📣 Dear ASHE Community, a Call to Action 📣
Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you give. So, the question becomes, should you continue giving anyway?
I am writing this post not for myself but for ALL the applicants who experienced injustice with their #ASHE award/designation applications. As a current Advisory Board representative and a very active ASHE member, I have learned of respected #healthcare facilities management legends over the past several years who have submitted for ASHE awards or designations and have been denied. I trusted the process each year and believed ASHE’s committees assessed applications based on defendable merit. However, that changed when the committee deviated from 48 years of practice and acted on an individual’s interpretation of the requirements.
I am sharing my personal experience to raise awareness and prevent others from facing similar challenges within the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE). My Fellow (FASHE) application was recently rejected despite my extensive contributions and adherence to the stated requirements. The awards committee and (member-appointed) Executive Committee cited I had not held Senior status for the requisite 3 years (2024 – 2021 = 3 years), missing by a few months. ASHE staff followed the diplomatic process, and the committee decided. This interpretation is inconsistent with this committee’s historical precedents and the publicly available information on the ASHE website. I contacted ASHE’s Executive Committee to request an appeal, but it was rejected.
Upon much deeper research, I found this recurring issue has affected many deserving professionals for years, including some of my very close friends and respected mentors and colleagues. As a member of the Advisory Board, it is my duty to advocate for members and be transparent about ASHE practices to prevent such disappointments and injustices from continuing. I was voted in by members and am committed to serving you.
Half of the FASHE candidates (76 out of 154) were awarded Fellow status less than three calendar years after receiving their SASHE. This inconsistency in applying the criteria is alarming. I am sharing this information publicly and calling on ASHE’s self-appointed Executive Committee to take action for a fairer, more just, and equitable future.
As part of this call to action, I urge us to reconsider the criteria to prioritize rewarding leadership and contributions to the field rather than focusing on administrative timelines.
Despite this setback, I remain dedicated to #empowering healthcare #facilitiesmanagement professionals through education and advocacy. We must continue to support the undervalued, under-appreciated, and under-served. #Leaders persist in their efforts, even when they go unrecognized.
Let's unite to advocate for reviewing these practices to foster a more equitable and supportive community. I encourage you to reach out to me directly for the next steps.
VP, Compensation Consultant GRP, SHRM-SCP
2moThank you! #HRCC