FELLOWSHIP OF THE ISHR

Fellowship benefits:

·         Fellows will be entitled to add “FISHR” to their degrees and distinctions.

·         Fellows will receive a complimentary subscription (hard copy) to the JMCC.

·         Fellows will be given free registration at World Congresses.¹

·         The names of new Fellows will be published in the JMCC and in the Society newsletter, Heart News & Views, and new Fellows will receive a Fellowship certificate. 

Fellowship costs:

·         Fellows will be asked to pay US$45 per annum (or US$120 for 3 years) to the ISHR international.²  This is additional to and separate from their Section membership fees.

Fellowship selection:

·         Fellows will be selected solely on the basis of scientific excellence – this would normally be expected to be an established track record of publication (in peer reviewed, high impact, international journals) of independent research that has made a major contribution to advancing our understanding in cardiovascular biology and medicine.  Political or service contributions to the ISHR will not be a factor in selection.

·         Fellows must be fully paid up members of one of the Sections of the ISHR and their name must appear on the ISHR (International) membership database.

·         Honorary Members of the ISHR will automatically be appointed as Fellows.

·         Fellowship will be highly prestigious.  Only 82 Founding Fellows were selected at the time of the 2001 World Congress.  Further Fellows will be appointed every 3 years.  The numbers will be determined by Council but the total number of Fellows will not exceed 5% of the membership of the Society.

·         Nominations will be sought from the general membership, the Council of the ISHR (International) and the Editorial Board of the JMCC. In addition, the members of the Council of each Section of the ISHR will be asked to nominate individuals they consider to be most deserving of this award. Nominations must include the name and institute of each nominee, along with a one-page nomination letter outlining his/her major contributions to cardiovascular science.

·         Self-nominations will not be considered.

·         The final selection of Fellows will be made by a Credentials Committee.  The Chairman of the Credentials Committee will be appointed every 3 years by the Council of the ISHR (International).  Taking account of scientific specialties, and in consultation with the President and Secretary General, the Chairman will then appoint a Committee comprising 3 members of the Council of the ISHR (International) plus 1 representative of each active³ Section of the ISHR.  The Chairman will be permitted to appoint up to 3 additional members from the Society at large.

·         While Fellowships will be conferred solely on the basis of scientific merit, account will be taken of the very differing constraints, facilities and research opportunities available to members of different Sections.

·         The Credentials Committee will deliver its list of selected Fellows to the President of the ISHR who will ascertain from those selected whether they wish to accept this honor.  Should any member choose to decline, then the Credentials Committee will be invited to offer additional names so long as they are deemed sufficiently meritorious for the award.

Footnotes:

¹ Fellows first register for the World Congress and subsequently claim reimbursement of the Congress registration fee from the ISHR Treasurer, with the claim supported by appropriate registration documentation. Reimbursement is provided only at the “early registration” rate for ISHR members.

² Emeritus FISHR status may be granted to retired Fellows, at the discretion of the Chairman of the Credentials Committee.

³ An active Section is defined as having more than 100 paid members, a regular annual scientific program with abstracts published in the JMCC and a properly elected Council operating within a written constitution.