Resolutions

Resolutions play a vital role in FSMB’s policy-making process. They help identify issues of importance to medical regulation and bring them before the House of Delegates, the organization’s official policy-making body.

Recent resolutions have led to new policies and programs that strengthen public protection nationwide. We encourage you to engage with your colleagues and consider what new policies could benefit the broader medical regulatory community.

• Submission Deadline: February 27, 2026
• House of Delegates Meeting: April 30-May 2, 2026, in conjunction with the 2026 FSMB Annual Meeting
• Learn more about the policy-making process and view a sample resolution

Submit resolutions* electronically to:
Lauren Mitchell
Manager, Board of Directors Liaison and Governance Support
lmitchell@fsmb.org

*If submitting more than one resolution, please do so in one email.

Committee Appointments 

Immediately following FSMB AM26, April 30-May 2 in Baltimore, MD, the newly elected FSMB Chair will finalize appointments to standing committees – including Audit, Bylaws, Education, Ethics and Professionalism, Finance, and Journal Oversight – as well as potential special committees or workgroups. Committee service will begin in May 2026. 

If you are interested in serving on a standing or special committee, workgroup, or the Reference or Rules Committee, please submit the required materials by February 28, 2026. 

Download the Committee Criteria Guidelines for full details. 

To apply, complete the FSMB Committee Appointment Questionnaire. 

For questions, contact Lauren Mitchell at lmitchell@fsmb.org.

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national nonprofit organization representing all medical and osteopathic licensing boards across the United States and its territories. Since 1912, the FSMB has advocated for state boards and promoted high standards in physician licensure and regulation to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare.

State licensing laws enacted in the late 19th century established medical boards to license and discipline physicians within each state and territory. What began as a small annual meeting of board executives has evolved into a vibrant national body with more than 100 employees based in Texas and Washington, D.C. The FSMB champions the interests of state medical boards nationally, shaping policies and practices that impact the entire medical profession.

Read on to learn more about how the FSMB has grown and impacted the practice of medicine in the United States.

Award Descriptions and Qualifications

AWARD OF MERIT
The Award of Merit is presented to an individual(s) in recognition of an activity or contribution that has positively impacted and strengthened the profession of medical licensure and discipline and helped enhance public protection. Any individual, whether a physician, non-physician, Fellow or Honorary Fellow may be nominated. Individuals who are not members of the FSMB also may be considered.

LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Leadership Award is presented to an individual(s) in recognition of outstanding and exemplary leadership, commitment, and contribution in advancing the public good at the state medical board level. The Leadership Award may be presented to any Fellow or Honorary Fellow of the FSMB whose contributions to his or her board are believed by the Awards Committee to be in keeping with these guidelines. No Chair or former Chair of the FSMB is eligible, and no one who has served as an FSMB officer, member of the Board of Directors, or full-time staff member of the FSMB within two years of the presentation is eligible.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual(s) in recognition of the highest level of service, commitment, and contribution to the FSMB; the advancement of the profession of medical licensure and discipline; and the strengthening and enhancement of public protection. Any individual, whether a physician, non-physician, Fellow or Honorary Fellow may be nominated. Individuals who are not members of the FSMB also may be considered. Anyone who has served as an FSMB officer, member of the Board of Directors, or member of the full-time staff within two years of the presentation is ineligible for consideration. This award may be presented posthumously.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award, on rare occasions, may be presented to an individual(s) who has demonstrated extraordinary and sustained service and commitment to the field of medical licensure and discipline. Any individual, whether a physician, non-physician, Fellow, Honorary Fellow, or individuals not directly associated with the FSMB, may be considered. This unique award is bestowed infrequently as the Awards Committee may deem appropriate and is not intended to be given on an annual basis.

Past Winners