[Part 2 of 4]
Eligibility Requirements for Individual Members
To serve on the COPR, an individual must meet the following minimum
eligibility requirements:
* Have some interest in the work of the NIH, for example, as a
patient or family member of a patient; a health care professional; a
member of a patient advocacy group; an individual who works as a
volunteer in the health field; a scientist or a student of science;
a communicator in health, medicine, or science; an individual in
public service, academia, or in a professional society touching the
medical field. These examples are not meant to limit nominations to
those listed--any member of the public with special interests in the
NIH may be nominated or may nominate themselves.
* Be in a position (formally or informally) to communicate regularly
with the broader public or segments of the public about the
activities of the COPR and the NIH.
Another essential requirement is a commitment to participating fully
in activities of the COPR, including possibly in subcommittee
activities that may take time in addition to meeting attendance. In
addition, members--while participating in COPR activities--will have
to agree to subordinate disease-specific or program-specific
interests to broader, cross-cutting matters of importance to the NIH
and its commitment to public representation. These additional
requirements will not be used in the initial screening of nominees,
but will be assessed as part of a more in-depth evaluation of
qualified candidates.
A. Criteria for Evaluating Individual Candidates
Nominees who meet the minimum eligibility requirements will be
further assessed on the following criteria:
1. Interest in NIH's research, programs, activities, and policies
broadly, and some understanding of, or familiarity with, the NIH
mission and medical science.
2. Ability to communicate effectively.
3. Ability to consider broad issues and think ``globally,'' beyond
narrow personal or professional interests.
4. Ability to contribute to an effective group process (e.g.,
cooperative, constructive, flexible, innovative).
5. Leadership ability (members of the COPR are not required to hold a
formal leadership position within any organized group, but must have
leadership skills).
6. Understanding of, and ability to express or represent, a
``public'' view of issues.
7. Ability to identify a problem, analyze it, and put forth
solutions.
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