2023-28870. Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

AGENCY:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION:

Solicits nominations for new members of the USPSTF.

SUMMARY:

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

DATES:

Nominations must be received electronically by March 15th of a given year to be considered for appointment to begin in January of the following year.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your responses electronically via: https://uspstfnominations.ahrq.gov/​register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lydia Hill at (301) 427–1587.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Arrangement for Public Inspection

Nominations and applications are kept on file at the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement, AHRQ, and are available for review during business hours. AHRQ does not reply to individual nominations, but considers all nominations in making recommendation for appointment. Information regarded as private and personal, such as a nominee's social security number, home and email addresses, home telephone and fax numbers, or names of family members will not be disclosed to the public in accord with the Freedom of Information Act. 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6); 45 CFR 5.31(f).

Nomination Submissions

Nominations must be submitted electronically, and should include:

1. The applicant's current curriculum vitae and contact information, including mailing address, and email address; and

2. A letter explaining how this individual meets the qualification requirements and how he or she would contribute to the USPSTF. The letter should also attest to the nominee's willingness to serve as a member of the USPSTF.

AHRQ will later ask people under serious consideration for USPSTF membership to provide detailed information that will permit evaluation of possible significant conflicts of interest. Such information will concern matters such as financial holdings, consultancies, non-financial scientific interests, and research grants or contracts.

To obtain a diversity of perspectives, AHRQ particularly encourages nominations of women, members of underrepresented populations, and persons with disabilities. Interested individuals can nominate themselves. Organizations and individuals may nominate one or more people qualified for membership on the USPSTF at any time. Individuals nominated prior to March 15, 2023, who continue to have interest in serving on the USPSTF should be re-nominated.

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the USPSTF and support its mission, an applicant or nominee should, at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, expertise, and national leadership in the following areas:

1. The critical evaluation of research published in peer-reviewed literature and in the methods of evidence review;

2. Clinical prevention, health promotion and primary health care; and

3. Implementation of evidence-based recommendations in clinical practice including at the clinician-patient level, practice level, and health-system level.

Additionally, the Task Force benefits from members with expertise in the following areas:

Public Health

Health Equity and The Reduction of Health Disparities

Application of Science to Health Policy

Decision modeling

Dissemination and Implementation

Behavioral Medicine/Clinical Health Psychology

Communication of Scientific Findings to Multiple Audiences Including Health Care Professionals, Policy Makers, and the General Public.

Candidates with experience and skills in any of these areas should highlight them in their nomination materials.

Applicants must have no substantial conflicts of interest, whether financial, professional, or intellectual, that would impair the scientific integrity of the work of the USPSTF and must be willing to complete regular conflict of interest disclosures.

Applicants must have the ability to work collaboratively with a team of diverse professionals who support the mission of the USPSTF. Applicants must have adequate time to contribute substantively to the work products of the USPSTF.

Nominee Selection

Nominated individuals will be selected for the USPSTF on the basis of how well they meet the required qualifications and the current expertise needs of the USPSTF. It is anticipated that new members will be invited to serve on the USPSTF beginning in January, 2025. All nominated individuals will be considered; however, strongest consideration will be given to individuals with demonstrated training and expertise in the areas of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. AHRQ will retain and may consider for future vacancies nominations received this year and not selected during this cycle.

Some USPSTF members without primary health care clinical experience may be selected based on their expertise in methodological issues such as meta-analysis, analytic modeling, or clinical epidemiology. For individuals with clinical expertise in primary health care, additional qualifications in methodology would enhance their candidacy.

Background

Under title IX of the Public Health Service Act, AHRQ is charged with enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of health care services and access to such services. 42 U.S.C. 299(b). AHRQ accomplishes these goals through scientific research and promotion of improvements in clinical practice, including clinical prevention of diseases and other health conditions. See 42 U.S.C. 299(b).

The USPSTF, an independent body of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, works to improve the health of people nationwide by making evidence-based recommendations about the effectiveness of clinical preventive services and health promotion. The recommendations made by the USPSTF address clinical preventive services for adults and children, and include screening tests, counseling services, and preventive medications.

The USPSTF was first established in 1984 under the auspices of the U.S. Public Health Service. AHRQ provides ongoing scientific, administrative, and dissemination support for the USPSTF's operation. See 42 U.S.C. 299b–4(a)(3). Members are appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve four-year terms. New members are selected each year to replace those members who are completing their appointments.

The USPSTF rigorously evaluates the effectiveness of clinical preventive services and formulating or updating recommendations regarding the appropriate provision of preventive services. Current USPSTF recommendations and associated evidence reviews are available on the internet ( www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org).

USPSTF members meet three times a year for two days in the Washington, DC area or virtually if necessary. A significant portion of the USPSTF's work occurs between meetings during conference calls and via email discussions. Member duties include prioritizing topics, designing research plans, reviewing and commenting on systematic evidence reviews, discussing evidence and making recommendations on preventive services, reviewing stakeholder comments, drafting final recommendation documents, and participating in workgroups on specific topics and methods. Members can expect to receive frequent emails, can expect to participate in multiple conference calls each month, and can expect to have periodic interaction with stakeholders. AHRQ estimates that members devote approximately 250 hours a year outside of in-person meetings to their USPSTF duties. The members are all volunteers and do not receive any compensation beyond support for travel to attend the thrice yearly meetings and trainings.

Dated: December 27, 2023.

Marquita Cullom,

Associate Director.