Why become a fellow?
Patients and healthcare systems require exceptional leaders to uphold the highest standards of care. Reports such as the Francis Inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (2013), the Ockenden Review (2022) of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, and the Kirkup Report (2022) on East Kent maternity services have underscored the critical role of leadership in promoting safe, compassionate, and effective healthcare. More recent reviews, including the Darzi Review (2018), the Messenger Review (2022), and the Darzi Report (2024), further emphasise the need for the professionalisation of leadership across the NHS to drive innovation, ensure accountability, and enhance patient outcomes. These reports advocate for stronger leadership frameworks, highlighting the vital role clinical professionals play in shaping quality care and system-wide improvements.
As clinical leaders face growing responsibility and accountability for the efficiency, safety, and quality of healthcare, the ability to benchmark their performance against national standards has never been more crucial. Setting clear standards and expectations for clinical leadership is essential to ensure leaders are equipped to meet the challenges of modern healthcare and deliver sustained improvements across the system.
Fellowship of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) plays a key role in professionalising clinical leadership by accrediting high performing and effective clinical leaders against national Leadership and Management Standards for Medical Professionals.
Benefits
- Recognition of Leadership Excellence: FMLM Fellowship is a testament to leadership capabilities and achievements within the healthcare sector. It signals commitment to excellence in medical leadership and management to peers, employers, and the wider healthcare community. This recognition can lead to new opportunities and enhance professional credibility.
- Professional Development Opportunities: FMLM provides continuous professional development through events, mentorship, and conferences. This ongoing learning environment supports your growth and adaptability in a rapidly evolving field.
- Networking with Peers: FMLM Fellowship brings together like-minded professionals passionate about healthcare leadership. This community offers networking opportunities to share insights, collaborate on projects, and form lasting professional relationships.
- Influence Healthcare Policy and Practice: Fellows of FMLM play a crucial role in shaping healthcare policy and practice through the Faculty's national, and increasingly international, role. The expertise and insights of FMLM Fellows can contribute to important discussions on healthcare management, influencing decisions that affect patient care and service delivery; to advocate for change and drive improvements in healthcare systems.
- Career Advancement: FMLM Fellowship demonstrates commitment to professional development, and an ability to influence positive change in healthcare. This recognition can enhance career prospects, potentially leading to leadership roles and other high-impact positions within the NHS or further afield.
How to apply
To help us assess your eligibility, we will require some initial information during the registration stage. Once your eligibility has been confirmed, you will receive further details outlining the next steps in the application process.
Complete the Application Registration form
Please note that if you are not currently a member of FMLM, you will first need to become a member and pay your fees. All the details of how to become a member are on our membership pages.
FAQs
- How up to date does my 360 feedback and appraisal need to be?
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Appraisals should be complete and signed off or ‘locked’ by the appraiser. Appraisals must have been undertaken within the past 12 months.
360 Degree Feedback needs to be completed within the last three years.
- I'm not a member, can I join?
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FMLM Fellowship is only available to FMLM members, so join our membership circle here. As well as FMLM Fellowship, membership provides access to the following benefits, services and resources:
- BMJ Leader, the official journal of FMLM and the only UK based journal dedicated to healthcare leadership and management.
- FMLM mentoring, an exclusive service available to all career stages to provide personalised guidance on a range of topics.
- Discounted entry to events, including annual and regional conferences and education days,
- Access to online information and resources, including articles from international leading thinkers, webinars and podcasts, blogs and audiobooks
- FMLM members directory, providing a list of members where you can search for other members in your region, by career level or by specialty.
- Is this a UK recognised award?
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Yes, FMLM promotes excellence in leadership on behalf of all clinicians in public health, primary and secondary care, from students to directors, and for health care providers and advisory organisations across the UK.
- What happens to my fellowship if I discontinue my FMLM membership?
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To maintain your fellowship you must continue to pay the annual fellowship fee that will replace your existing membership subscription following your fellowship approval. If you discontinue your FMLM membership you will relinquish your award and fellowship status. Your name will be removed from the published list of fellows and you will no longer be able to use the relevant post-nominal.
Should you wish to re-join FMLM and restore your fellowship award, you are required to pay the reinstatement fee at 50% of the application fee. Reinstatement is only available within three years of relinquishing your award and you must have continued to be in good standing with your professional body for the full duration of this period.
- What are the current fees?
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