Focus on IR/DR: Program Director Discusses Changes to IR/DR Certifying Exam Process
By ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology James B. Spies, MD, MPH
February 2026;19(1):5
Long before a decision was made, the ABR talked with dozens of stakeholders about what should or should not be done regarding the Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR) Certifying Exam process in light of the ABR’s 2023 decision to include a remote oral exam component for the DR Certifying Exam process. Numerous options were suggested and one rose to the surface: To ensure the value of their combined certificate, starting in 2029, IR candidates would need to pass their oral exam as well as the DR oral exam that candidates will begin taking in two years.
One of the experts in the IR/DR field who took part in the discussions was Quinn Meisinger, MD. As president of the Association of Program Directors in Interventional Radiology, program director at UC San Diego Department of Radiology, and an ABR volunteer, Dr. Meisinger’s voice was important in the stakeholder feedback process.
As you will see in this video, he believes the ABR’s new approach for IR/DR candidates ensures that candidates have earned their right to practice, and the public will be safe under those physicians’ care. We thank him and the many others who took time to participate in the process.
