To ensure the diversity of the Essentia Health IRB, membership must contain the following:
- At least one clergy
- At least one person knowledgeable of the Ethical and Religious Directives (ERD) for Catholic health care facilities
- At least one lawyer
- At least one behavioral scientist, mental health professional or social worker
- At least one lay person (non-scientist) from the public and not an employee of the health care institutions that are components of Essentia Health
- At least two women and two men
- At least one person not employed by the health care institutions that are components of Essentia Health and not part of the immediate family of a person who is employed by the health care institutions that are components of Essentia Health
- At least four healthcare professionals or scientists
To ensure the qualification of the members of the Essentia Health IRB, the Executive Director of the Essentia Institute of Rural Health, and the Chair of the Essentia Health IRB will review the background, experience, and qualifications of individuals proposed to become new members of the Essentia Health IRB, and forward nominations of prospective new members to the full Essentia Health IRB.
Members of the Essentia Health IRB may not participate in the IRB's initial or continuing review of any project in which they have a conflict of interest, except to provide information requested by the IRB. Those with conflicts of interest will be required to leave the room during discussion and/or voting at the discretion of the IRB Chair.