The College has always represented distinction, integrity and global fellowship. To be named a Fellow is an honor grounded in tradition. Today, that tradition is being translated into renewed energy and global visibility. Under the leadership of Dr. Mauro Labanca, Global President Elect and Chair of the Global Engagement Committee, a clear message is being reinforced: our prestige must be matched by purposeful engagement. History gives us credibility. Active participation gives us influence. The Global Engagement Committee was established with a focused mandate to strengthen identity, increase connection and ensure that every Fellow understands their role in shaping the future of the College.

Strengthening and Unifying Our Identity. Listening to Our Fellows

A respected name must also be a recognized one. When our brand is presented consistently across Sections and Districts, recognition grows. When Fellows visibly and confidently represent the College, credibility deepens. Each Fellow serves as an ambassador.

• Wearing the official lapel pin is more than a symbol. It opens conversations. The pin’s development was a direct result of a worldwide College survey, in which over 75% of respondents said they would wear a College lapel pin if it were available.
• Using the official business card template reinforces professionalism.
• Including the FICD designation: This exposure in publications, lectures and presentations strengthens awareness within the academic and clinical community.

These actions may seem small individually. Collectively, they elevate the visibility of the College worldwide. A unified identity creates aspiration. Colleagues begin not only to recognize the College but to seek it. Engagement is the engine of growth.

Many Fellows have said they are unaware of the full structure of governance or of the opportunities available to participate more actively. The Committee is committed to improving communication so that every Fellow understands how the College operates and how they can contribute. Regular updates on global initiatives, clarity regarding leadership roles and transparency about open positions will strengthen trust and encourage participation. A College that communicates clearly fosters confidence. A College that listens builds loyalty. This is not a distant institution. It is a global professional community. Every Fellow has the right to be informed and the opportunity to contribute.

Reinforcing Leadership Responsibility

The College’s governance structure is representative and purposeful. Regents lead Districts. Section leadership guides local implementation. Councilors carry the voice of their Sections to the global level. When leaders understand their responsibilities and embrace them with commitment and enthusiasm, Sections thrive. When Sections thrive, the global College advances. The Global Engagement Committee will support leadership development, encourage accountability and address gaps in communication or engagement when necessary. The objective is alignment and empowerment, not oversight for its own sake. Empowered leadership inspires confidence. Confidence inspires participation.

A Mandate for Momentum

At the Executive Council Meeting in Seattle in February 2026, the Global Engagement Committee was formally entrusted with maintaining direct and continuous communication with Fellows and their Sections regarding leadership engagement and performance. The Committee will promote leadership development within Sections and identify opportunities to improve understanding at every level of governance. This is forward movement, grounded in structure and guided by purpose. The future of the College does not depend on title alone. It depends on collective commitment. Engagement is essential. Representation is active. Leadership is responsibility. When Fellows consistently and proudly represent the College, when communication flows openly and when leadership is embraced with energy and integrity, the impact is global. Fellows feel connected. Sections feel empowered. The College becomes not only prestigious in its history but visible, influential and aspirational in the present.

One College. One voice. A stronger future shaped by all of us.