Greetings from your Certification team!
We are excited to announce the applications for the Fellows of the SSH Academy Class of 2026 are now open until Aug. 31, 2025!
Fellows of the SSH Academy are a group of leaders and renowned simulationists who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the field of healthcare simulation.
Becoming an SSH Fellow offers many benefits including: recognition for your contributions to SSH and to healthcare simulation; contributing to the future path and project directions of SSH; and influencing or advancing the art, science, and practice of healthcare simulation as part of the SSH Academy.
I encourage all who are eligible to apply. To help you leverage these incredible opportunities, here are some key tips for crafting a successful application:
Read the candidate handbook
This year, we are introducing a new resource, a candidate handbook for Fellows applicants. This handbook can be found on the nominations page. I highly recommend all candidates read this resource as it contains the eligibility requirements, examples on how to complete the narratives, insight on the review process, and more.
Seek mentorship
Mentors assigned by SSH are current Fellows. These mentors provide guidance by reviewing your professional documentation and helping you showcase your achievements in your application. Mentors bring their experience and understanding of the Academy’s requirements to assist you in navigating the application process with greater confidence while maximizing your chance of success through expert guidance and constructive feedback.
Use “I” statements
It is important to highlight your specific contributions. While we rarely work in a silo and depend on our teammates and colleagues for success, keep in mind that the distinction is being awarded to the individual and not the team. Using "I" statements effectively to distinguish your work from the team's involves being precise about your individual actions, responsibilities, and the unique impact you had within a collaborative effort. It's not about diminishing the team, but about highlighting your specific contribution.
- Focus on impact
Focus on the impact of your achievements rather than merely listing your position and responsibilities. Focusing on the impact helps reviewers determine your contributions to both SSH and healthcare simulation.
- Don’t make assumptions
All reviewers are current Fellows, and our Fellows represent various specialties, backgrounds, and geographical regions. Therefore, they may not be intimately familiar with the specific nuances of your specific role, awards, committees, or service items. It is for these reasons that you are encouraged to provide datils about these items and focus on your impact.
I sincerely hope these tips help you in developing your application. If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to me at director@simcertification.com
Until next time, be excellent to each other!
Rachel Araujo
SSH Director of Certfication