2020-2021 Regional Board Elections

Every RDoC Board Member must become an RDoC Member in good standing within three months of their election.

Interested individuals should contact their PHO directly for details about the nominations process.

• Any CFPC or Royal College specialty
• Any level of training
• Ability to represent the views of others
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
• Governance skills or demonstrated a willingness to learn (previously served with other organizations as a Board Member or Executive Member; e.g., Secretary, Vice President, Treasurer, Committee Chair, etc.).
• Management skills (previous experience in policy, advocacy, medical education, professionalism, communications, wellbeing).
• Previous RDoC experience as a liaison representative or an RDoC Committee / Project Team / Working Group Member.
• Specific skills in finance, legal issues, strategic planning, human resources, leadership, IT.

The RDoC Board of Directors will usually meet face to face 4 times a year. Please note that the dates and locations of the meetings may be subject to change.

In addition, there will be Board teleconferences held or emails distributed between the face-to-face meetings to address key issues in a timely fashion. Board Members are expected to attend all in-person and telecommunications-based Board meetings and to contribute to online discussions.

General Principles

• Governs on behalf of Resident Doctors of Canada, and its members: resident doctors of all specialties who train in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, the Maritimes, and Newfoundland.
• A corporate body that speaks with one voice, through the Chair.
• Provides content expertise on being a resident
• Focuses on objectives and outcomes of the organization rather than on operational means, relying on staff to be the process experts, Maintains communications and relationships directly to the RDoC community and its stakeholders through the Executive and through the Executive Director.

Strategic Planning

• Works with the Executive Director to create a multi-year Strategic Plan for implementation by the Association.
• Articulates and communicates the Vision, Mission, and Values of the Corporation, and defines the parameters within which the organization operates. Board Committees and Project Teams may be established to assist the Board in this work.
• Meets separately on a regular basis to conduct strategic planning and review Board processes/performance.

Oversight

• Delegated by the Board, the Executive monitors the performance of the Executive Director who is accountable for the overall performance of RDoC. This includes regular clarification of ED goals and expectations, performance review and performance measurement. This role does not reside with any individual Board member, or groups of Board members, other than the Executive.
• Delegates work to Committees and Project Teams, which are in turn accountable through their Chairs/Co-Chairs to the Board. This includes regular clarification of Committee Terms of Reference (TOR), Project Team scope and annual Goals, work‐plans and budgets.
• Ensures enforcement and updating of By‐Laws, Policies, Committee Terms of Reference and key Job Descriptions, and guiding principles for the organization as appropriate.
• Authorizes expenditure of major capital items and day‐to‐day expenses beyond the signing authority limits of the ED and/or Treasurer.
• Regularly measures and self‐assess the Board’s own performance, as well as provide for professional development of the Board and its members.

Communications

• Engages with the RDoC community and its stakeholders to form a vital and current link to community needs, issues, concerns, etc. This includes transparent communications and proactive relationship‐building with key elements in the community.
• Represents the decisions and policies of the organization

General Principles

• Adhere to the principles and practices outlined in RDoC’s By-Laws, Code of Conduct, Policies, and Procedures as established by the Board.
• Act in good faith on behalf of all resident members of RDoC.
• Be collegial and respectful towards other directors.
• Is fully committed to decisions of the Board
• Work positively, cooperatively and respectfully as a member of the leadership team with other Directors, the ED and RDoC staff.
• Cannot commit the organization (unless agreed upon in advance by the Board as a whole), and have no ability to direct its business, affairs or property.

Board Participation

• Attend meetings of the Board and Committees to which they are appointed. No Board member should miss more than one Board meeting in a row. Absence from a Board meeting does not release a Board member from responsibility of the decision(s) made by the Board in their absence.
• Complete the necessary background reading and preparation for meetings, in order to serve effectively and participate appropriately in Board discussions.
• Participate openly and vigorously in Board discussions so that the Board is able to make the best, most informed decisions and choices.
• Be able to ask any question they believe they must ask in order to be informed and comfortable in coming to a decision and/or vote.
• Bring any matter they believe is important for the whole Board to address, to the Board as a whole, advising the Chair in advance.
• Contribute to Board decisions, with a goal of being a consensus‐building organization, then respect, support and be fully committed to the final decisions taken.
• Be financially literate, review all financial statements and reports, and insist on understanding them. Directors may rely upon and ask for information supplied to them by management and/or external auditors; however they are expected to exert prudent care and judgment in these affairs.
• Request professional advice be provided to the Board when uncertain how to act or make a difficult decision.

Committee & Project Team involvement

• Serve on at least one Committee, be informed on the purpose and goals of the committee and participate actively in discussion and Committee work as appropriate. Information about RDoC’s Committees can be found here.
• Board members can serve as a Board liaison on one of RDoC’s Project Teams, acting as Advises and supports the Team Lead in the development and implementation of the Team’s workplan and projects, and providing updates to the Board on behalf of the Team. The work of the Project Teams are based on Areas of Focus determined by the Board and may vary from year to year.

Communications

• Maintain good relations with the RDoC community and its stakeholders while respecting confidentiality requirements of privileged information.
• Express the policies and decisions of the Board in public life and in interactions with members and other stakeholders (when one is representing or could reasonably be perceived to be representing RDoC).
• Be an ambassador for RDoC to its members. Board members are the face of RDoC, particularly at the local level.

Knowledge Acquisition

• Develop an understanding of national health care, the health care system (both nationally & provincially), and other matters requiring RDoC’s attention or that has the potential to impact its members.
• Keep informed of trends, issues and realities of the ever-changing health sector in which we operate.

Candidates nominated by their PHO will be contacted by RDoC and provided with detailed information about their RDoC responsibilities. The election of all RDoC Board Members will take place as part of the 2020 RDoC AGM. For more information about the RDoC Board or elections process, contact Beth Sneyd at bsneyd@residentdoctors.ca or 613-234-6448 x226.