Three alternate avenues for advancement from Member to Fellow are available:

• Documentation of 35 points through a combination of formal education, continuing education and organization service,
• Original Fellowship thesis of graduate school quality.
• Case studies for 12 points each. (Case studies may be coupled withpersonal achievement points to total 35 points.)

Candidates for Fellow must also:

• Be a Member in good standing for four years.
• Occupy a position in management in the healthcare or health educationfield for at least six years immediately prior to consideration for advancement.
• Submit a letter to Academy Headquarters requesting advancement andproviding the names and addresses of two references to be contacted regardingthe applicant’s leadership, integrity, and community contributions to healthcare.
• Enclose a $200 advancement fee.(January 1, 2001).
• Have attended at least one AAMA Annual Conference and Convocation in thepast four years — which could include the Convocation at which they will advance.
• Submit a completed Fellowship Project (an original thesis or three casestudies) or documentation of 35 points by September 1^st of the year ofanticipated advancement.
• Complete the “Application for Advancement.” Please include the originalthesis/case studies and two copies, a letter requesting advancement, Personal Achievements Documentation (PAD) form and your current resume.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FELLOWSHIP PROJECT

A. Three Case Studies

If you chose to provide three case studies, they should relate to a segment or facetof healthcare administration and may describe an actual administrative problem encounteredin your day-to-day activities in a healthcare organization. One may be a written presentation made at an AAMA national or local conference. No specific length is required.However, accepted case studies have generally been in the range of six to ten pages. Eachcase study is worth 12 points. Three copies of each case study must be submittedfor review.

B. An Original Fellowship Paper

• The Fellowship Project prepared by the Academy Member must be an original paper related tohealthcare administration in the broadest sense.
• A written proposal may be submitted to the Academy Credentials Committee for approval.
• The Member must complete the project and submit it to Academy Headquarters prior toSeptember 1^st in the year of anticipated advancement. A Member may complete the project any time prior to the four-year Member requirement, but the Fellowship will be awarded only when the requirement is met.
• The Fellowship Project is intended to be a contribution to the literature on healthcare delivery. Appropriate literature documentation (bibliography) is expected.
• No specific length is required. However, approved Fellowship papers have generally been in the range of 4,000 to 10,000 words.
• Three copies must be submitted for review.