Board of Directors Service

Serving on the board of directors of an outside organization is a significant commitment. Board members have a fiduciary responsibility to the company to maximize shareholder value and foster the organization's long-term success. In fact, directors can be held legally responsible for a company's failure.

School of Medicine policy requires that proposed service on an outside board be reviewed by the Committee on Conflict of Interest. When a faculty member is conducting human subjects research for a company or involving its product, simultaneously serving on the company's board is considered a major conflict of interest and is "presumptively prohibited." Even when an individual is not also conducting related human subjects research, the Committee often recommends that the faculty member consider serving as a scientific advisor rather than a board member. As a scientific advisor, one can provide a company with advice on its research and product development and avoid the fiduciary obligations associated with board service.

When the Committee recommends approval of board of directors service, there are two additional issues to note. First, any written agreement to serve on a board must be reviewed and approved in advance by the Office of Policy Coordination. Second, in serving on an outside board, the faculty member is representing himself and not Johns Hopkins.

If you have any questions regarding Board of Directors service, please contact the Office of Policy Coordination by phone 410-223-1608 or email: ccoi@jhmi.edu.

Return to top of Research Compliance