New Trustees Share First Impressions

2023;17(6):4

In September, four new members joined the ABR Board of Trustees. A few months into their tenure, we asked each of them to share their thoughts on the following questions:

1. What made you interested in being on the Board of Trustees?
2. What did you think about your first board meeting?
3. What do you see as the ABR’s priorities moving forward?

Kristopher Cummings, MD, Cardiothoracic Imaging

1. I thoroughly enjoyed my previous ABR work as a member and subsequent chair for the Thoracic Qualifying (Core) Exam Committee. The staff at the ABR are dedicated to their mission, and my interactions with other volunteers were rewarding and educational. The work of the ABR is so important to maintaining the integrity and mission of our specialties.

2. My first Board of Trustees meeting was eye opening. I was familiar with the structure of the ABR certification process for radiology (diagnostic and interventional), but it was amazing to see all the work and effort that went into radiation oncology and medical physics. The dedication of so many volunteers and staff to pull off coordinating content for certifying exams and ensuring that the content is accurate, fair, and a realistic representation of practice is impressive. The excitement and thoughtful conversations around bringing back the oral component for diagnostic radiology certification was also terrific. Overall, I felt very fortunate to be selected to help contribute to such an outstanding group of people and such an important mission.

3. Obviously, for diagnostic radiology, there is a lot of attention on building out the new oral exam content and format. I think many in the DR training community are very excited about having a way to better assess a candidate’s ability to talk through a case and demonstrate the skills they have obtained during training. As someone who focuses on practical knowledge and experiences, I believe the ability to assess candidates in a more real-world role as a consulting radiologist is important to ensure the enduring quality of our specialty. The challenge of building out a remote, oral exam format like this at such a scale will be significant, as we strive to balance having fair comprehensive content and the logistics involved in producing it. It will also create many opportunities for additional volunteers and participation with the ABR. I encourage everyone to consider volunteering in some capacity with the ABR!

Umesh D. Oza, MD, Nuclear Radiology

1. I saw the importance of the role firsthand while serving on several ABR committees. It was a role that is respected and carries tremendous responsibility, and I wanted to serve my specialty and the public by taking on the challenge of being a Trustee.

2. I was quite impressed at how much discussion and deliberation occurs behind the scenes at the board meeting. Everyone has an equal voice, and ideas are exchanged across specialties.

3. One of the highest priorities is going to be ensuring the successful creation and implementation of the new oral board format for the Diagnostic Radiology Certifying Exam. I look forward to that critical task as a new Trustee.

Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD, Radiation Oncology

1. I have been an ABR Volunteer for over 20 years and I believe in the mission and goals of the organization. Serving on the Board of Trustees was a way for me to increase my involvement and find new ways to contribute.

2. At my first board meeting, I was impressed with the depth and substance of the issues discussed. This is a group that cares deeply about ensuring that a fair and meaningful examination process is provided to examinees while maintaining the trust the public puts in us. Also, it’s a very collegial group, and it was a pleasure to meet the members of the board and the ABR staff.

3. The ABR always has a delicate balance to produce exams that truly evaluate the competence of our examinees without making the process so onerous that it is difficult to participate. This necessitates a constant recalibration to suit the needs of both practitioners and the public.

Jennifer Stickel, PhD, Nuclear Medical Physics

1. I had been involved in the MP Part 2 Committee for years but was interested in how all the committees were connected to generate the exams. I was also interested in how medical physics fit into the scheme of exams compared with radiation oncology, interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology, and diagnostic radiology. What was the same and what was different and why?

2. I was impressed by how well the group worked with the different Trustees and focuses. It was very collegial and respectful even when viewpoints were different. You could feel that everyone wanted what is best for the exam process and to ensure that the process works for both the exam takers and all the volunteers who are generating content and putting together the exams.

3. One major priority is preparing for the DR oral exams. There is a lot of focus on what is working well for the other groups and how that can be used in the DR discipline. I think the focus on improving RADS and the interface with the software is great. I also see a desire to continue using the data we have to make informed decisions to optimize both internal and external processes.

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