A proposal to make it easier for APA general members to become fellows was defeated by the Board of Trustees at its meeting last month in Washington, D.C. A second category called distinguished fellows would have replaced the current category of fellows, thus creating a two-tier fellowship system.

In contrast to the many requirements now needed to become a fellow, an APA general member would have been eligible for fellow status after only five consecutive years with ABPN or RCPS(C) certification, three letters of recommendation from APA members, and concurrence of that member's district branch.

Harold Pincus, M.D., the APA deputy medical director who oversees the Office of Membership in addition to directing the Office of Research, explained that a survey of other medical specialty societies found APA's fellowship criteria to be far more rigorous. Also, clearly defined criteria would alleviate the Board's concern about arbitrariness, said Pincus.

Nonetheless, former APA president Jerry Wiener, M.D., spoke against the motion, ojecting to "adding layers upon layers of membership without any real purpose." He listed membership categories that already exist for medical students, members-in-training, early career psychiatrists, fellows, honorary fellows, and emeritus fellows.

Wiener explained that during his presidency three years ago he had asked the Committee on Membership to rethink the fellowship process because "I wanted to simplify the process and put it primarily in the hands of the district branch officials and members who know local members' achievements best. Instead we have created another category which doesn't change anything," said Wiener.

Member-in-Training Trustee Helen Egger, M.D. recalled that Patricia Sharpley, M.D., immediate past chair of the Committee on Membership, told the resident leadership group last year that a new fellowship category would increase retention of APA members.

"There was a consensus among the residents, however, that becoming an APA fellow was not very important. I don't think this category would have any significant impact on retaining or replacing residents," said Egger.

Area 1 Trustee Gerald Flamm, M.D., spoke in favor of the proposal, maintaining that "being denied a fellowship for some members is very demoralizing." The new fellowship proposal "attempts to reduce and eliminate that aspect by having members active for a period of time with no major contribution advance to fellows. Members who made a major contribution would advance to distinguished fellows," said Flamm.

He noted that the American College of Physicians and the American College of Psychiatrists have similar criteria to those in the proposal.

After the motion was defeated, treasurer Fred Gottlieb, M.D., asked the Committee on Membership to "return with recommendations on how to make attaining fellowship an easier achievement."

Approved Actions

The Trustees did, however, approve creating a new international membership category that would replace the current corresponding member and corresponding fellow categories. Members in these two categories would be eligible to become international members, and corresponding fellows could be grandfathered into the current APA fellowship category.

The approved item was referred to the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws because amendments to both are necessary to enact the change.

According to Kristine Bieg, director of APA's Office of Membership, international members could join APA for $125, subject to the Budget Committee's approval, and receive a discount on APA publications, a special newsletter, reduced registration fees for APA meetings, member prices on APA products and services, a membership card and certificate, and a special reception at the annual meeting. They would not be entitled to vote or receive every publication sent to members, Bieg noted.

The proposal was developed with the Council on International Affairs, which found that many corresponding members used the honorary APA member title, according to the Committee on Membership report.

In other membership news, the Trustees voted to refer to the Budget Committee a recommendation that Canadian members pay 38 percent to 50 percent less in dues beginning in 1998. An APA ad hoc committee found that Canadian members earn less than their American counterparts, pay higher taxes, have less buying power because the Canadian dollar is worth less than the U.S. dollar, and generally have a higher cost of living.

The Trustees also approved a committee recommendation that APA explore a joint membership campaign with the Canadian Psychiatric Association. Canadian psychiatrists who join both organizations would receive a further reduction in APA dues.

A membership marketing plan for this year was also approved by the Trustees with the goal of increasing retention and recruitment of residents and general members, especially early- to mid-career psychiatrists, and members of minority and underrepresented groups.

(Psychiatric News, January 17, 1997)