April 2022;15(2):12 After discussions with and feedback from the Society of Directors of Academic Medical Physics Programs (SDAMPP) regarding the timing of the annual Medical Physics Part 1 Qualifying Exam, now given in January, the ABR will move the exam date to August. In 2023, the Part 1 exam will be delivered in January and…
By Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology; and Brian J. Davis, MD, PhD, ABR Trustee April 2022;15(2):8 The ABR strives to be transparent in exam development and administration procedures. Processes specific to radiation oncology (RO) exam development have been published.1-4 A recent RO Initial Certification (IC) Town Hall indicated significant…
By N. Reed Dunnick, MD, ABR Executive Associate Director for Diagnostic Radiology April 2022;15(2):5 We very much appreciate the comments made by radiologists participating in Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA). These comments help us to keep OLA practical and pertinent. In January, new rules went into effect that gave diplomates more options for configuring their practice…
By Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director April 2022;15(2):3 To patients, ABR board certification is a credential that represents extensive training and the attainment of knowledge by individual radiologic professionals. The path to board certification recognizes the complementary roles of the residency programs (and mentors and teachers) and the ABR (as a standard-setting organization)….
By Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President April 2022;15(2):2 In February, the ABR hosted four town halls, open to the profession and the public, that allowed a forum for individuals to raise diverse questions and concerns regarding our programs. Overall, hundreds of candidates and diplomates joined us for a brief update and subsequent Q&A. The…
April 2022;15(2):9 By Toby Gordon, ScD, ABR Governor When asked if I would consider joining the ABR Board, I didn’t have to think twice before answering. While I had knowledge and experience in finance, management, and health policy, I knew I had a lot to learn. What is the “house of radiology”? Is there a…
By Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, and Robert A. Pooley, PhD, ABR Trustees; and Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics April 2022;15(2):7 Most ABR diplomates participate in the Continuing Certification (MOC) program. Continuing Certification was adopted by the ABR in 2012 in compliance with the Continuing Certification…
By Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director April 2022;15(2):4 At the Board of Governors (BOG) meeting in early February, the staff and I presented an initiative to address several process updates that are needed to directly support our candidates and diplomates. Much of the initiative relates to the IT infrastructure that underpins a broad…
By James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology April 2022;15(2):6 In January, new rules went into effect that gave diplomates more options for configuring their practice profiles in Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA). Whereas previously, interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology diplomates had to select 100% IR content, they can now select up to…
April 2022;15(2):10 By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager COVID-19 created a new reality for people around the world. The virus’ impacts have been beyond challenging for human resources teams, including the ABR’s. Before March 2020, most ABR employees worked every day at the organization’s headquarters in Tucson. Remote work mostly was reserved for the exam…
by Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director February 2022;15(1):3 Institutions often suffer from biases and flawed perceptions based on familiarity with the internal workings of the organization and an overly inward focus. For the ABR, the result may be erroneous assumptions about the intended value we provide to certification candidates and diplomates, how our…
February 2022;15(1):8 By Myles Mowery, DO “You are too personable for radiology! Why would you go into such an introverted field?” Anybody else get this? I’m sure plenty have. It’s such a common misconception in the world of medicine that radiologists sit in the dark all day, don’t have interpersonal skills and dread talking to…
The ABR is a not-for-profit organization and member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Our mission is to certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients. Our vision is to positively impact the lives of all patients as the foremost trusted certifying body assuring the highest standards of specialty expertise and professionalism in the radiological sciences.