By ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, and Associate Executive Directors Mary S. Newell, MD (Diagnostic Radiology), James B. Spies, MD, MPH (Interventional Radiology), Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD (Medical Physics), and Michael Yunes, MD (Radiation Oncology) June 2026;19(3):3 The ABR has used a standard oral exam scoring process for decades. The model is a…
By ABR Trustees Anne M. Covey, MD; Kate Maturen, MD, MS; Jennifer Stickel, PhD; and John H. Suh, MD June 2026;19(3):4 After every ABR computer-based exam, candidates are invited to participate in voluntary anonymous surveys. ABR staff and committee volunteers use the survey data to improve the examinee experience and exam content. Staff use the…
By ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology Mary S. Newell, MD; ABR Governor Desiree E. Morgan, MD; and ABR Trustee Kate Maturen, MD, MS June 2026;19(3):5 The reintroduction of the Diagnostic Radiology (DR) Oral Certifying Exam in 2028, after a hiatus of 15 years, has prompted many questions from program faculty, potential examiners, and…
By ABR President-elect John A. Kaufman, MD, MS; ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology James B. Spies, MD, MPH; and ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA June 2026;19(3)6 Over the past three years, the ABR exam model has evolved significantly for diagnostic radiology (DR) and interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (IR/DR). In 2023, we announced…
By ABR Board of Trustees Chair Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD; future ABR Trustee Katja Langen, PhD; ABR Trustees Jennifer Stickel, PhD, and Sameer Tipnis, PhD; and ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD June 2026;19(3):7 The mission of the ABR is “to certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill,…
By ABR Associate Director of Communications Rodney Campbell June 2026;19(3):8 From naval aviator to diagnostic radiology trainee, Ryan Dinnen, MD, has led a full life in a short time. Dr. Dinnen, a second-year resident at the Naval Medical Center (NMC) in Portsmouth, Virginia, has been in the service since graduating from high school. His sense…
By ABR Associate Director of Communications Rodney Campbell June 2026;19(3):9 When he completed his time on the ABR Interventional Radiology (IR) Continuing Certification Advisory Committee, Jeff Weinstein, MD, still had plenty to offer as a volunteer. As president of the Association of Program Directors in Interventional Radiology (APDIR) at the time, his next role was…
By ABR Associate Director of Communications Rodney Campbell June 2026;19(3):10 Some ABR Trustees and Governors come back to serve their medical specialty board even after their terms end. A good example is Beth Erickson, MD, a member of the Radiation Oncology Continuing Certification Advisory Committee. Dr. Erickson, who rotated off the Board of Trustees in…
June 2026;19(3):11 Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) was introduced to diagnostic radiology diplomates in 2019 and to their colleagues in interventional radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology the following year. The platform, which serves to satisfy Part 3 of Continuing Certification, has been popular. More than 15.6 million answers to OLA questions have been submitted over…
By ABR President-elect John A. Kaufman, MD, MS April 2026;19(2):2 Bringing years of healthcare experience and an understanding and appreciation of medical specialty board certification to the role, Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, is the ABR’s new public member on the Board of Governors (BOG). As the public member, Dr. Lemak offers a different perspective to…
By ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA April 2026;19(2):3 The ABR relies on hundreds of volunteer oral examiners to administer the certification exams in radiation oncology, medical physics, and interventional radiology. Additional volunteers will be needed to support the reintroduction of the Diagnostic Radiology Oral Certifying Exam in early 2028. All ABR oral examiners…
By ABR President Cheri L. Canon, MD, and ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA April 2026;19(2):4 The International Medical Graduate (IMG) Alternate Pathway (the “Pathway”) allows individuals who have completed residency training in countries other than the United States and Canada to establish ABR board eligibility through clinical activity in academic departments with residency…
The ABR is a not-for-profit organization and member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Our mission is to certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients. Our vision is to positively impact the lives of all patients as the foremost trusted certifying body assuring the highest standards of specialty expertise and professionalism in the radiological sciences.