By N. Reed Dunnick, MD, ABR Executive Associate Director for Diagnostic Radiology October 2021;14(5):5 In recent years, friends have often asked me how to find a good physician for their medical problems. I always tell them to start by asking for physicians who are board certified. Patients want to be cared for by well-trained, competent…
By Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD; Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD; Robert A. Pooley, PhD, ABR Trustees; J. Anthony Seibert, ABR Governor; and Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics August 2021;14(4):5 Upon recommendation by ABR medical physics leadership, the ABR Board of Trustees has approved a change to the eligibility requirements for…
By Heather Hopkins, ABR Communications Coordinator August 2021;14(4):8 With the shift from in-person to remote exams this year, the duties of the ABR exam delivery team changed significantly. Exam delivery is responsible for the following: In the past, they were also involved with travel arrangements and staffing exam centers; now, they schedule orientation webinars and…
August 2021;14(4):8 Diplomates have answered more than 4.7 million OLA questions since the platform was introduced in 2019. They have also provided feedback on the usefulness of each item, which is greatly appreciated as we constantly strive to improve the program. Here are a few things participants who are working toward their annual progress requirement…
By Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director, and Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President August 2021;14(4):2 In June 2020, the ABR decided to substantially modify its exam platforms. Uncertainty regarding the length and depth of the pandemic had created an imperative to develop a plan that would allow reliable administration of a valid and…
August 2021;14(4):7 By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager After waiting an extra year to take their oral exams because of COVID-19, candidates had a few jitters about the ABR remote platform. “Like most examinees, I was somewhat nervous about the experience but was reassured by the favorable reviews shared by a couple of colleagues involved…
By Cheri L. Canon, MD, ABR Governor, and David Laszakovits, MBA, ABR Communications Director August 2021;14(4):3 The ABR relies on relationships with our colleagues across the radiologic disciplines to provide perspectives at multiple levels. Some of these are informal, including those with our volunteers who have leadership roles in specialty societies. Others are more defined,…
By Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology, and Anthony Gerdeman, PhD, ABR Director of Exam Services August 2021;14(4):6 A critical element in maintaining the credibility and validity of clinical certification exams is that they are deemed to be relevant by those involved, including developers and examinees. In a continuously evolving…
By James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology August 2021;14(4):4 In May, we successfully completed the first regular remote administration of the IR/DR Certifying Oral Exam, and we are now reviewing the feedback from participants. One of the benefits of our current electronic format for the oral exam is the…
August 2021;14(4):10 Congratulations to Andrea K. Ng, MD, MPH, ABR trustee for radiation oncology, for being recognized by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) as one of 28 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation for 2021. The ASTRO Fellows program recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the society and…
August 2021;14(4):11 Prior to the pandemic, the ABR had approximately 100 employees on site in Tucson. As with many organizations, we made the necessary adjustment to a work-from-home environment and, after some adaptation to a different version of normal, we found ourselves learning and functioning at new and exciting levels – just as many of…
By Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President June 2021;14(3):2 In response to a February 2019 report generated by an independent commission (Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has developed a set of standards for Member Boards to follow when developing refinements and enhancements to their continuing certification…
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.