Volunteer’s ‘Unique Perspective’ Makes Him Valuable for Several Committees
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(5):11
There are more than 1,300 subject matter experts who serve as ABR volunteers. They write exam questions, serve on Angoff committees, give oral exams, and act as go-betweens with candidates and diplomates on Initial and Continuing Certification advisory committees.
Some, like Ezana Azene, MD, find their talents useful in multiple roles. Dr. Azene, an interventional radiologist at Gunderson Health System in Wisconsin, has written questions and been an oral examiner. His latest duty has him serving on the IR Continuing Certification Advisory Committee.
That committee’s chair, James B. Spies, MD, appreciates the knowledge and experience that Dr. Azene offers.“He brings a unique perspective informed by his long career in IR clinical practice to every committee discussion and, along with other committee members, brings practical suggestions and invaluable feedback,” said Dr. Spies, who’s also the ABR’s Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology. “Our IR CC Advisory Committee is essential to the ABR’s continuing efforts to improve its Continuing Certification processes and Dr. Azene has been a key contributor.”
Like all volunteers on the four ABR Continuing Certification committees, Dr. Azene is also a participant. Answering OLA questions to satisfy Part 3, for example, is part of his weekly routine.
“It’s very easy,” he said. “I get the email early Monday morning. I wake up, have my cup of coffee, and go through my email and open (myABR) to my two questions. It’s just part of my Monday.”
As is the case with most OLA participants, Dr. Azene needs to answer 52 questions per year to meet his annual progress requirement. But he doesn’t stop there. He responds to every question he receives, pushing his yearly total to 104.
Answering OLA questions affirms and sometimes delivers knowledge to participants. Dr. Azene is always ready to improve as a physician.
“I find it very useful and enjoy it almost like a continuing education experience,” he said.
After having to take a couple of years off from oral examining duties because of work commitments, Dr. Azene plans to get back to it next year. He enjoys sitting in the examiner’s seat and watching candidates succeed.
“I like interacting with examinees,” he said. “It’s rewarding to see them think through the questions and even sometimes struggle at first and then see that light go off in their eyes and the excitement that they get when they figure it out and get the correct answer. It’s really rewarding.”
Dr. Azene greets all his examinees the same way: He doesn’t want them to look at him as an authority figure. His goal is to determine their knowledge about the subject matter, not look for faults and reasons to fail the candidates. He would rather the exam be a conversation that reveals the candidate’s expertise.
“I want them to think about us as two colleagues in the IR department reviewing cases either before the start of the day or at the end of the day,” he said. “I tell them my goal is not to trick them or get them to answer questions incorrectly. I want the environment to be calm and welcoming so we can just have a discussion.”
His engaging personality meshes well with his ABR colleagues. Whether he’s doing committee work or serving as an examiner, Dr. Azene brings the same positive energy to the job. That’s among the reasons he’s in high demand as a volunteer.
“I’m a very outgoing person,” he said. “I like to be around people, talk to people, have conversations. That’s something I seek out.”