One of the many benefits of your HIMSS membership is a program designed to recognize leadership and service to HIMSS and our industry. HIMSS strongly emphasizes and encourages professional development and contributions to the healthcare industry for its members. As such, members have the opportunity to be recognized for their dedication to the society and the industry by applying for Senior Member or Fellow Status. This article will answer many of your questions concerning senior membership and fellows.

BASED ON WHAT CRITERIA ARE SENIOR MEMBERS AND FELLOWS CHOSEN?
HIMSS members are chosen for advancement after meeting several criteria based on professional capability, experience, leadership, and service to their profession. Individuals who have advanced to Senior Member or Fellow status are leaders within the society implying not only recognition for past contributions but also the expectation of continuing participation and contributions to HIMSS and the healthcare community.

Senior Members and Fellows are selected based upon their accomplishments and contributions to the Society in 8 major areas: Years of membership, Education, Certification, Experience and Job Responsibility, Publications and Presentations, Professional Participation, Professional Development, Awards and Honors.

WHAT LEVELS OF RECOGNITION ARE AVAILABLE?
The highest level of recognition in our Society is to be recognized as a Fellow [not to be confused with a "jolly good Fellow who takes my whisky clear" for those Tech alums reading this.] Only a small percentage of the 14000 plus HIMSS members ever achieve this level of recognition.

As one can imagine, Fellow are actively involved in all facets of HIMSS from service on local Chapters boards, to participation on National committees, and leadership of the Society, as a whole. Several Fellows, with Georgia
ties, have served the Society as members of the HIMSS Board of Directors including Jeff Cooper, June Logan, Pam Matthews, and Nancy Stetson. You can also find Fellows sharing their knowledge through presentations made at
national conferences, writing magazine books and articles, and encouraging our government to act on matters of interest to our industry.  Senior Members, like Fellows, have contributed richly to the Society and deserve to be recognized. It is the hope of the Society that every Senior Member will eventually become a Fellow.

HOW DO I ADVANCE TO SENIOR MEMBER OR FELLOW?
Applying for advancement is easy. Visit http://www.himss.org/asp/career_services_fellows.asp. Download the application. Fill it out. If you meet all the requirements, send it in. If you don't meet all the requirements, close the gaps and then send in the application.

While the process is easy, there is work involved. In reading through the application, you may have questions about one or more of the achievement area? You may identify clear gaps between your experience and the requirements and need help in closing the gaps.

Many HIMSS members are eligible for advancement but simply haven't applied.  Others are close to being eligible but aren't aware of the requirements or don't know how to close the gaps between their achievements and the requirements.

HOW CAN GEORIGA HIMSS HELP ME?
Your Georgia HIMSS Chapter offers a mentorship program to help you with advancement. We can match you with an Advancement Mentor.

Your mentor can help you assess your achievements against the requirements for Senior Member or Fellow. If you meet the requirements, your mentor can coach you on the completion and submission of the application. If gaps are identified, your mentor can coach you on how to close the gaps.

I'M CONVINCED, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE?
Georgia HIMSS will be offering an audio conference program titled "getting started on advancement to SM / Fellow" later in the year. Further information will be available at http://www.gahimss.org/calendar/calendar.html as it becomes available. This program will amplify upon the steps needed to apply for advancement and will offer a Q&A session with a panel of HIMSS Fellows and Senior Members.

If you can't wait to get started, please contact Dean Athanassiades, FHIMSS at dathanassiades@hmindspring.com. Dean will get you linked up with a mentor.