What does Diplomat Status Mean
With so many hair surgeons for the patients to chose, how do I know I am choosing the most qualified? To add to the confusion, with many quasi hair organizations on the internet that promote hair surgeons for a monthly marketing fee, how do I know how to chose a legitimate board certified, and well-qualified hair surgeon?
Finding the surgeon that is the best can be challenging for the patient. Two designations, however, are earned by hair surgeons as a recognition by their peers for excellence in the hair surgical specialty. Those designations are the Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS), and the Fellow status bestowed upon the hair surgeon by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS). Our hair surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams, has received both of these honors, and is recognized by his peers in the hair restoration society as a respected leader and lecturer.
Hair restoration surgery is a medical and surgical subspecialty that has matured over the decades since its introduction in the 1960s. By the 1990s, hair restoration surgery as a cosmetic subspecialty had matured to the position of requiring standards for assuring the highest level of knowledge and skill in practitioners of hair restoration surgery. The medical profession has such a mechanism in place-the medical specialty board that certifies qualified specialists in their elected specialty or subspecialty. Leaders of hair restoration surgery adopted the medical-board approach to certification, and organized the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS).
Board certification has both public and professional implications. The primary purpose of board certification of medical specialists is to assure the public of a physician’s knowledge and skill. Among colleagues, board certification in hair surgery by the ABHRS has implications of professional quality and standing.
The requirements for board certification are rigorous, and they are applied by all medical boards. The hair surgeon must pass written and oral examinations, and then recertify by passing an exam every ten years.
What It Means to be a Fellow of the ISHRS (FISHRS)
The designation of Fellow was established in order to recognize members who met its exceptional educational criteria.
In order to be considered, the hair restoration surgeon must achieve a specific level of points in a system of various educational parameters such as serving in leadership positions, American Board of Hair Restoration (ABHRS) certification, writing of scientific papers, teaching at scientific programs, among others.
It is a great honor for a member to achieve the Fellow designation of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (FISHRS). This recognizes the surgeon who strives for excellence in this specialized field. To maintain this status, the surgeon must continue to meet established educational criteria over time.