December 2021;14(6):12 Communication is an extremely important component of the ABR mission – “To certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients” – and The Beam is just one of many ways the ABR passes along important information about the rapidly changing landscape of…
By Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, ABR Trustee December 2021;14(6):8 It has been almost two years since the ABR implemented Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) for medical physicists. OLA is based on the concept of walking around knowledge. This is knowledge that a typical medical physicist would need in order to provide general clinical medical physics (MP)…
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager December 2021;14(6):11 The ABR offers resources to help candidates prepare for a positive exam-day experience. Here are a few pointers for candidates who have upcoming computer-based or oral exams. Computer-based Exams Candidates should complete the technical check at a time that is convenient for them. The check is performed…
By Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology; Brian J. Davis, MD, PhD, ABR Trustee; and Anthony M. Gerdeman, PhD, ABR Director of Exam Services December 2021;14(6):9 The ABR Trustees recognize that the three parts of the Radiation Oncology (RO) Initial Certification (IC) computer-based Qualifying Exam (QE) – Medical Physics for…
December 2021;14(6):10 By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager When approached by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) to serve as a representative on the ABR Radiation Oncology Initial Certification Advisory Committee, Shauna Campbell, DO, didn’t hesitate to accept. “I was very grateful for the opportunity,” she said. “While the ABR is an independent…
by Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President December 2021;14(6):2 Last month, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) released new standards for Continuing Certification. This effort began in 2018 with the establishment of the independent Vision Commission, which “brought together multiple stakeholders to advise on redesigning continuing board certification to be more meaningful, relevant, and…
by N. Reed Dunnick, MD, ABR Executive Associate Director for Diagnostic Radiology December 2021;14(6):5 To give participants an opportunity to better align their Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) questions with their current practice, the practice profile rules will change next month for diagnostic radiology (DR) diplomates. The new options will allow more flexibility in how a…
By Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President October 2021;14(5):2 The Board of Governors and the administrative executive staff work together to act as responsible stewards of the ABR’s resources. This stewardship oversees compliance with regulations concerning our status as a 501(c)6, including the performance of an external audit. The Board realizes that expenses must be…
By Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD; Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD; Robert A. Pooley, PhD, ABR Trustees; J. Anthony Seibert, ABR Governor; and Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics October 2021;14(5):6 The final certification step for ABR-eligible candidates for medical physics is the oral exam, also known as the Part 3 exam….
By Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director October 2021;14(5):3 We conduct surveys after each exam administration, for both our computer-based (“written”) and oral exams. Our interest in feedback predates our current remote platforms, although the 2021 surveys have included questions that are targeted to the new technology. On the surface, it would seem reasonable…
By Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology; and Brian J. Davis, MD, PhD, ABR Trustee October 2021;14(5):7 On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, subsequently called COVID-19, had reached global pandemic status. Within several weeks, ABR staff and senior volunteers…
By M. Elizabeth Oates, MD, ABR Trustee, and Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology October 2021;14(5):4 Volunteers are the lifeblood of the ABR and represent an incredibly motivated and committed group of professionals in the Board’s specialty and subspecialty disciplines as well as radiation and cancer biology. All members of…
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.