Why should I become a Fellow in the Academy?
Is the Fellow program only open to physicians?
Do the CME courses at conferences that I attend qualify for the Fellow curriculum?
What is the Fellowship Registry?
What do I have to do to become a Fellow?
Can any past CME courses count toward my Fellowship curriculum?
How much does it cost?
For how long is the registry good?
What happens if I let my WMS membership or lapse?
Why should the WMS have an Academy?
What is the purpose of the Academy?
What is the mission of the Academy?
What are the Academy’s goals?
Does the Academy have an organizational vision?
What are the core values of the Academy?
How is the Academy governed?
What are the “modules” of the Academy?
What other features could be added later?
What is the Academy’s general relationship with the Society?
How do I know which activities are eligible for FAWM credit?
I want to efficiently plan my educational experiences and add to my FAWM credits at the same time. Can I determine in advance for which and how many FAWM credits a particular activity has been evaluated?
Now that I have applied and have been successfully “registered” how do I submit information on educational activities for FAWM credit?
I have attended an educational activity and have submitted for FAWM credit. How do I determine my current FAWM status?
Does the FAWM incur an ongoing fee after completion of the program and receipt of the FAWM award?
Why should I become a Fellow in the Academy?
Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine is designed for individuals who want to be acknowledged for their professional achievement in Wilderness Medicine, and wish to validate their training for their patients, and clients. The Wilderness Medical Society will serve as a clearinghouse for agencies, employers, and the general public wishing to verify that Fellows have met educational criteria in the discipline. Individuals should realize that neither the Academy nor the Society vouch for the competency of any individual, only that he/she has met established educational criteria.
Is the Fellow program only open to physicians?
No. The Fellowship is open to all WMS members meeting the criteria outlined in the application.
Do the CME courses at conferences that I attend qualify for the Fellow curriculum?
Yes, but you must either already be a WMS member or become a member before you leave the conference. Conferences and other events that qualify for either current or retroactive review for credit are listed on the eligible events page. Activities conducted with organizations that are or were NOT affiliated with the WMS are not eligible for FAWM credit.
What is the Fellowship Registry?
Any candidate who completes the Fellow program criteria will be registered as a Fellow in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and be entitled to use the designation FAWM.
What do I have to do to become a Fellow?
Read the application information, meet the criteria within a five-year period, and submit all necessary fees. You must maintain active WMS membership to achieve credit and maintain FAWM status.
Can any past CME courses count toward my Fellowship curriculum?
The application information explains what you have to do to get retroactive credit. You must request review for retroactive credit and you must have been an active WMS member at the time the courses were taken. Courses must have been less than five years old at the time the application for retroactive review is received. Courses eligible for retroactive review are listed on the eligible course page. Activities conducted with organizations that are or were NOT affiliated with the WMS are not eligible for FAWM credit.
The application fee is $95 for all candidates. An additional $50 administrative fee is required for retroactive review of courses you want to be considered. A yearly fee of $25 keeps your FAWM status active.
For how long is the registry good?
Being a Fellow in the registry will be ongoing once the criteria are met and you maintain active status as a WMS member.
What happens if I let my WMS membership or lapse?
If you allow your WMS membership to lapse while you are a candidate in the program your status will be considered inactive. You will be assessed a reactivation fee of $50 should you decide to be reinstated at a later date. The course credit you have accrued while in the program will still apply, but you must complete all criteria within the original 5-year period. If you are a registered Fellow and your WMS membership expires, you will be considered inactive and the reactivation fee of $50 will be required for reinstatement.
Why should the WMS have an Academy?
Members will be attracted to the WMS by either or both of two factors; 1) Perceived value of membership benefits in terms of services rendered; 2) Personal association or affiliation with a prestigious and highly reputable organization. An effective organization requires both marketable services and academic prestige.
One way to address these two areas simultaneously is to form a bridge between service to members and a high-quality academic environment for the study of Wilderness Medicine. This relationship forms a synergy unique within the discipline. It enhances the overall quality of Wilderness Medicine education within but not limited to the WMS. At the same time it validates the prestige and reputation of the Society as a serious academic organization.
The establishment of an Academy separates distinctly academic issues from other functions of the Society. It allows for focused management of both. The positive synergy generated by this relationship will propel both areas to higher levels of effectiveness. The Academy will coordinate various academic elements of Wilderness Medicine such as the core curriculum, research support, and teaching. It will serve as an organizing entity for its subordinate academic modules and activities.
What is the purpose of the Academy?
The fundamental purpose of the Academy is to support the WMS mission to advance healthcare, research, and education related to Wilderness Medicine.
What is the mission of the Academy?
The Academy’s mission is to provide an organized mechanism through which the Wilderness Medical Society contributes to the body of Wilderness Medicine knowledge and its application in a high-quality and evidence-based fashion.
