The Council of the Convention (CoC) is one of the independent governing bodies that helps lead USP, along with the full Convention Membership, the Board of Trustees, and the Council of Experts. Throughout each five-year cycle, the CoC, comprised of representatives from Convention Member Organizations, represents the full Convention by sharing diverse perspectives with USP, guiding the engagement of the Convention Membership, and making important governance decisions that help USP maximize its impact.
The Essential Role of the Council of the Convention
The CoC meets quarterly to fulfill its governance responsibilities, hear updates on Sector and Chapter activities, provide input on staff updates, and share insights on priority topics. The CoC’s primary duties include:
- Engagement: Guiding and informing engagement of Convention Membership, ensuring Members are appropriately updated and that their perspectives are heard
- Membership: Approving new Associate Members to the Convention and recommending new Voting Member Organizations to the Board of Trustees for final approval
- Resolutions: Overseeing the Resolutions process, issuing the call for Resolutions, and submitting proposed Resolutions to the Convention Membership for consideration and vote
- Bylaws: Developing and reviewing proposed amendments to USP Bylaws and submitting to Convention Membership for consideration and vote
- Voting: Ensuring the integrity of voting processes and tools provided for Convention Membership
- Rules and Procedures: Reviewing the Rules and Procedures of the CoC and the Council of Experts to ensure they’re consistent with USP Bylaws
Members of the Council of the Convention
To ensure a broad representation of the Convention Membership, the CoC includes representatives from each of the six categories of Convention Membership, Chairs of the Convention Sectors and Regional Chapters, and at-large members. Four members of the Council of Experts also serve on the CoC, which helps maintain awareness, communication, and transparency among USP’s leadership bodies.
The President of the Convention
Council of the Convention Members
Emmanuel O. Akala, R.Ph., Ph.D., DIM, Howard University College of Pharmacy
At Large Member
Lynette R. Bradley-Baker, Ph.D., R.Ph., American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
At-Large Member
Erik Burns, Ed.D., M.A., M.B.A., American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
Excipients Sector Chair
Susan A. Cantrell, B.S. Pharm, MHL, CA, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
Biologics Sector Chair
Catherine Duggan, Ph.D., FRPharmS, International Pharmaceutical Federation
Europe Region Chair
Barbara J. Exum, Pharm.D., Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy
At Large Member
John Lim, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., S.M., Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Medical School
Asia Pacific Region Chair
Stephen C. Mullenix, B. S. Pharm., R.Ph, National Council for Prescription Drug Programs
At Large Member
Pallavi Nithyanandan, Ph.D., U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
At Large Member
Hanan Sboul, MBA, B. Pharm, CAE, Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Middle East and North Africa Region Chair
Bhojraj Suresh, M. Pharm., Ph.D., D.Sc., Indian Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
South Asia Region Chair
Mingzhe Xu, Ph.D., National Institutes for Food and Drug Control
Greater China Region Chair