Demystifying CAP committee appointments
June 2026—Serving on a CAP council or committee is a prestigious and valuable thing to do—but the path to getting there can seem almost impossible to navigate. In recent years, the CAP has changed the process to make it as transparent as possible and to give more people an opportunity to get involved. I’d like to shine a light on committee and council participation to help demystify one of the most important ways you can become more engaged with the CAP.
Within the CAP, there are six councils plus the Board of Governors, each with a number of committees under its umbrella. Councils have a broad focus—such as advocacy, accreditation, innovation, or scientific affairs—while the 70-plus committees are much narrower in scope. CAP fellows and junior members are all eligible to participate.
Committee applicants are first reviewed by the committee chairs based on applications submitted through our website; it’s the chairs who know best what specific talent and areas of expertise are needed. As president of the CAP, I have the privilege and obligation to review all of the council and committee appointments. The CAP Board approves my recommendations before an appointment becomes official.
If you’d like to be considered, the first step is to review all the committees to determine which ones you feel are the best fit for your skills and interests (start here: tinyurl.com/capcouncils). Once you’ve selected your favorite options, the next step is to fill out an application online. Applications are accepted from early January to May 1, so you have plenty of time to investigate the various committee mandates and figure out what’s most interesting to you before the next annual window begins.
I have heard from many people who are disappointed about not being selected for a committee post, so let me be clear: This is a highly competitive process. These roles are a privilege. Each year more than 500 members apply, and we usually have about 100 open positions. I had to wait for a few years before I was appointed to a committee, and I think that’s the case for a lot of our members. This is a good problem to have: It shows how passionate and engaged our community is, and it underscores the cachet of these roles. If you aren’t accepted after your first or second application, I encourage you to keep trying. Often it’s simply a matter of timing. It’s worth the persistence, I promise.
The CAP has made a number of changes aimed at giving more people a chance to participate on committees and councils. For example, we try not to appoint any member to more than one committee, maximizing the number of people who can participate. These changes have not been welcomed by all of our members, but I believe most people understand the need to create more opportunities within our ranks.
That’s the process and those are the protocols. Now for my own recommendations. First, bear in mind that it’s easier for a chair to select your application if they know something about you. Find out who’s serving as the chair of the committee you’re interested in and approach that person (our annual and Pathologists Leadership Summit meetings are great places for this kind of networking). Ask about the specific needs the committee will have in the next application session so you’ll be better prepared to make a compelling case for your involvement—and so the chair can remember meeting you, putting a face to the name on the application.
Second, remember that committees vary in size and popularity. For our largest committees, where we tend to get the greatest number of applications, it can take longer to find an opening. The same is true for committees with the highest levels of interest from our members. If you’re willing to apply for one of the smaller committees that gets fewer applications, you may have better luck getting appointed sooner. Think about which committees you can contribute to as well as which ones will benefit you—after all, you should be getting something back from giving your time and talent. Serving on a committee is a serious commitment that takes time, effort, and wisdom.
Participating in CAP councils or committees is a type of community service. It’s where much of the real work of the CAP takes place. But it’s also great for your career: It’s a wonderful opportunity for networking, and it translates to leadership experience and respect from your peers. If you have not yet become involved in this way, I hope you’ll consider it in the future. n
Dr. Zhai welcomes communication from CAP members. Write to him at president@cap.org.