Fellows and Master Designations

Applications Now Closed

Achieve distinction. SHM offers Fellow designations across membership levels, including physicians, practice administrators, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists. The Class of 2027 application period will open in Spring 2026.

View the Fellows Class of 2025

About the Program

SHM offers Fellow designations across a variety of membership categories including physicians, qualified practice administrators, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Rooted in the Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine, those who have achieved the designation of Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM), Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) or Master in Hospital Medicine (MHM) are dedicated to promoting excellence, innovation, and improving the quality of patient care.

Important dates and eligibility requirements

The Application Period to Join the Class of 2026 is Now Closed

The Class of 2027 Application Period will Open in Spring 2026

  1. Application review is contingent on compliance.
  2. The deadline for early decision applications for the Class of 2026 is on Friday, September 12, 2025 (11:59 PM, EST). Early Decision notifications will be sent no later than October 31, 2025.
  3. The final deadline for applications for the Class of 2026 is Friday, November 14, 2025 (11:59 PM, EST). Notifications will be sent no later than December 31, 2025.
  4. When notifications are distributed, please remember to check spam/promotions tabs of your emails in searching for your notification.
  5. Applications are not considered complete until endorsements and payment are submitted.
  6. It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm that endorsements are submitted by the deadline.
  7. If declined, the application and application fee will not transfer to the following year.

How to Apply

All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements summarized below and outlined in detail within the application materials to earn a Fellow, Senior Fellow or Master in Hospital Medicine designation.

  1. Solicit two letters of recommendation from active members of SHM who have been in good standing for at least two years.*

  2. Submit a one-time processing fee of $150 for Fellows and $175 for Senior Fellows. This fee must be submitted with your application and is non-refundable. (Applications will not be processed until the fee has been received.)

*Please note that self-endorsements and endorsements from family members or direct reports will not be accepted.

Fellows

General Criteria

The criteria for earning the FHM and SFHM designation requires demonstration of a candidate’s commitment to hospital medicine. The criteria include elements consistent for all candidates, such as:

  • Five years as a practicing hospital medicine professional post-residency.
  • Minimum of three years as a member of SHM.
  • Current SHM membership is in good standing, and payment of dues is up-to-date.
  • No disciplinary action which resulted in the suspension or revocation of credentials or license within five years.
  • Endorsement by two active Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) members. (Please note that self-endorsements and endorsements from family members or direct reports will not be accepted).  
  • Upon being granted a designation, you must maintain a yearly membership. It must remain active to retain full usage of your granted designation privileges. 

The candidate can show their personal dedication of performance and experience in any or all of three disciplines; Teamwork, Quality Improvement, and/or Leadership, each of which is key to the success of any hospitalist.

Registration and attendance at a minimum of one full SHM Annual Conference* plus one** of the following:

  • One additional SHM Annual Conference
  • SHM Academic Hospitalist Academy
  • SHM Leadership Academy
  • SHM Quality & Safety Educators Academy
  • Adult Hospital Medicine Boot Camp (co-sponsored by AAPA)
  • Canadian Hospital Medicine Meeting
  • Pediatric Hospital Medicine (tri-sponsored by SHM, AAP and APA)
  • SHM approved regional meeting:
    • Midwest Hospital Medicine Conference
    • Southern Hospital Medicine Conference
    • UCSF Management of the Hospitalized Patient
    • Mid-Atlantic Hospital Medicine Symposium

      ** Regional Meetings: Applicants must email their CME certificate or registration confirmation as proof of their participation. You will be prompted for these materials during the application process.  
  • Attendance to 5 or more SHM Chapter Meetings within the past 5 years (2020-present) meeting the following requirements:
    • An eligible chapter meeting must have had either a speaker presenting educational content, or the meeting had 1 or more CME credits tied to it.
    • Networking for Leadership focused meetings (i.e., Chapter Leader Training, District Conference Calls, Chapter Leaders Summit, etc.) cannot be claimed as a part of the 5-chapter meetings requirement.
    • Chapter Meetings listed on your application must be able to be verified via previous registration or sign-in sheet to count towards the requirement.

      ** Single-day registration or registration as a guest attendee to SHM’s Annual Conference does not meet this requirement.

