Fellows are limited to five percent of the total membership. These are people I immediately respect when meeting them. Since I serve on the membership committee of the AIHA, I have the privilege to review nominations. The membership committee makes recommendations to the board for granting fellow status. I know that there are nominees who didn't make it through the approval process.
Fellows are professionals with true substance.
These criteria are only a starting point. Original research is demonstrated by publishing papers in refereed journals. Some consideration is given to articles in trade journals. The nominee must be the principal or secondary author. Work in policy areas.