Fellow Nomination and Selection Process

The ASTRO Fellowship program was created to recognize outstanding members of the Society for their leadership role in radiation oncology and their major service to ASTRO. Fellow eligibility is limited to Active, International and Emeritus members of the Society. Generally, candidates will have a minimum of 15 years of ASTRO membership post-training, in addition will have contributed substantial service to ASTRO. Applicants for ASTRO Fellow will be evaluated in four pathways – research, patient care, education and leadership/service in the field. Candidates are required to identify a primary and secondary pathway in which they have made commendable contributions to the advancement of the goals of the Society and of the specialty. 

Research

Significant research as evidenced by grants, authorship of scientific papers, chapters or books that have been a guiding influence in the immediate or future aspects of the practice of radiation oncology.

Patient Care

Significant contribution to patient care and clinical excellence as evidenced by improvement in the standard of practice in the management of disease.

Education

Significant contribution to the advancement of education in the field as evidenced by participation in residency training, faculty service, extensive presentations at regional or national meetings, or providing significant mentorship to those joining or active in the field.

Leadership/Service

Demonstration of leadership and service that has advanced the specialty as a whole. This can be in the form of extensive volunteerism, advancement of scope of practice, patient advocacy and legislative and regulatory issues. Service to medicine, including ASTRO and other societies may be considered but in the context of the total application.

Nomination Process

Only ASTRO Fellows may nominate a candidate for fellowship in ASTRO. Letters in support of nominations must come from the following subset of Society members: past or present members of ASTRO’s Board of Directors, ASTRO Gold Medalists, ASTRO Fellows, and former or current departmental chairs. Emeritus members, except Gold Medalists, are not eligible to nominate or support. In order to be considered, each nominee must have a letter of nomination and three letters of support. Additionally, each nominee must submit the Fellow application and the required background documentation, including their CV. Applications without all supporting documentation will be rejected. Only one of the four nominator/supporters may be in practice with the applicant. Self-nominations will not be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application together with the supporting documentation electronically. ASTRO will not be responsible for following up with those listed on the application as providing supporting materials. It will be the applicant's responsibility to make sure that all materials arrive by the deadline.

A call for nominations will be sent out in January of each year. The deadline for nominations, letters of support and completed applications will be in May. Instructions to candidates and supporters and the application are available online. Completed applications with supporting documentation will be sent to the Fellows Selection Committee for review. The Committee will Accept, Reject or Defer applications. Accepted candidates will be recommended to the ASTRO Board of Directors for approval. Notifications will sent to all applicants no later than July 15. Information will be provided to the candidates as to reasons for rejection or deferral. Deferrals will be carried over for an additional year of consideration. If the applicant is not successful the second year, the application will no longer be considered active.

Selection Committee Composition and Review

The Fellows Selection Committee is made up of nine members, including a Chair and Vice-chair who will serve staggered terms. The Committee will review applications and supporting materials including letters of nomination and support. Supporting materials must outline the applicant's contributions to the field and clearly establish the scope and significance of the applicant’s accomplishments. Letters should identify in the subject line the candidate’s name and must clearly explain why the candidate should be considered for fellowship. Letters should be no longer than two pages in length. Published research provides a supplementary means of supporting such assessments. Personal knowledge by members of the Fellows Selection Committee, in the absence of adequate documentation is not sufficient to recommend a nominee for an award. The Fellows Selection Committee will submit a slate of recommended Fellows to the ASTRO Board of Directors for final approval. Once approved by the Board, new Fellows will be notified and a notice will go out to all ASTRO Society members.

Fellow Emeritus

This designation will be awarded to those former Active or International members who are now retired from practice and are Emeritus members of ASTRO. The criteria for selection and process will be the same as for Fellows.

Recognition

Each year, at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting, a convocation ceremony will be held to honor and recognize new Fellows and Fellows Emeritus. Fellows will be notified in advance of the meeting of their selection and will receive complimentary registration to attend that Annual Meeting. Each new Fellow is allowed to bring their immediate family to the convocation ceremony and reception. Fellows must attend the ceremony to receive this honor. In unusual circumstances when a Fellow is unable to attend the convocation ceremony, they will be eligible to receive their Fellow recognition at the first Annual Meeting they are able to attend following that selection. Emeritus Fellows unable to travel may receive their certificate by mail. The Fellow/Fellow Emeritus must notify the Society in writing at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting if they are unable to attend the ceremony. Only a Fellow or Fellow Emeritus will be privileged to use the letters FASTRO after his/her name.

Generally, award of Fellow status will be limited to no more than 5 percent of the eligible members of ASTRO within any given year.