News
Discover inspiring stories from our volunteers, candidates, and community, and stay up to date with important news and announcements on exams, policies, and more.
Matching Starts Exciting Chapter in Life of New Resident
By Athena Loiacono, MS Matching into my top-choice radiology program last week was an unforgettable experience, one that was filled with immense excitement and overwhelming relief. Leading up to Match Day, I felt incredibly nervous. Despite working tirelessly throughout medical school, investing countless hours in studying, rotations, and research, there was still that lingering uncertainty….
Volunteer’s Flexible Life Stretches from Beirut to Portland
From Lebanon to Iowa to Oregon, ABR volunteer Nadine Mallak, MD, has built a career rooted in adaptability and a passion for innovation. Dr. Mallak, the clinical director of the PET/MRI program and associate professor of body imaging and nuclear medicine at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), came to the U.S. in 2013 from…
IR/DR Certifying Exam Process Update
On this page DR Exam Changes: Timing Impacts for IR/DR Residents (December 12, 2025) IR/DR Certifying Exam Process Changes Coming in 2029 (March 10, 2025) 2025 December 12 DR Exam Changes: Timing Impacts for IR/DR Residents After months of soliciting feedback from stakeholders, the ABR is making changes to the timing of the Qualifying (Core)…
Seven New Members Joining Board of Trustees This Year
The ABR is welcoming seven members to its Board of Trustees (BOT) this year. Sherwin Chan, MD, PhD, started March 1 as the diagnostic radiology pediatrics representative. John Fritz Angle, MD (interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology), Isabel Cortopassi, MD (diagnostic radiology cardiothoracic imaging), Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA (radiation oncology), Michelle Miller-Thomas, MD (diagnostic radiology neuroradiology), Sameer…
Longtime ABR Volunteer Enjoying Challenge of President’s Role
After filling numerous roles over two decades as an ABR volunteer, Cheri L. Canon, MD, is breaking new ground as the Board of Governors (BOG) president. Dr. Canon ran an ABR board meeting for the first time at the weeklong spring meeting in February. Even with all her experience, she said the task was a…
Veteran Educator Still Learns from His Residents
Working with residents gives ABR volunteer Ronald Arellano, MD, opportunities to pass along knowledge he has gained as a clinical interventional radiologist and educator. It also provides Dr. Arellano, who serves as program director for interventional radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, with chances to learn from his trainees. One especially valuable lesson came from a…
Stakeholder Feedback Driving Planned Improvements
ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, recently sat down to answer a few questions about some of the many initiatives the organization will undertake in 2025. There’s been a lot of discussion about the new diagnostic radiology oral certifying exam, which starts in 2028. What are the biggest priorities in 2025 regarding preparation for…
When Volunteers are Needed, She Enthusiastically Steps Up
Growing up in small-town Pittsburg, Kansas, Jessica Clements wanted to be helpful. In elementary and middle school, she was a Girl Scout and part of a mentorship group. As a high school student, she was active in many clubs, including student government where she was elected class president. Her desire to help makes Jessica, who…
Change of Plans Sends Aspiring Resident Down VIR Path
When he started at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Armaan Mazra, MS, had a goal: In 2025, he would be matching into a surgical residency, possibly orthopaedic surgery. “I joined almost every surgical Interest group I could because I didn’t have a lot of perspective on medicine, family members in medicine, or general exposure,” he…
Medicine is a Sister Act for Volunteer and Her Siblings
With two older sisters planning to go into medicine, young Katherine Tzou was looking for a separate career. “Because I’m the youngest and wanted to be different, I thought there was no way I was going into medicine,” she said. “I was going to be an oceanographer.” Instead, the seas parted, and life changed for…
He Feels Lucky to Have Attended Medical School in Ireland
Going overseas allows visitors to have adventures and experience new and exciting cultures. Going overseas to attend medical school can be risky, sometimes making it tougher for students to find a residency spot in the U.S. when they finish their studies. Robert Liddell, MD, experienced nothing but positives when he went abroad for medical school…
New Year Means New Goals for ABR AEDs
The New Year has arrived, and our associate executive directors are poised to continue their task of improving the initial and continuing certification processes for candidates and diplomates. We recently asked the four part-time staff for their 2025 personal and professional goals. Geoffrey Ibbott, PhDMedical Physics In the New Year, I’m looking forward to working…
Future Resident Staying Busy in Her Year Away from Studies
Annelise M. Silva, MD, EdM, is taking a year off between completing medical school and starting her residency. But this is far from a gap year. After graduating from the Wright State University School of Medicine this past April 28, Dr. Silva started as national president of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) on May…
Trustee Holiday Wish List: Watching Hallmark Movies, Creating Memories
The holidays have arrived and the ABR is especially grateful for the efforts of its more than 1,300 volunteers. In the spirit of the season, we asked a few of our Trustees to talk about what this time of year means to them. Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD (Medical Physics, Diagnostic Medical Physics) The holidays are…