ISSWSH - Fellowship

WHY BECOME AN ISSWSH FELLOW?

An ISSWSH Fellow is the embodiment of ISSWSH. Those honored with this exclusive designation (IF) include only those members who have demonstrated the highest ethical, clinical and/or research standards in providing sexual healthcare to all persons.

A FELLOW’S COMMITMENTS and PURPOSE:

An ISSWSH Fellow (IF)

embodies the values of ISSWSH and adheres to the mission and vision of the organization.
thinks globally and serves as an AMBASSADOR to ISSWSH, representing the very best of our society to enhance qualified membership and fellowship in the US, but also around the world.
is committed to evidenced-based SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY and to the development and/or practice of evidence-based Sexual Medicine/Health. A ISSWSH Fellow educates and informs patients/clients, colleagues, students, and community.
assumes the role of sexual healthcare ADVOCATE within our society, the community and works to dispel sexual healthcare myths and misinformation that can be harmful or predatory to the community at large.
is collaborative with other evidenced-based Sexual Medicine/Health societies, ensuring that all persons have access to sexual healthcare regardless of geography, race, religion, sex, gender or sexual orientation.
contributes directly to the principles and practices of the organization at large through APPRECIATED SERVICE. Fellows commonly serve on committees, as committee chairs, or on the ISSWSH Board of Directors.

Although many members, after becoming ISSWSH Fellows, experience professional advancement through the promotion and tenure process at their academic institutions or by working in or developing highly successful private practices, the primary purpose of the ISSWSH Fellowship is to denote EXCELLENCE to those seeking sexual healthcare and provide CONSISTENT, SCIENTIFICALLY BASED, RELIABLE information to ANY person, patient, or professional within the community.

ISSWSH Fellowship Program (IF)

Must be an ISSWSH member in good standing with 3 years of professional experience in Sexual Medicine/Health.
Must be able to secure 2 letters of recommendation from current ISSWSH Fellows: This requires active engagement within ISSWSH. If you do not know 2 ISSWSH Fellows well enough for them to attest to your character, work ethic, and the role or work in Sexual Medicine/Health, then prior to applying, you are encouraged to participate in the ISSWSH Mentor-Mentee Program; attend one of the numerous meeting mixers at an annual meeting, training courses or regional meet-up, or volunteer on an ISSWSH committee or subcommittee that is led by a Fellow.

Read Fellowship Agreement: Approved ISSWSH Fellows must sign this agreement, so before proceeding, please make sure you are comfortable with this agreement.
Complete peer lecture requirement: This requirement of Fellowship is important as it demonstrates the essence of what ISSWSH envisions for the Fellowship Program, highly skilled professionals dedicated to evidence-based sexual health care, that take time to educate others (peers) that serve in communities where underserved persons are experiencing impaired access to quality sexual healthcare that may be related to geography, economic factors, sexual orientation, gender, race, or religion. We want providers to learn from ISSWSH Fellows some of the basics of female sexual dysfunction and care, hear about ISSWSH and other evidence- based resources that can help them as they care for their patients or community. This is how we work towards our vision of a thriving sexuality for every body.
1. ISSWSH has prepared slides consisting of 35-40 slides based on the ISSWSH Slide deck that will be provided to you. We encourage you to use these slides for your lecture. The slides include ISSWSH informational slides (Part A) and content slides (Part B).
2. If you want to create your own lecture, this must to be pre-approved by the Fellowship Committee. We recommend you use the ISSWSH slides as a reference and incorporate Part A slides into your presentation prior to submitting your lecture for review. The Committee meets quarterly and will review lectures to ensure each lecture conforms to the purpose stated above, and that the information is accurate. Please note that when citing resources, all references must be presented in a well-balanced manner.
3. To meet the lecture requirement, you must use the ISSWSH prepared slides or use slides that have been approved by the Fellowship Committee prior to giving the lecture. Other lectures given will not be accepted to meet this requirement of Fellowship.
4. Your lecture may be given in-person or remotely and you will be asked to provide the date, time, and location of your lecture, as well as provide an overview within the written application.
Complete Online Application.
If approved for ISSWSH Fellowship, sign Fellowship Agreement.

