ABR’s Two Governing Bodies Direct and Support the Mission, Volunteers, and Staff
By Robert M. Barr, MD, ABR President
2024;17(3):2
ABR governance consists of two major elements: the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Governors (BOG) oversees the organization’s fulfillment of the mission and is responsible for the corporate powers, business, and affairs of the ABR. This oversight role is consistent with the fiduciary duties owed by the board members of a nonprofit organization: (1) the “duty of care” (taking care of the nonprofit by ensuring prudent use of all assets, including facility, people, and good will); (2) the “duty of loyalty” (ensuring that the nonprofit’s activities and transactions are, first and foremost, advancing its mission); and (3) the “duty of obedience” (ensuring that the nonprofit obeys applicable laws and regulations).
The 10 members of the BOG strive to make decisions that directly support the mission. Recognizing that radiologic professionals who aspire to be or are already certified by the ABR are the vehicle by which the Board advances health and healthcare in the diagnostic, interventional, medical physics, and radiation oncology fields, the Board attempts to balance the rigor of assessment and other certification standards with the reasonableness of the required efforts to demonstrate ongoing competency as part of the Continuing Certification program. Discussions among BOG members benefit from the varied backgrounds of individuals with diverse experience in both academic and nonacademic practice settings, often with perspectives that are the product of senior leadership roles in institutions or national organizations. The BOG also includes a public member, whose opinions from outside the field of radiology are vital to the organization’s mission of serving the public and its more than 30,000 diplomates.
The Board of Trustees (BOT) is defined in the ABR Bylaws as “a multidisciplinary body that advances the quality, relevance and effectiveness of the ABR’s assessments for certification. The Board of Trustees makes recommendations to the Board of Governors regarding assessment structure including, but not limited to, exam format, content, assembly, delivery, scoring and feedback.” The 20 trustees are accomplished subject matter experts and leaders who direct and support the efforts of approximately 1,300 volunteers. ABR volunteers create and optimize exam and Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) content as part of committees targeted to a specific assessment in each of the radiologic disciplines. Volunteers also help set passing standards, and many participate as oral examiners, with support from the trustees.
Approximately 100 ABR staff serve under the direction of the Board of Governors. Staff efforts not only advance the Board’s priorities, but also support the volunteers by providing training, software tools, and administrative functions.
