Source: CMSA Today
CMSA is proud to announce that applications for the Class of 2026 Fellows in Case Management (FCM
) opened October 15, 2025.
Since its establishment in 2021, the Case Management Fellow Program has recognized the most accomplished, visionary, and dedicated professionals in the field who have not only advanced the standards of practice, but also shaped the very future of case management.
The Fellow in Case Management (FCM) designation is the profession’s highest honor, acknowledging individuals who have made significant, measurable contributions to the professional practice of case management through leadership, innovation, scholarship, and service.
Fellows represent a community of thought leaders and ambassadors of the profession who are strategic thinkers, mentors, authors, speakers, and innovators. Earning the FCM signals excellence, integrity, and enduring commitment to advancing the field. It reflects a career dedicated not only to success, but to impact on clients, organizations, colleagues, and the profession as a whole.
As Gary Wolfe, RN, CCM, FCM, founding Fellow and chair of the CMSA CM Fellow Selection Committee, explains, “Fellow recognition is for case managers who have made a significant difference in professional case management. It’s not just about holding leadership roles; it’s about the impact you’ve made that has advanced the profession itself.”
From its founding cohort of eight distinguished professionals to the growing community of 31 Fellows today, the FCM designation represents a legacy of leadership within case management.
According to Patricia Noonan, MBA, RN, CCM, CDP, FCM, a Fellow and past CMSA National Board member, the Fellow designation, ensures that CMSA continues to “advance professional case management practice into the future.”
These leaders embody what it means to serve both the profession and the public, modeling best practices and mentoring the next generation of case managers.
For many Fellows, the designation is more than an honor. It is a reflection of their lifelong dedication to case management.
As Mary Beth Newman, MSN, RN, CMGT-BC, CCM, FCM, writes, “At the most basic level, the Fellowship validates my achievements and contributions to professional case management practice. But much more importantly, the CM Fellow designation recognizes my passion for case management.”
Newman describes being an FCM as “a way to honor the past while moving forward, to cast a shadow of influence and inspiration over the up-and-coming generation of case managers, and to continue to give back and pay forward to a profession and a career that has given so much to me.”
Becoming a Fellow requires reflection and rigor. Applicants must demonstrate 10 or more years of professional case management experience, hold a current license or advanced degree, maintain CMSA membership for five of the past six years, and hold national case management certification.
The application process includes an essay describing how becoming a Fellow will further one’s contributions to the field, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation from colleagues who can attest to the applicant’s impact.
As Wolfe notes, “Becoming a Fellow is not an end but a continuation, because Fellows continue to be ambassadors for case management.”
The Class of 2026 will continue a tradition of excellence, leadership, and service that strengthens the professional practice of case management worldwide.
Are you ready to take the next step in your professional journey, to join this distinguished community and help shape the future of case management?
Applications for the Class of 2026 Fellows in Case Management (FCM) will close January 15, 2026.
Learn more and review the full application criteria at cmsa.org/about/fellow/.
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