FAQ's

Answer: ISSWSH Fellows are encouraged to get to know Fellow candidates well so that they can authentically write these reference letters (Character, work ethic, and the candidate’s role or work in Sexual Medicine/Health). Therefore, Fellowship Candidates are DISCOURAGED from asking for letters of recommendation from Fellows where they have not built a relationship.

Examples of how to engage/get to know ISSWSH Fellows: Participate in the ISSWSH Mentor-Mentee Program; attend one of the numerous meeting mixers at an annual meeting, training courses or regional meet-up, or volunteer on an ISSWSH committee or subcommittee that is led by a Fellow.

Answer: Yes, there are specific circumstances under which an applicant may apply for Fellowship without meeting the three-year clinical experience requirement. These exceptions are designed to recognize intensive training, focused practice, or significant contributions to Sexual Medicine/Health. Exceptions by Professional Category below:

Clinicians (Healthcare Professionals with Prescriptive Authority):

Participants in Yearlong Fellowships: Clinicians who complete a non-ACGME or other yearlong Sexual Medicine/Health Fellowship and have documentation from their Fellowship Director stating that 80% or greater of their clinical practice during the Fellowship was dedicated to Sexual Medicine/Health may apply directly after completing the program.
Extensive Practice Experience: Clinicians not enrolled in formal Fellowships may apply after maintaining a focused Sexual Medicine/Health practice (80% or greater of daily practice) for a minimum of one year. Applicants must provide a de-identified case log documenting one year of patient cases, which will be reviewed by the Fellowship Committee. Additionally, one of the required two recommendation letters must come from an ISSWSH Fellow mentor who has directly overseen the applicant's Sexual Medicine/Health-focused practice.

Behavioral Health Professionals & Educator:

It is recognized that a Certified Sex Therapist/ Sex Educator / Sex Counselor/ has an intensive educational experience, and provided the applicant has documentation of a SAR or equivalent, and specifically, a copy of their certification (either through AASECT or through another organization with equivalent core knowledge educational standards as AASECT) which is current/ maintained and one of their two required letters of recommendation from their supervising Behavioral Health, ISSWSH Fellow professional or another ISSWSH Fellow who is otherwise a qualified Sexual Behavioral Health Professional, they would qualify to apply for their IF in one year, without the three year waiting period.
Those Behavioral Health Professionals who use titles other than Sex Therapist, Sex Educator or Sex Counselor but have similar training, for example a Board Certified Sexologist, Psychologist or equivalent, who desire to apply for their IF directly in one year, without the 3 year waiting period, are required to provide documentation of their board certification or certifying credentials as sexual health professionals, a Sexual Attitude Reassessment Seminar or equivalent, and one of their two letters of reference must be from an ISSWSH Fellow Behavioral Health Professional, who can attest to their minimum of 1 year experience.

Physical Therapists (PTs):

Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialists (WCS): PTs with WCS subspecialty certification and at least one of their two recommendation letters must be from an ISSWSH Fellow WCS PT may apply after one year. The letter must confirm experience in addressing pelvic floor-related sexual health concerns.
Extensive Practice Experience: PTs without WCS certification may apply if at least 80% of their daily practice involves sexual health concerns related to the pelvic floor for one year. A de-identified case log and at least one of their two recommendation letters must be from an ISSWSH Fellow WCS PT mentor documenting the one year of focused pelvic floor work

Researchers/Professors/Educators:

Grant Recipients: Researchers with a grant in Sexual Medicine/Health or a related field within the last five years and who have served as an ISSWSH Research Mentor for at least one year may apply. One of their two recommendation letters must be from an ISSWSH Fellow outlining their research contributions.
Early Career Researchers/Educators Without Grants: Applicants may apply after one year if they have at least three peer-reviewed publications related to Sexual Medicine/Health and have delivered two Sexual Medicine/Health lectures to undergraduate or higher-level students within one year. These lectures must not duplicate topics, and student lectures do not satisfy ISSWSH Fellow Lecture requirements.