As planning for the new Diagnostic Radiology Oral Exam ramps up, an ABR volunteer who has dedicated his career to resident education is joining the Board of Governors (BOG).
Jim Anderson, MD, who will become a BOG member at the end of the fall meeting in late September, holds multiple roles at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He’s a professor of diagnostic radiology, vice chair of radiology education, and assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education-Strategic Alignment & Integration.
“I love radiology and I love the idea of being a teacher,” Dr. Anderson said. “Resident education is always fresh. It’s always new.”
He served on the ACGME Radiology Review Committee from 2012-’20, including five years as committee chair. He is a member of the executive board and president of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR). He’s also a member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-International Review Committee.
Dr. Anderson was once asked by the APDR to participate in a debate about the new DR Oral Exam at an Association of Academic Radiology event. He had to do a little acting because he was tasked with arguing against the idea.
“I’m actually in favor of going back to it,” Dr. Anderson said. “Especially given the changes the ABR has made to the scoring structure/method, which make it a more objective assessment than the old oral board.”
He’s already thinking about one of the big challenges that the ABR will face before the oral exam returns: finding enough examiners.
“I’ll be recruiting people at my institution,” Dr. Anderson said. “I know several people who would be great examiners, and we’ll see if we can get a few on board.”
A former program director, he’s spent the past year working with residents as an ABR volunteer with the Diagnostic Radiology Initial Certification Advisory Committee. The group serves as a liaison between the ABR and candidates; there are committees for all four specialties that the organization certifies.
“With the oral boards coming back, it’s important to have residents, program directors, and the training programs represented and make sure that we’re all aligned with what the ABR is trying to accomplish,” he said. “We need to see how fast the programs can change things over.”
As an educator, he was happy to see that the ABR provided five years’ notice about the new oral exam.
“I think the ABR is doing a really good job of protecting the residents from being overwhelmed by giving them a lot of lead time,” Dr. Anderson said. “I think they’re very conscientious about that.”
Another area of his interest is the plight of International Medical Graduates. He’s part of the ACGME International Review Committee, which accredits programs in other countries.
“The ABR already has the alternate pathway, which we contribute to (at OHSU),” he said. “However, the landscape of how IMGs are able to practice in the U.S. is changing. The ABR needs to stay on top of these changes and be proactive about keeping the quality of radiologists in the U.S. at a high level.”
Dr. Anderson came to OHSU in 2001 a year after finishing his neuroradiology fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has spent the past two decades in Portland building the residency program and establishing partnerships across campus.
Joshua Nickerson, MD, an ABR volunteer, neuroradiologist, and colleague of Dr. Anderson’s at OHSU, praises his friend’s attention to detail and the fact that he takes all data into account before making a decision. More important, Dr. Nickerson said that his coworker treats people with respect while creating an inclusive atmosphere.
“What makes him stand out even more than his skill with a spreadsheet is his ability to share his knowledge, experience, and expertise with those around him in a way that is always collegial, collaborative, and constructive rather than feeling top-down or condescending,” Dr. Nickerson said. “He is a great consensus builder who is always focused on making each challenge an opportunity for improvement for everyone involved.”
Becoming part of the Board has long been on Dr. Anderson’s wish list. He already has BOG connections, including Secretary-Treasurer and OHSU colleague John Kaufman, MD, and Donald J. Flemming, MD.
Once the fall board meeting is complete – he and fellow incoming BOG member Karen Ragland Cole, MD, will attend as nonvoting guests – he’ll be ready to start work.
“I’m excited to meet everybody,” Dr. Anderson said. “I always hear great things about the people and how smart and thoughtful they are, how the discussions are always good. I’m looking forward to being part of it.”