The goals of the Academy are to provide:
• Professional designation for achievement in Wilderness Medicine
• Validation for the public, patients, and clients of practitioner education in
Wilderness Medicine
• Recognition for completing high quality standards in Wilderness Medicine
• Continuing medical education (CME) credit for acquisition of knowledge and hands-on experiences in Wilderness Medicine
• The advancement of an internationally recognized curriculum of Wilderness Medicine categories, topics, and skills
Does the Academy have an organizational vision?
By adhering to an unwavering set of core values, the Academy serves the members of the Wilderness Medical Society by organizing and presenting a program of adult education based on a standardized, evidence-based core curriculum. This forms the bedrock of quality upon which all Academy applications and WMS programs are built. From this is derived an unrivaled reputation for academic excellence. When medical practitioners and adventure travelers of all types consider carrying on in extreme and remote settings it is to the Academy, as the academic “center-of-mass” in Wilderness Medicine, that they will look for the educational and academic tools needed to prepare.
What are the core values of the Academy?
• Knowledge and policies that improve health in wilderness and extreme settings
• Evidence-based products, policies, and decision making
• Interdisciplinary, multifaceted perspectives
• Combining scientific, humanistic, and environmentally conscious values
• Reputation and prestige derived from quality
• Relevant to modern wilderness-related health challenges
Responsibility for establishment and governance of the Academy lies with the Executive Committee (EXCOM) and Board of Directors (BOD) of the WMS. The EXCOM appoints an Academy Director and approves up to two Assistant Directors.
What are the “modules” of the Academy?
The Academy is based on a modular system of adult education designed to enhance the overall academic quality and stature of the WMS in support of organizational strategic goals. The modules are building blocks that can be used to achieve various outcomes. They may be applied separately or together to take advantage of their natural synergism. When linked by governance and leadership they form the components of an academic academy.
1. Core Curriculum
2. Presentation Library
3. Exportable Curricula
4. Support to the Resident-Student Elective in Wilderness Medicine (RSE)
5. Test question database
6. Support to WMS conferences and activities
7. WMS Faculty Registry
8. WMS Faculty Certification Program (FCP)
9. WMS Educational Achievement and Recognition Program
10. Practitioner registry leading to Fellow of the Academy of WM (FAWM)
11. WMS Researcher Certification Program (RCP)
12. Registry of WMS Researchers and Research Mentors
13. Repository of WM Research Questions
14. Support to WMS Research Grants
15. Support to WMS publications (journal and magazine/newsletter)
16. Expandable Internet applications
What other features could be added later?
• Mechanism to coordinate and generate consensus statements and
reports by WMS expert committees
• Generation of “White Papers” on policy issues of special interest based
on expert opinion, research, review, and published evidence
• Round tables and forums on special topics convened at WMS
conferences resulting in published papers
• Audio-visual lecture series on CD using electronic presentations with
text, graphics, video, and voice-over features
• Internet-based distance learning of Core Curriculum Topics that could
be joined together to form Internet courses with various themes.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) bulletin board section on the web
site that can be searched and queried
What is the Academy’s general relationship with the Society?
The Academy operates within the WMS in a subordinate, mutually supportive, and synergistic fashion. As the umbrella organization, the Society, through the Board of Directors, governs and issues strategic guidance.
How do I know which activities are eligible for FAWM credit?
Go on line to the WMS web site and navigate to the academy page. Click the “Fellow” link on the right. Click the link for eligible activities. This is a comprehensive list that will be updated as more organizations affiliate with the WMS.
I want to efficiently plan my educational experiences and add to my FAWM credits at the same time. Can I determine in advance for which and how many FAWM credits a particular activity has been evaluated?
Yes. This can be done online. Click on the Planning link under the Academy tab. This tool allows you to search for specific topics for which credits will be available. Another way is to click on any one of the eligible activities to see the session and credit details.
Now that I have applied and have been successfully “registered” how do I submit information on educational activities for FAWM credit?
There are two simple steps. Submit a hard copy document for each activity you attended and then go on line and select the sessions you attend for each. Detailed instructions and web links for this important process can be found on the through the Information link under the Academy tab.
I have attended an educational activity and have submitted for FAWM credit. How do I determine my current FAWM status?
Registrants may check the status of their accumulated FAWM credits online on the Reports link under the Academy tab. This information is available in two formats. One is a general overview organized by FAWM curriculum topic. The other is a lengthier and more detailed review organized by sessions submitted and FAWM credits awarded.
Does the FAWM incur an ongoing fee after completion of the program and receipt of the FAWM award?
No. The $25 annual fee is paid during the candidacy period only (up to 5 yrs.). After receipt of the FAWM there are no further fees associated with this program.