With more than 1,300 volunteers on its dozens of committees, the ABR is fortunate to have subject matter experts who are eager to share their knowledge and limited spare time to keep board certification fair and relevant. 

Volunteers from smaller subspecialties can be hard to find. That’s what makes physicians like Caitlin Connolly, MD, especially helpful. Experienced in a niche field, Dr. Connolly writes nuclear radiology questions for the Qualifying (Core) Exam.  

Among the 49,470 diplomates who hold ABR diagnostic radiology or interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology certificates, only 933 are certified in nuclear radiology.  

“We are definitely a smaller subspecialty and it’s important to get a mix of people in different practice types,” Dr. Connolly said. “I’ve enjoyed my time on the committee.”  

Former ABR Trustee Elizabeth Oates, MD, reached out to Dr. Connolly in 2023 to see if she would be interested in volunteering. The two still serve together on the Qualifying Exam committee.  

“Dr. Connolly has been an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer,” Dr. Oates said. “She’s collaborative and contributes to the discussions. She cares about producing fair and appropriate exams and gives back without expecting anything in return.”  

Dr. Connolly is the director of the radiology residency program and director of nuclear medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. She enjoys working on the ABR committee with colleagues from across the country, whether meeting in person or over video calls.  

It’s a learning experience, even for those who are authorities in their fields.   

“It’s nice for me to see what other places are doing,” she said. “There’s quite a bit of rapid evolution going on in nuclear medicine. It’s interesting to see what folks across the country are doing and making sure that we’re teaching our residents properly, too.”  

Dr. Connolly is close to completing her first year as a residency director. That learning process remains ongoing. 

“I’m still getting my head around the role,” she said. “I feel like once I’ve done it a year, I’ll have a little more predictability.” 

Even with their limited experience, residents keep her on her toes and bring a refreshing perspective to the workplace. She finds the interactions rewarding and fun.  

“I really enjoy working with residents,” Dr. Connolly said. “They ask questions in ways that you didn’t expect or haven’t thought about and topics you haven’t considered in depth. It keeps everything fresh. They bring nice energy to the reading room, too.”  

Seeing the exam compilation process through the eyes of a volunteer enables her to allay some fears that residents have as they prepare to take the Qualifying Exam. Like her fellow question writers, she’s been through the Initial Certification process and understands candidates’ worries.  

“(Question writers) are really trying to make sure that you have a basic understanding,” Dr. Connelly said. “Nobody’s trying to be tricky. You shouldn’t overthink or overcomplicate things. The most obvious answer is often the correct one if you’ve read the question correctly.”  

One big advantage for current examinees over when she took Initial Certification exams is the remote platform that the ABR introduced in 2021. Before that, candidates had to travel to take exams, racking up expenses and missing time from work.  

Dr. Connolly had a five-month-old child when she took the Qualifying Exam as a resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She passed on her first attempt, but her anxiety level was noticeable.  

“It seems like the residents are a bit less stressed about that side of things with it being virtual,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about your flight getting canceled because there’s a thunderstorm in Chicago. In some ways, it’s more simplified now.”  

A Massachusetts native, Dr. Connelly and her family live in the Boston suburbs just two doors from her parents. She bikes to work and enjoys the city’s green space and cultural opportunities.  

All in all, she enjoys her personal and professional life.  

“I love the seasons,” she said. “It’s beautiful in the fall. Boston is nice. There are so many academic institutions and a lot going on. There are always concerts and lectures and book readings, whatever you’re looking for.”