AAAM Fellows

PURPOSE OF FELLOW STATUS

The status of Fellow has been established to recognize significant and sustained contributions of individual members and thereby to promote the academic, scientific and professional credibility of traffic crash injury prevention and control and impact biomechanics.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

The AAAM admits to Fellowship those members whose professional and allied activities are devoted to one or more fields related to automotive medicine, including medicine, trauma surgery, biomechanics, engineering, nursing, public health, education, human behavior, law, public policy and road safety.

Prerequisites – To be considered for Fellow status, an applicant must be a AAAM member for at least five years, and must show evidence of continuing interest in the purpose and aims of the Association through active participation in the Association’s activities.

CRITERIA FOR FELLOW STATUS

Criteria for election to Fellow status include two categories:  academic achievements and service contributions to further the goals of automotive medicine. It is expected that Fellows will have outstanding contributions in at least one of the fields in each category.

Academic Achievements assessed by the applicant’s accomplishments in three areas: (1) teaching as described by academic appointments, and other major contributions to raising the academic credibility of the subject, (2) research conducted and reported through recognized academic institutions; professional organizations or government agencies; and (3) publication in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.

Professional Contributions assessed by reviewing the applicant’s contributions in three areas: (1) public policy development at the local, state, provincial, national or international levels, in public and/or private sectors, (2) active participation in other organizations through committee appointments, project activities or other measures of involvement.  (3) leadership in programs to generate support for laws or regulations.

PROCESS OF NOMINATION

Nomination for Fellow status may be made in one of three ways:

  • Any member of the Fellow Review Committee may nominate a AAAM member who meets the prerequisites for Fellow status.
  • Any five AAAM members who have been members in good standing for at least five years may nominate any other AAAM member who meets the prerequisites and who they personally know. Nomination shall be in letter form describing the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions. In either of these forms of nomination, the nominee may be requested to submit a summary of academic achievements and professional contributions (in a format established for this purpose) to assist the Committee in its deliberations.
  • Any member may request and voluntarily submit an application for Fellow status. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide all the appropriate information, although the Committee may initiate its own inquiry. A completed application for Fellow status must also include five letters of recommendation from AAAM members in good standing for at least five years. The letters of recommendation should describe the applicant’s contributions to the field of automotive medicine, and specifically to the AAAM. Letters should also include any other comments bearing specifically on Fellow status. By applying for Fellow status, the applicant is agreeing to cooperate with all requests of the Committee relative to its review of the application.  Further, an applicant must demonstrate professional integrity based on information available to or sought by the Fellow Review Committee.

REVIEW PROCESS

Nominations are reviewed at least once a year.  Completed applications may be submitted to the Fellow Review Committee (FRC) electronically to info@aaam.org, subject line: Fellow Nomination.

An interview (in person or by telephone), by at least two members of the FRC, may be conducted of a nominee. The findings of this interview become part of the review process.

The FRC makes its recommendation concerning granting Fellow status to the Board of Directors.  The Board takes the final action to approve, not approve or postpone Fellow status based upon the FRC’s conclusions and recommendations.  Decisions by the Committee and the recommendations to the Board regarding the awarding of Fellow status will be by consensus.  Board action is by majority vote of all the Directors.

Nominees are notified by letter of the Board’s action. Fellowship is bestowed once a year during the AAAM’s annual conference. The nomination and review process for Fellow status is a confidential matter between the nominee and those involved in the evaluation process.

FELLOW RESPONSIBILITIES

Continued Fellow status is dependent upon continued membership in the AAAM.  There are no fees additional to membership dues assessed of Fellows.  However, Fellow are strongly encouraged to make a contribution to the Endowment Fund.

FELLOW REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Fellow Review Committee will represent the principal specialty areas within AAAM, and its members should themselves be Fellows.  The Committee will consist of seven members, two of whom shall be either current Board members or Past Presidents.  The members are nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by the Board of Directors.  The term of service is one year.  Two consecutive reappointments are allowed.

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