Reflection, Review, and Reorganization Key to Improvement
By Desiree E. Morgan, MD, ABR Governor
2024;17(1):1
With the turn of the calendar year, many of us reflect on processes, make priorities, and expend effort toward organization or reorganization, both at home and at work. The ABR is no different! In this issue of The Beam, we see examples of process review and continual efforts by our volunteers to improve our certification exams, in keeping with our collective quest and mission to serve the public. I hope you enjoy learning more about it!
In this issue …
ABR President Robert M. Barr, MD; ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology Mary S. Newell, MD; and ABR Exam Development Manager Jennifer Knoll describe the unique mechanism for feedback found in the OLA system. Designed to allow candidates the opportunity to provide insights, voice concerns, and highlight alternative interpretations regarding answers to the questions in real time, these comments are combined with psychometric performance metrics analysis and, when flagged for potential problems, are reviewed by the associate executive directors and OLA item-writing committees for improvement.
ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, and ABR President Robert M. Barr, MD, describe the ABR’s emphasis on refinement of several diverse projects kicking off the year, including enhancements to myABR to improve individualized user experiences, increased efficiencies on the RADS system used by volunteers to upload and manage items for certification exams, and customer service software improvements.
ABR President Robert M. Barr, MD; ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA; and ABR Communications Director David Laszakovits, MBA, discuss the variety of tools designed by the ABR to help candidates prepare for remote exams.
ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology Mary S. Newell, MD, and I convey how exam content balance and continuous improvement occur in the context of recent reductions in the number of diagnostic radiology physics and radioisotope safety questions on the Diagnostic Radiology Qualifying (Core) Exam.
ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD; Board of Trustees Chair Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD; and ABR Trustees Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, and Robert A. Pooley, PhD, discuss the disparity between the supply of and demand for medical physicists and the role of CAMPEP training and ABR certification in addressing the current shortage.
ABR Communications Manager Rodney Campbell interviews John Einck, MD, who shares his thoughts and learning curve experiences as a new genitourinary (GU) item-writing volunteer for the radiation oncology qualifying exam.
Jordan Mackner, a third-year medical student who plans to apply to diagnostic radiology residency programs and recently attended the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, shares his perspective on the benefits of networking at national meetings.
ABR Communications Manager Rodney Campbell introduces us to Christopher Bailey, DO, who as a volunteer for the Interventional Radiology Initial Certification Advisory Committee and then as an IR remote oral examiner was “able to see the inner workings of what happens at the ABR,” then envisioned and helped to create an informational video for candidates taking the IR remote oral exam.
ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology Mary S. Newell, MD, has been named to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Board of Directors.
ABR Communications Manager Rodney Campbell and ABR Trustee Paul J. Rochon, MD, describe how the ABR partnered with 10 societies to help form the Radiology Health Equity Coalition, which works to improve patient access to diagnostic imaging across the healthcare delivery spectrum.
