New Perspectives: Members of First Cohort Already Planning for DR Oral Exam
By ABR Associate Director of Communications Rodney Campbell
October 2026;19(5):8
Announced in 2023 after a year of ABR-solicited stakeholder feedback, the Diagnostic Radiology Oral Exam is coming in 2028. Candidates who passed the Diagnostic Radiology & Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology Qualifying (Core) Exam this past June are on track to be the first cohort.
We asked a few trainees for their thoughts on the oral exam.
An oral exam candidate guide and study guide are on the ABR website.
How much are you thinking about the oral exam?
Dru Curtis, MD
Advent Health
“It has been on my mind, especially since we have the unique opportunity to be the inaugural class returning to the oral exam format. Effectively presenting a case is an art and a vital clinical skill, and while there is always room to grow, I feel very fortunate. My residency program has heavily emphasized and encouraged case presentations since my first year, and the ABR has been transparent and informative throughout the transition so far.”
Aaron Gambrell, MD
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
“I’m not too worried about it. At my institution, we take plenty of cases during noon conferences plus dedicated case conferences which have helped relieve the pressure. Clinical teams frequently visit our reading rooms as well and we walk through cases with them. Our class also started a QI project where we have helped attendings compile cases for ‘mock oral boards’ which has been successful so far. So, with all the reps of taking cases, I feel like the oral exam will be just fine. The earlier you start taking cases and learning from your mistakes, the smoother the oral exam will be.”
What do you think about the ABR changing from a multiple-choice to oral format?
Michelle Kihara, MD
Stanford Health
“Transitioning to the oral format definitely is more reflective of real-world practice in comparison to a multiple-choice exam. I know many other specialties complete their board exams in both written and oral formats, so this makes a lot of sense.”
Emily Van Antwerp, MD
UMass Chan-Baystate
“I have mixed feelings about the transition to an oral exam. Personally, I am more comfortable with multiple-choice exams because that is the testing format I have the most experience with. At the same time, I understand the rationale for moving to an oral format, as many other medical specialties use oral board exams to assess clinical reasoning, decision-making, and communication skills. As more information becomes available about the exam structure and expectations, I think trainees will become more comfortable with the new format.”
Erika Ward, MD
UCLA Health
“The change makes sense in the long run. As radiologists, we spend our careers presenting at tumor boards, consulting with referring clinicians, communicating imaging findings, and teaching residents and medical students. Those responsibilities require much more than selecting the correct answer from a list of choices. An oral exam has the potential to better assess the communication and clinical reasoning skills that are essential in practice. I’m sure there will be a learning curve as everyone adapts to the new format, but I’m hopeful that, ultimately, it will help train even stronger radiologists.”
