Responses to the Academy Fellow Post
KM Heide CPO/FAAOP
Description
Collection
Title:
Responses to the Academy Fellow Post
Creator:
KM Heide CPO/FAAOP
Date:
2/11/2011
Text:
Members of the list and Fellow Practitioners:
Recently, I published my concerns over the designation of Academy Fellow and related issues revolving around how the title as been transformed by or organization. Not surprised, I received a vast amount of messages all in favor of my comments!! (Read below)
I did have one member respectfully state the organizations position, keeping in line with his affiliation in creating these 'Academy Fellow' requirements.
Please understand that the Academy has only the best interests of our
profession in mind and would not make decisions based solely on economics. I
hope this clarifies things for you and I would encourage you to perhaps
consider changing your post so as not to bias those using the List Serve
against the intent and integrity of the Academy's Fellow Program.
Bias??? What?? Economics 101 - 99.9% of respondents agree with the original statement.
00.1% of respondents state bias.
I guess I don't understand. I should therefore just send in my money, never question the motive behind our organization, and allow those in control define transparency as in their eyes only! Simply put, this designation was only a way to captivate members to anti-up more money!
Nonetheless, herein is a sample of the comments received. As you read them you can see the pattern of frustration, agreement, and anger. I am not posting all comments as there is not enough room!
Original Post
Colleagues & Members of the list:
With interest, I need some education on the title of Academy Fellow.
It is my understanding the Fellow designation is the highest honor given
upon members of our profession by the American Academy of Orthotist and
Prosthetist. It denotes a body of highest achievement in education within
our organization and profession career. One way to think about the Fellow
designation is as a professional career award! This achievement is common
amongst other medical professions, earned, and serves as a lifelong award.
I received a letter in the mail from the Academy recently indicating I have
worked hard to earn the prestigious designation. However, it is now time to
renew my Academy Fellow honor! What?? I get to choose a pathway for yet
another personal commitment to the advancement of the O&P profession??
Colleagues, please explain to me this new definition of Fellow! Other than
the medallion and 10% off academy products, what is the significance of this
bestowed honor? It appears this designation has been redefined by our profession
which translates into more money and another requirement! Is there no end to this
money hungry machine?
Responses
As a fellow academy member, your implied point of view is well taken as an accurate reflection of reality. I console myself with the idea that, in some small way, my membership helps move our profession forward in hopefully the right direction. Thank you for your comment
I think you hit the nail on the head. It seems to me the whole
fellow business is only a money grab.
It has been an opinion of mine for quite some time that we are dumbing
down our industry. We continue to mandate higher and higher educational
requirements for those that are interested in entering the field while we
accept other pathways from those that have no other interest (in my opinion)
than to make a buck. We have policed ourselves into a corner of the market
that we honestly have no escape from. While we continue to pay our dues to
the ABC and respective State licensing boards among other institutions,
other professionals are marketing themselves as O and P providers. It is
past time to take a stand for our profession and stop letting others do it
for us. I hold my nose while I sign the check to send to these
organizations that maintain my certification. I don't get the answers from
them when inquiring about how to re-legislate and keep Tom, Dick and Harry
from providing orthotic and prosthetic SERVICES. I agree, therefore, that
the Academy Fellowship should be bestowed upon those within our profession
that have maintained a higher level of education and professionalism and not
reserved for those that can merely afford it. You should not be able to
purchase one of these medallions; merely demonstrate the standard which is
set forth. Furthermore, you should not have to pay to maintain it!
You do not need this explained; you fully understand and state so at the end of your post. MONEY, GREED and B.S! In my opinion similar to ABC's facility accreditation.
I think you are getting the big picture… Thank you for this post!
I am SO glad to see someone post a comment like this.
It is a funny field when you can buy a Fellow status, and I guess you are being recognized and honored for just giving this organization money.
It does seem that these bureaucracies have an insatiable appetite for $$$$$$$$$$$$$'s!
We cannot agree with you more.
The academy has been embarrassing and a Joke among most of us for years.
Welcome to the club.
The fellow status is not just sold, and I am stating this as a Fellow who
had to make sure that I worked in order to achieve the status and also to
renew the status.
To fill an email full of responses from uneducated people is totally
unacceptable in my opinion, well knowing the requirements and purpose of the
Fellow designation.
I suggest that you do some homework first, answer the questions that I posed
to you, then once you are familiar with the facts you can then post Facts
and individuals opinions clearly stated as uneducated opinions.
It does not good to post content to this professional listserv that
belittles our profession when there are no facts involved and merely
emotionally based opinions of individuals who have no basis or facts to back
their opinions with.
