been approved by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). These individuals shall hereinafter be referred to as the Directors.

Article III
Membership, Privileges and Responsibilities
Section 1. Membership. Each Director of an approved Thoracic Surgery residency program is a member of the TSDA and is expected to participate in its deliberations and endeavors, including a uniform Matching Program for resident selection. Termination of membership in the TSDA will occur if (1) an individual ceases to be a Program Director, (2) a Director fails to participate in the Match without the specific authorization of the Executive Committee, (3) a Director fails to pay annual dues or meet his/her fiscal responsibility to the TSDA, or (4) a Director or his designee (authorized as a result of prior request to the Secretary/Treasurer) fails to attend three consecutive meetings. Should an individual with specific ongoing responsibilities to the TSDA cease to be a Program Director, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, discharge of these responsibilities may continue until their completion.

Associate Membership: Associate Membership: Associate Member status shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Such membership is limited to two (2) associate members per approved residency, and is available to (1) two faculty members, at least one of whom specializes in a subspecialty other than that of the sponsoring Director; (2) Directors of approved Canadian residencies in cardiac or general thoracic surgery; and (3) Directors of programs whose approved status is withdrawn by the RRC.

A Director of a program which loses its approved status is eligible for Associate Member status for a period of time not to exceed three years, by which time it is expected that his/her program will have regained its approved status. An Associate Member will pay annual dues, may attend meetings and receive publications of the TSDA, serve on temporary or standing committees but is not eligible to hold office, serve on the Executive Committee, or vote on the deliberations of the TSDA. Associate Memberships will be reviewed by the Executive Committee every three years to determine whether they should be renewed.