Attending In-Person Society Meetings Creates Better Connections with Stakeholders
By Cheri L. Canon, MD, ABR President; Kinsey SmithWright, ABR Administrative and Exam Support Manager; and David Laszakovits, MBA, ABR Communications Director
2025;18(1):2
The ABR has expanded communications with our candidates and diplomates over recent years, including blogs, The Beam (e-newsletter), and expanded content on our website. Our Board of Governors has emphasized the need for increased clarity and transparency of the information we share.
One of the less obvious communication channels is our frequent presence at major professional society meetings. Representatives from ABR Certification Services or Administration are available at a table or booth in the exhibit space at meetings of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), Association of Academic Radiology (AAR), American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR), and several American College of Radiology (ACR) chapters. Engaging in dialogue with accomplished leaders in the field, trainees from a wide range of residency programs, and practitioners from diverse communities allows us to answer questions about ABR programs and policies and to identify opportunities for improving our standard communications.
Many of the in-person conversations concern elements of the Continuing Certification program (formerly MOC). Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) receives not only high praise but also frequent suggestions for enhancements; we are very happy to listen to both. We see ourselves as partners with candidates and diplomates in the certification process and sincerely equate the success of those individuals with our success. Feedback regarding exams and OLA comes back to our Exam Services staff and volunteer subject matter experts, where it represents an invaluable resource to guide further refinements.
Increasingly, we hear questions about our International Medical Graduate (IMG) Alternate Pathways.1 These pathways help alleviate the severe shortages of medical physicists and physicians that contribute to challenges in maintaining access to care for rural communities and other underserved populations. Well-trained and highly skilled professionals from around the world are invited to pursue certification through an IMG pathway. The process involves steps that can be overwhelming, and ABR staff at meetings are able to answer specific questions and refer potential applicants to the correct resources.
During these in-person and informal exchanges at professional society meetings, many diplomates and candidates take the opportunity to express appreciation for what the ABR staff does and to offer respectful and candid suggestions as well as criticisms. We welcome the conversations and partnerships, which we believe enhance the profession and support the ABR’s mission.
1Click on one the following links for more information about the IMG Pathway: diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, medical physics, or radiation oncology.