____________________________________________________________________________________
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
<URL Redacted>
Recently, I published my concerns over the designation of Academy Fellow and related issues revolving around how the title as been transformed by or organization. Not surprised, I received a vast amount of messages all in favor of my comments!! (Read below)
I did have one member respectfully state the organizations position, keeping in line with his affiliation in creating these 'Academy Fellow' requirements.
Please understand that the Academy has only the best interests of our
profession in mind and would not make decisions based solely on economics. I
hope this clarifies things for you and I would encourage you to perhaps
consider changing your post so as not to bias those using the List Serve
against the intent and integrity of the Academy's Fellow Program.
Bias??? What?? Economics 101 - 99.9% of respondents agree with the original statement.
00.1% of respondents state bias.
I guess I don't understand. I should therefore just send in my money, never question the motive behind our organization, and allow those in control define transparency as in their eyes only! Simply put, this designation was only a way to captivate members to anti-up more money!
Nonetheless, herein is a sample of the comments received. As you read them you can see the pattern of frustration, agreement, and anger. I am not posting all comments as there is not enough room!
Original Post
Colleagues & Members of the list:
With interest, I need some education on the title of Academy Fellow.
It is my understanding the Fellow designation is the highest honor given
upon members of our profession by the American Academy of Orthotist and
Prosthetist. It denotes a body of highest achievement in education within
our organization and profession career. One way to think about the Fellow
designation is as a professional career award! This achievement is common
amongst other medical professions, earned, and serves as a lifelong award.
I received a letter in the mail from the Academy recently indicating I have
worked hard to earn the prestigious designation. However, it is now time to
renew my Academy Fellow honor! What?? I get to choose a pathway for yet
another personal commitment to the advancement of the O&P profession??
Colleagues, please explain to me this new definition of Fellow! Other than
the medallion and 10% off academy products, what is the significance of this
bestowed honor? It appears this designation has been redefined by our profession
which translates into more money and another requirement! Is there no end to this
money hungry machine?
Responses
As a fellow academy member, your implied point of view is well taken as an accurate reflection of reality. I console myself with the idea that, in some small way, my membership helps move our profession forward in hopefully the right direction. Thank you for your comment
I think you hit the nail on the head. It seems to me the whole
fellow business is only a money grab.
It has been an opinion of mine for quite some time that we are dumbing
down our industry. We continue to mandate higher and higher educational
requirements for those that are interested in entering the field while we
accept other pathways from those that have no other interest (in my opinion)
than to make a buck. We have policed ourselves into a corner of the market
that we honestly have no escape from. While we continue to pay our dues to
the ABC and respective State licensing boards among other institutions,
other professionals are marketing themselves as O and P providers. It is
past time to take a stand for our profession and stop letting others do it
for us. I hold my nose while I sign the check to send to these
organizations that maintain my certification. I don't get the answers from
them when inquiring about how to re-legislate and keep Tom, Dick and Harry
from providing orthotic and prosthetic SERVICES. I agree, therefore, that
the Academy Fellowship should be bestowed upon those within our profession
that have maintained a higher level of education and professionalism and not
reserved for those that can merely afford it. You should not be able to
purchase one of these medallions; merely demonstrate the standard which is
set forth. Furthermore, you should not have to pay to maintain it!
You do not need this explained; you fully understand and state so at the end of your post. MONEY, GREED and B.S! In my opinion similar to ABC's facility accreditation.
I think you are getting the big picture… Thank you for this post!
I am SO glad to see someone post a comment like this.
It is a funny field when you can buy a Fellow status, and I guess you are being recognized and honored for just giving this organization money.
It does seem that these bureaucracies have an insatiable appetite for $$$$$$$$$$$$$'s!
We cannot agree with you more.
The academy has been embarrassing and a Joke among most of us for years.
Welcome to the club.
The fellow status is not just sold, and I am stating this as a Fellow who
had to make sure that I worked in order to achieve the status and also to
renew the status.
To fill an email full of responses from uneducated people is totally
unacceptable in my opinion, well knowing the requirements and purpose of the
Fellow designation.
I suggest that you do some homework first, answer the questions that I posed
to you, then once you are familiar with the facts you can then post Facts
and individuals opinions clearly stated as uneducated opinions.
It does not good to post content to this professional listserv that
belittles our profession when there are no facts involved and merely
emotionally based opinions of individuals who have no basis or facts to back
their opinions with.
____________________________________________________________________________________
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
<URL Redacted>
Citation
KM Heide CPO/FAAOP, “Responses to the Academy Fellow Post,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 16, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/232344.
