Becoming a Fellow
Attaining Fellowship
The Council of Fellows was founded to advance the unique qualities of the profession of healthcare architecture by demonstrating and celebrating achievements of national significance. Fellowship is bestowed upon an ACHA certificant who has shown distinction in fulfilling one specific Category of Nomination of their work and has demonstrated an individual impact in healthcare architecture.
For consideration, an ACHA certificant must be certified for a minimum of 5 years from the submission deadline, and have been a licensed architect for a minimum of 10 years from the submission deadline. An ACHA Fellow is entitled to use “FACHA” after their name.
Applications are filed through the ACHA Certemy site. All details and submittal requirements are available in the Nomination Package.
Click here for FAQs.
Click here for the current list of ACHA Fellows.
ACHA hosted a free webinar entitled “De-mystifying the Fellowship Application Process”, designed to address key points of the Fellowship process. This webinar posted on YouTube focused on the unique qualities of this prestigious award, clarified its purpose and illustrated key components of successful submittals.
Date Recorded: November 28, 2023
Co-Presenters: John Ruffo, FAIA, FACHA; Bill Hercules, FAIA, FACHA; Tracy Bond, AIA, ACHA
Categories of Achievement
Fellowship is granted to ACHA certificants who have shown distinction in fulfilling one specific Category of Nomination. Although a nominee may be able to demonstrate distinction in multiple Categories of Achievement, the ACHA Fellowship Jury requires nominations, the submittal package, and references be focused on the nominee’s single most outstanding Category of Nomination.
Category Two
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Progressed healthcare environments through public service.
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Fellowship in this category is granted to those who have clearly raised the standards of professional performance through leadership in the development of civic improvements, needed governmental projects, or industry organizations by advancing the professional healthcare affairs in their field.
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Although a nominee may be able to demonstrate distinction in multiple Categories of Achievement, the ACHA Fellowship Jury requires nominations, the submittal package, and references be focused on the nominee’s single most outstanding Category of Nomination.
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The nominee must have completed 10 cumulative years as a licensed architect prior to the nomination deadline, and also be a current ACHA certificant in good standing for at least the last 5 years.
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If a candidate is denied advancement at three consecutive annual meetings of the jury, two years must elapse before a new nomination can be made.
Category One
Advanced the Art and Craft of healthcare planning and design through either:
Superior evidence of planning and design achievements. Fellowship in this category is granted to those who have produced distinguished bodies of work through the practice of healthcare architecture that blends the elegance of design with superior, innovative, or highly efficient medical planning.
Or
Superior evidence of contributions to the practice of healthcare architecture. Fellowship in this category is granted to those who have made notable contributions through their work in a minimum of one area of expertise:
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The research of healthcare architecture through either formal or informal investigation that has progressed the standards, specifications, building codes, materials, applications, or inventions for the field;
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The education of healthcare architects through either formal education or mentoring that has demonstrated inspiration to others in the profession and for the field;
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The literature of healthcare architecture through either writing or speaking that has been widely recognized to have a lasting impact for the field.
Categories are as follows:
Nomination
ACHA certificants shall be nominated by a single sponsor who is already an ACHA Fellow or Fellow Emeritus. Five letters of reference from at least one ACHA Fellow and at least one healthcare executive must accompany the nomination.
Fellows Application Sample
Click below for exemplary submissions that serve as an example to others submitting Fellowship applications.
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Bill Ayars (2020)
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Abby Clary (2020)
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Ann Adams (2023)
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Diana Anderson (2023)
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Steve Langston (2023)