      ** On Demand products available for any approved meeting on the above meetings list are not eligible to fulfill the meeting requirement.
      ** Registration for future meetings cannot be claimed to satisfy this requirement
      ** Leadership Academy: Virtual Seminar is not eligible to fulfill the meeting requirement.

Individual Criteria

Physician Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:
  • MD, DO, or equivalent foreign degree and board certification in a specialty recognized by the ABMS.
  • Time spent on clinical and non-clinical work that is devoted to the practice of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or revocation of credentials or license within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

NP and PA Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:
  • PA degree & NCCPA certification (for PAs); MSN or DNP degree & ACC, AANP, ANCC, NCBPNP/N or NCC certification (for NPs); Specialty in internal medicine (once available)
  • Time spent on clinical and non-clinical work that is devoted to the practice of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a NP/PA hospitalist colleague. If a letter from a NP/PA hospital medicine colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or revocation of NP/PA credentials or license within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

Practice Administrators Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:
  • Baccalaureate (BA, BS) or equivalent foreign degree.
  • Time spent on work that is devoted to the administration of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a hospital medicine practice administrator colleague. If a letter from a hospital medicine practice administrator colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or termination of employment within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

Pharmacist Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) or equivalent foreign degree.
  • Registration (RPh) with state or equivalent foreign board.
  • Time spent on work that is devoted to hospital medicine pharmacy service must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a hospital medicine pharmacist colleague. If a letter from a hospital medicine pharmacist colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or termination of employment within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

*Please note that self-endorsements and endorsements from family members or direct reports will not be accepted. 

Current Fellows

By demonstrating a commitment to excellence, innovation and improving the quality of patient care, these individuals are now a part of a distinguished class at SHM. View the Class of 2025 and all current Fellows.

Senior Fellows

General Criteria

The criteria for earning the SFHM designation requires demonstration of a candidate’s commitment to hospital medicine. The criteria include elements consistent for all candidates, such as:

  • Five years as a practicing hospital medicine professional post-residency.
  • Minimum of five years as a member of SHM.
  • Current SHM membership is in good standing, and payment of dues is up-to-date.
  • No disciplinary action which resulted in the suspension or revocation of credentials or license within five years.
  • Endorsement by two active Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) members. (Please note that self-endorsements and endorsements from family members or direct reports will not be accepted).  
  • Upon being granted a designation, you must maintain a yearly membership. It must remain active in order to retain full usage of your designation privileges.

The candidate can show their personal dedication of performance and experience in any or all of three disciplines; Teamwork, Quality Improvement, and/or Leadership, each of which is key to the success of any hospitalist.

Registration and attendance at a minimum of one SHM Annual Conference* plus one** of the following:

  • One additional SHM Annual Conference
  • SHM Academic Hospitalist Academy
  • SHM Leadership Academy
  • SHM Quality & Safety Educators Academy
  • Adult Hospital Medicine Boot Camp (co-sponsored by AAPA)
  • Canadian Hospital Medicine Meeting
  • Pediatric Hospital Medicine (tri-sponsored by SHM, AAP and APA)
  • SHM approved regional meeting:
    • Midwest Hospital Medicine Conference
    • Southern Hospital Medicine Conference
    • UCSF Management of the Hospitalized Patient
    • Mid-Atlantic Hospital Medicine Symposium

      ** Regional Meetings: Applicants must email their CME certificate or registration confirmation as proof of their participation. You will be prompted for these materials during the application process.  
  • Attendance to 5 or more SHM Chapter Meetings within the past 5 years (2020-present) meeting the following requirements:
    • An eligible chapter meeting must have had either a speaker presenting educational content, or the meeting had 1 or more CME credits tied to it.
    • Networking for Leadership focused meetings (i.e., Chapter Leader Training, District Conference Calls, Chapter Leaders Summit, etc.) cannot be claimed as a part of the 5-chapter meetings requirement.
    • Chapter Meetings listed on your application must be able to be verified via previous registration or sign-in sheet to count towards the requirement.

      ** Single-day registration or registration as a guest attendee to SHM’s Annual Conference does not meet this requirement.
      ** On Demand products available for any approved meeting on the above meetings list are not eligible to fulfill the meeting requirement.
      ** Registration for future meetings cannot be claimed to satisfy this requirement
      ** Leadership Academy: Virtual Seminar is not eligible to fulfill the meeting requirement.

