Evidence Based Medicine

Bylaws

ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be: WVU School of Medicine Evidence-Based Medicine Club

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the WVU School of Medicine Evidence-Based Medicine Club is to cultivate the ability to evaluate medical literature and to apply that evaluation to clinical contexts. The organization is grounded in the tradition of journal clubs in medical education, which have historically served three functions: to remain current with the medical literature, to develop critical reading skills, and to determine whether new evidence should influence clinical practice.

The club emphasizes a structured approach to evaluating evidence. In the analysis of any study, members are guided by two central questions: whether the results of the study are valid, and whether the results are clinically useful. Particular emphasis is placed on the second question, with discussions oriented toward determining whether the findings meaningfully inform or change clinical decision making.

Through engagement with a broad range of literature across specialties, members will develop fluency in identifying clinically relevant questions, assessing study design and sources of bias, interpreting results, and integrating evidence into practice. The organization promotes the view of evidence as a dynamic component of clinical reasoning rather than as static information. This process will be guided by experienced clinician guests and our facility mentor.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Official membership in the organization is open to any current student enrolled in the WVU School of Medicine.

Section 2. "Active" membership shall include all official members who have signed up under the organization's listserv.

Section 3. This organization will not deny membership on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. The offices of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected for the current year for a term of one year. Should an officer be removed or leave within six months of their term, a special election must be held to fill the vacancy. If no eligible member applies for the special election, the duties of the vacant office will be passed onto the President, Vice President, or Secretary.

Section 2. The duties of the officers shall be:

The President shall oversee the organization's activities, ensure alignment with its educational mission, and coordinate the scheduling of meetings and programming.

The Vice President shall assist the President in organizational planning, support continuity of activities, and assume leadership responsibilities in the absence of the President.

The Secretary shall maintain records of meetings, manage membership communication, and preserve organizational documents and materials.

The Treasurer shall manage all financial responsibilities of the organization, including oversight of funds and expenditures in accordance with university policies. The Treasurer must notify all officers via email and receive a majority approval of any purchases exceeding 250$ that are not related to food or supplies for meetings.

ARTICLE V - REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Section 1. Any member may make a motion for the removal of any officer, provided that evidence is presented to support the removal. Grounds for removal include inadequate fulfillment of duties or violation of University policies or applicable laws.

A majority vote from student members is required to remove an officer. The motion for removal must be submitted to and approved by the Faculty Advisors before becoming effective. An election for a new officer may be conducted electronically or at the next meeting, with voting available to Active members.

ARTICLE VI - SPECIAL WVU REQUIREMENTS

We agree to abide by all West Virginia University, School of Medicine, and institutional policies, in addition to all federal, state, and local laws. We agree to communicate all required information to the West Virginia University Department of Student Services as requested.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section 1. Organizational meetings will be held at a minimum of twice per semester and are structured to promote active engagement with evidence-based medicine concepts.

Section 2. Meetings are organized around structured critical analysis of selected studies. Articles are chosen with the expectation that, if valid, their findings have potential clinical relevance. Discussions emphasize evaluation of methodological rigor, interpretation of results, and explicit consideration of whether the findings should influence clinical practice.

Section 3. Sessions are conducted in a discussion-based format that encourages active participation and open debate. The organization prioritizes maintaining focus on clinically meaningful interpretation of evidence, ensuring that discussion does not become limited to technical critique without addressing implications for patient care.

Section 4. The organization encourages engagement with literature across all medical specialties and supports the inclusion of subject-matter expertise when appropriate to enhance discussion and clinical relevance.