Frequently
Asked Questions
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. The registry will
identify all Fellows and will be made available on the open
access web site.
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.
How much
does it cost?
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.
What
are the Academy’s goals?
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
How is
the Academy governed?
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. At the Academy
of Wilderness Medicine OnLine page, click on the “Enter
and Edit Credits” link. A separate window will appear
and will require you to log on with your last name and WMS
membership number. You’ll see a drop down menu with
all the eligible activities. Select the one you are interested
in and it will present you with the list of sessions to
be conducted at that activity and their FAWM credit evaluations.
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 Academy of Wilderness Medicine
OnLine page.
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 on line. 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. Detailed
instructions and web links for this important process can
be found on the Academy of Wilderness
Medicine Online page.
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.
