IBIA Fellowship Program

Announcement: Launch of the IBIA Fellow Program

The International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) is proud to announce the establishment of the IBIA Fellow Program, a distinguished recognition honoring exceptional leaders in the global brain injury community.

The designation represents the highest level of professional acknowledgment within the Association. This honor is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated sustained commitment to IBIA, outstanding service to the organization, and significant contributions to the field of brain injury through research, clinical care, education, advocacy, and/or leadership.

The IBIA Fellow Program reflects the Association’s mission to advance multidisciplinary collaboration and excellence in brain injury worldwide. By recognizing individuals who exemplify these values, IBIA aims to inspire continued innovation, mentorship, and global impact across the field.

Eligible members are invited to apply for or be nominated for this prestigious designation. Fellows will be formally recognized at the IBIA World Congress on Brain Injury.

A. IBIA Fellow Program Overview

Purpose

The IBIA Fellow Program recognizes senior professionals who have:

• Demonstrated a long-standing commitment to IBIA
• Provided meaningful service to the organization
• Achieved distinction in the field of brain injury

B. Eligibility Criteria

Candidates for election as a Fellow of IBIA must meet all of the following requirements:

1. IBIA Membership

• Must be an Association Member of IBIA in good standing
• Minimum of 4 years of membership
  • At least 4 years as an Association Member, even if non-consecutive, including at least the 3 years immediately preceding the appointment
  • Time as a Section Member, SIG Member, or Trainee Member without concurrent Association Membership is not sufficient to meet the above stated requirement
  • In order to maintain IBIA Fellow status, you must continue to be a member of IBIA

2. World Congress Participation

• Attendance at at least two (2) of five (5) consecutive IBIA World Congress on Brain Injury meetings, including the congress held in the year prior to the application.
  • Attendance must be as an Association or Section Member

3. Service to IBIA

Demonstrated outstanding service in one or more of the following areas:

• Service on the IBIA Board of Governors (BoG)
• Service on the IBIA Executive Committee
• Service as a Section or SIG Representative to the BoG
• Service as Chair or Co-Chair of an IBIA SIG
• Service as Chair of a symposium or pre-congress workshop at the World Congress
• Service as a presenter in at least two symposia or pre-congress workshops
• Participation as a speaker in a Webinar/Online Conference in the prior two years to nomination
• Service on the Editorial Advisory Board of Brain Injury (IBIA’s official journal)
• Service as a member of the IBIA Congress Leadership Committee

4. Professional Achievement

Evidence of distinction in the field of brain injury through:

a. Scholarly Contribution

• Scholarship consistent with Boyer's (1990) four overlapping domains. Candidates may demonstrate distinction in one or more of the following:
  • Discovery: Disciplined, original inquiry that generates new knowledge, methods, or understanding relevant to brain injury.
  • Integration: Rigorous synthesis and interpretation of knowledge that makes connections across disciplines, places specialized findings in a broader context, or offers new insights for researchers, clinicians, policymakers, or the public.
  • Application: Responsible use of disciplinary expertise to address consequential problems in brain injury care, rehabilitation, policy, systems, or communities, with a reciprocal relationship between theory and practice such that application may also generate new knowledge.
  • Teaching: Scholarly, evidence-informed teaching and mentorship grounded in deep subject-matter expertise; careful design and evaluation of learning; effective communication of knowledge; and the transformation or extension of understanding through engagement with learners.

and/or

b. Leadership Contribution

• Nationally and/or internationally recognized leadership that has substantially advanced the brain injury field through one or more professional roles, including:
  • Clinician: Leadership that improves quality, accessibility, coordination, or outcomes of brain injury care.
  • Researcher/scientist: Leadership that shapes research priorities, programs, collaborations, methods, or scientific standards.
  • Educator: Leadership in developing curricula, training programs, mentorship structures, or other educational initiatives that strengthen the brain injury workforce.
  • Administrator: Leadership in building or transforming organizations, programs, services, networks, or policies that advance the field.
  • Advocate: Leadership that elevates the needs and perspectives of people affected by brain injury and contributes to public awareness, policy, equity, or systems change.

C. Application & Nomination Process

• Candidates may apply directly or be nominated
• Submission includes:
• Completed application form (will be posted shortly)
  • CV or professional portfolio (Full CV, limited to 10 pages, including representative citations related to the candidate’s activities and the submitted nomination, limited to the past five years.)
  • Two letters of reference:
    • From esteemed professionals in the transdisciplinary brain injury field
    • Letters must address: Sustained service to IBIA and professional achievements and impact with a focus on academic and/or leadership contribution

D. Final Approval

• Election to Fellow status requires approval of the IBIA Executive Committee

E. Recognition & Benefits

Fellows of IBIA will:

• Be formally recognized at the IBIA World Congress on Brain Injury
• Carry the professional designation IBIA Fellow
• Be acknowledged as leaders within the global brain injury community
• Serve as ambassadors and mentors supporting IBIA’s mission
• Be recognized on the IBIA website

F. Closing Statement

The IBIA Fellow Program celebrates those who have shaped and advanced the field of brain injury through dedication, leadership, and service. IBIA looks forward to recognizing a distinguished cohort of Fellows who will continue to guide the future of the field worldwide.

Submission Instructions will be on the IBIA Fellowship Application Form, which will be posted shortly.