By Dr Katie Marino, BASEM Board Lead for Membership

As part of the initial steps towards the proposed new college, a working group was set up and given the task of creating a proposal for a membership structure. I co-chaired the group along with Dr Chris Tomlinson (then Vice-President of FSEM).

During the Working Groups, a proposed membership structure with the following categories was created:

• Fellowship: Doctors with a Certificate of Completion in Training (CCT) in SEM and who are on the GMC specialist register, either via SEM registrar training or CESR route. Fellows can also be elected. This is reserved for multi-specialty and multi-disciplinary professionals that have demonstrated exceptional service above and beyond normal requirements and are assessed in several different domains. They will need to be proposed and seconded by 2 existing fellows. Nominations will be assessed against set criteria and the process overseen by council.
• Honorary Fellowship: Given as an honour to those whose service to the specialty of SEM has been exceptional. Proposed by the President and approved by the council. Given to people who have contributed to SEM in a remarkable and exceptional way and are normally given to those coming up to retirement. Indicative numbers around 2 per year.
• Membership: Current FSEM members and future individuals who have passed all three of the FSEM diploma examinations (MSK medicine, exercise medicine and team care). In addition, for the first 12 months of the College there will be a legacy clause which will allow current BASEM members (that have been BASEM members for at least a year) who have a recognised postgraduate degree related to SEM and have proven commitment to the specialty for at least five years to apply for membership.
• Trainee Member: Medical Registrar in SEM.
• Diplomate Member: Passed at least one of the FSEM Diplomas (MSK medicine, exercise medicine and team care).
• Associate Member: Open to any qualified individual with an interest in the specialty.
• Undergraduate Member: Undergraduate student in a subject related to SEM.

In addition to this horizontal structure, the proposed membership structure also had a vertical component to incorporate the 3 streams of SEM: MSK medicine, exercise medicine and team care. This is to highlight the 3 disciplines of SEM and ensure they are embedded into all aspects of the new organisation. Within each membership category it is foreseen there will be committees dedicated to each of the 3 streams.

Creating a membership structure that is inclusive, fair, and just has been understandably challenging. To get further information on BASEM members’ thoughts and opinions on the structure I conducted an open call out to all BASEM members in Autumn 2022. I had phone calls with BASEM members from all backgrounds and disciplines and the feedback was very positive. This was reassuring for me that we were on the right track! I look forward to seeing how the merger progresses over the upcoming years with an ongoing ethos of inclusion, embracing diversity, and valuing the MDT model. It is an exciting and progressive time for SEM in the UK.