We’re Springing Into a Busy Season
By Desiree E. Morgan, MD, ABR Governor
2024;17(2):1
Spring is a time for change and rejuvenation, for welcoming longer periods of light, and for partaking in the beauty all around as winter recedes. It’s my favorite season.
For ABR volunteers and staff, it is a busy time of exam content generation, organization, and administration. These important activities hit a crescendo just as our work and family lives hectically accelerate toward summer. At the ABR, we are truly grateful for our dedicated volunteers, and I hope you enjoy learning about the people and processes behind our collective certification efforts.
In this issue …
ABR President Robert M. Barr, MD; ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA; and ABR Psychometrician Brooke Houck, PhD, describe how the ABR offers two methods for diplomates to demonstrate that they “have the knowledge, clinical judgment, and skills to practice safely and effectively in the specialty,” also known as “Part 3” of the Continuing Certification program. Learn more about how Online Longitudinal Assessment provides a customized experience aligned with one’s scope of practice, while the Continuing Certification Exam measures a broader set of knowledge and skills less tailored to the individual radiologic professional.
ABR trustees Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, and Brian J. Davis, MD, PhD, join ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, in explaining why the ABR offers two exam administrations annually for the oral certifying exams in medical physics, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology but only one administration per year for computer-based exams.
ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, and ABR Board of Trustees Chair Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, explain why generative artificial intelligence/ChatGPT will not be used to produce Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) questions or any ABR exam content. Be sure to click on the link to Dr. Podgorsak’s video on the topic to learn more.
ABR trustees Pamela A. Propeck, MD, and M. Elizabeth Oates, MD, and ABR Governor Andrea K. Ng, MD, MPH, share results from a recent survey of approximately 1,300 ABR volunteers to understand where they find value in their service to the ABR mission and how they are challenged. ABR leadership and staff are deeply grateful for our volunteers’ commitment and enthusiastic service, and we continually strive to improve the volunteer experience.
ABR Communications Manager Rodney Campbell talked with Derek Johnson, MD, an ABR volunteer from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, who writes questions for two exams: IR/DR Certifying and Nuclear Radiology Subspecialty. Learn how he made his way from personal certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as a practicing neuro-oncologist in 2009 to his current career after ABR certification in diagnostic radiology, neuroradiology, and his true passion, nuclear radiology.
Interventional radiologist John A. Kaufman, MD, MS, has been named president-elect of the ABR Board of Governors. Learn Dr. Kaufman’s history and listen as he shares his vision of what makes a good ABR president in the video accompanying the article.
Navneeth Hariharan, ME, an ABR MP diplomate and volunteer, explains the interconnected dynamics of the rapidly evolving technical complexity in radiation oncology coupled with advancements in clinical practice that require more tasks related to personalized treatment planning and staffing challenges. He sets this against the backdrop of resource allocation optimization and the value of dedicating scheduled time for reflection and learning amidst the busy routine workdays of clinical medical physicists.
Meet Parris Diaz, MD, who serves as a urology resident at the University of California at San Francisco but plans to enter the field of radiology during the next NRMP match cycle.
ABR Communications Manager Rodney Campbell introduces us to volunteer Elizabeth (Beth) Bossart, PhD, an associate professor of clinical radiation oncology at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. She describes her learning trajectory developing therapeutic medical physics questions and shares how this work helps her in the classroom. In addition, serving as an oral examiner in 2021 has enabled her to better understand the preparation residents need to be successful.
The Board of Trustees will welcome three members in October 2024. Meet the newest trustees: Kristopher Cummings, MD, a cardiothoracic radiologist; Umesh D. Oza, MD, a nuclear radiologist; and Jennifer Stickel, PhD, a nuclear medical physicist.
The ABR partners with the American Board of Medical Specialties to assist candidates and early career diplomates with research efforts and leadership development through the Visiting Scholars program. Applications for the 2024-’25 cohort will be accepted until June 17. Watch the video in the article to learn more.