Individual Criteria

Physician Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:

  • MD, DO, or equivalent foreign degree and board certification in a specialty recognized by the ABMS.
  • Time spent on clinical and non-clinical work that is devoted to the practice of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or revocation of credentials or license within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

NP and PA Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:

  • PA degree & NCCPA certification (for PAs); MSN or DNP degree & ACC, AANP, ANCC, NCBPNP/N or NCC certification (for NPs); Specialty in internal medicine (once available).
  • Time spent on clinical and non-clinical work that is devoted to the practice of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a hospital medicine practice NP/PA hospitalist colleague. If a letter from a NP/PA hospital medicine colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or revocation of NP/PA credentials or license within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

Practice Administrators Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following:

  • Master’s (MS, MBA, MPH, MHA, etc.) or equivalent foreign degree.
  • Time spent on work that is devoted to the administration of hospital medicine must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity.
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a hospital medicine practice administrator colleague. If a letter from a hospital medicine practice administrator colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.*
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or termination of employment within the past five years.
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

Pharmacist Criteria

Eligible Fellow applicants must fulfill the following: 

  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) or equivalent foreign degree. 
  • Registration (RPh) with State or equivalent foreign board. 
  • Time spent on work that is devoted to hospital medicine pharmacy service must comprise at least 50% of total professional activity. 
  • Endorsement via letters of recommendation by two active SHM members who have been in good standing for at least two years; one letter from a hospitalist physician and one letter from a hospital medicine pharmacist colleague. If a letter from a hospital medicine pharmacist colleague is unavailable (although preferred), a second letter from a hospitalist physician is required.* 
  • No history of professional disciplinary action resulting in suspension or termination of employment within the past five years. 
  • Click here to view a PDF of the points requirements.

*Please note that self-endorsements and endorsements from family members or direct reports will not be accepted.

Current Senior Fellows

By demonstrating a commitment to excellence, innovation and improving the quality of patient care, these individuals are now a part of a distinguished class at SHM. View the Class of 2025 and all current Senior Fellows.

Masters

A Master in Hospital Medicine designation is the apex of distinguished prestige in the hospital medicine community.

Who can be nominated for Master in Hospital Medicine (MHM)?

Masters in Hospital Medicine are distinguished by the excellence and significance of his or her contributions to the field of hospital medicine and healthcare overall. They have been selected because of:

  • Personal character
  • Positions of honor
  • Contributions towards furthering the goals of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)
  • Distinction in practice
  • Education
  • Medical research
  • Other achievements in science or in the art of hospital medicine

MHM nominees must be highly accomplished individuals in the hospital medicine specialty. Evidence of their achievements can come from many types of activities, such as:

  • Excellence in clinical care
  • Healthcare initiatives
  • Education
  • Research
  • Writing and publication
  • Volunteerism
  • Administrative positions

Current members of the SHM Board are not eligible for nomination or selection as Masters in Hospital Medicine.

Nomination materials will be active for five years from the date of submission at which point a new nomination will need to be made.

Expectations for Master in Hospital Medicine

For mastership, SHM involvement is expected (with rare exceptions.) While most Masters will be physicians and hospitalists, non-physicians and non-hospitalists of exceptional merit and contributions to SHM and hospital medicine including SHM employees and contractors may be nominated for mastership.

Master in Hospital Medicine nomination process

The Masters Selection Committee reviews nominees for mastership. The committee will make their recommendations for final approval to the SHM Board of Directors, which will also have access to the complete list of candidates. Contact SHM at fellows@hospitalmedicine.org with all inquiries and submissions. Please include “Submission for Master’s Candidate” in the subject line. The deadline to submit is October 31, 2025. 

How to apply

General criteria:

  • Current SHM membership is in good standing, and payment of dues is up-to-date
  • Two letters of nomination
  • An up-to-date CV of the candidate must accompany the nomination
    • Only Fellows, Senior Fellows, and Masters may submit nomination letters for consideration of mastership.
    • At least one of the nomination letters must come from a Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) or Master in Hospital Medicine (MHM).

Because of the significance of this recognition, candidates may not self-nominate. Please send the above requirements to fellows@hospitalmedicine.org. Please include “Submission for Master’s Candidate” in the subject line.

Current Masters in Hospital Medicine

By demonstrating a commitment to excellence, innovation, and improving the quality of patient care, these individuals are now a part of a distinguished class at SHM. View Current Masters.

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