# I'm a Fellow! No really, now it's official!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 12, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470 "2006-05-12T02:39:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/1 "2006-05-12T02:39:52Z")
I just got official word today that I’m now a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians!
What the hell does that mean, I hear the teeming millions ask.
Well, it’s pretty meaningless in the larger scope of things. It doesn’t bring fame or fortune, or even a pay raise. I did get my boss to agree to see if he can get me use of the State Gyrocopter on occasions, but otherwise it’s a new status that really doesn’t change a damn thing in my day to day life.
But to be a Fellow, one has to meet certain criteria, chiefly in the areas of Board certification, academic training and continuing medical education, publishing and research, volunteer teaching, public service, medical practice, and service to the specialty of Family Practice. I was surprised to learn I’d fulfilled the criteria over the years. Barely. Out of 400 possible career achievement points, one needs 100 to qualify. I got 102. 🙂
I guess I’m particularly glad because at one point, over 16 years ago, I didn’t think I’d be allowed to continue to hold a license to practice medicine at all, much less Board Specialty status and things beyond that. My troubles were all due to my alcoholism and addiction.
And when I did sober up, just getting my license restored seemed such an amazing feat (it sure took time and lawyers (and money)) that anything beyond that was pie in the sky.
But I stayed sober, and worked, and after a few years eventually was allowed to sit for my Board Certification exam. Passing that seemed to be as good as it could ever get professionally! That certificate was quite a boon in terms of making me eligible for more jobs and higher salaries. My continuing sobriety allowed me to achieve things that normal doctors achieve routinely! Huzzah!
So it is with even more amazement that I find myself a Fellow of my professional society. Most Family Physicians choose not to pursue this designation, mainly because they devote their time and energies to their practices and patients, with only a modicum of teaching and community service and research. My recovery from addiction, combined with educating medical students and residents about physicians and addiction, and other teaching and research and public service odds and ends I’ve done over the years got me here.
So that’s my brag. I’m now entitled to call myself “Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians” and I got invited to a meeting with the Surgeon General. Which I can’t make because I’m busy working, but the thought was nice.
My particular patient clientele won’t be impressed.
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### Author:  [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/2 "2006-05-12T02:46:14Z")
All together now:
**For he’s a jolly good . . .**
No, I can’t go on.
Many congratulations from one who knows something of what it signifies. My father, on whom be peace, was also one—and I recall that he was more than a bit pleased when he “made it.”
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/3 "2006-05-12T02:46:40Z")
Congratulations. You will have to teach us how and when to salute.
I am another person that started off with good promise and things eventually got shot to hell for some of the same reasons. You are a great inspiration. I am very much on the upswing too although I am not aware of any exclusive honorary societies that would want me as a member just yet. I will just have to keep plugging along.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/4 "2006-05-12T02:48:40Z")
Gynocopter?
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### Author:  [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/5 "2006-05-12T02:49:31Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#):
>
> My particular patient clientele won’t be impressed.
No problem - your SDMB pals will take care of that.
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/6 "2006-05-12T02:50:20Z")
Congratulations.
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### Author:  [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/7 "2006-05-12T03:03:01Z")
Dr. Q,
You so richly deserve this honor. You overcame some bad times, are honest about it, and have chosen a challenging hard beat as a physician, being a prison Doc. I guess the Fellowing Committee has no idea of your contributions here, but, that counts, too, in your resume. You have added so much knowledge here, both medical and general wisdom. If that could be factored in, you might could get a score of, hmmm, 113.
Bask on, you’ve earned it!
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/8 "2006-05-12T03:05:54Z")
Kudos, accolades, and major props!
You, sir, are indeed a credit to your profession, and it’s our honor to have you on this board.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/9 "2006-05-12T03:06:59Z")
Congrats, motherfucker. Now keep it up and let’s not leave 5 pounds of gauze in your next victi-…er…patient.
😃
Seriously, though. Congrats. It’s good to get dap from your peers.
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/10 "2006-05-12T03:08:54Z")
Congratulations, **QtM**!
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/11 "2006-05-12T03:33:46Z")
“I’m Qadgop Fellows!”
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### Author:  [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/12 "2006-05-12T03:39:08Z")
Darn! I wanted to do the Jolly Good Fellow thing. Oh well. Congrats!
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/13 "2006-05-12T03:59:50Z")
_chin chin!_
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/14 "2006-05-12T04:24:11Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#):
>
> I just got official word today that I’m now a Fellow of the American Academy of **Family** Physicians!
Congratulations!
But considering your current practice, this is a definition of the word family that I am not aware of. 😕
You are the family doctor for the disfunctional family circus. 😃
Seriously, congrats. No one I know deserves it more.
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### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/15 "2006-05-12T04:48:34Z")
I can only imagine what it must be like to go through life feeling that something as fundamental to one’s identity as one’s gender is _wrong_, and I’m glad you were able to…
_whisper, whisper, whisper_
Oh! Uh, yeah, congratulations on the whole “Fellowship” thing, Doc.
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### Author:  [@Otanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otanx)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/16 "2006-05-12T05:56:05Z")
Just another congrats here. Keep it up. Do you get anthing special if you can get all 400 items on the list?
-Otanx
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/17 "2006-05-12T08:45:51Z")
Congratulations! Now what are you gonna do with all your spare time? 😉
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/18 "2006-05-12T08:51:31Z")
**Qadgop** , are you sure your time here doesn’t count as volunteer work?
'cos I do agree with **ellele** , it oughta.
Merry many congratulations 🙂
_chin chin with unfermented grape juice_
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/19 "2006-05-12T10:03:20Z")
“Believe the promises, they are true.”
Congrats!
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### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-fellow-no-really-now-its-official/356470/20 "2006-05-12T10:10:47Z")
From the limited glimpse I’ve gotten of you here on the board, I’d say the Academy made an excellent choice. Congrats!
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