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.
‘Ideal Volunteer’ Enjoys First Experience as Oral Examiner
Serving on the ABR Interventional Radiology Initial Certification Advisory Committee gave Christopher Bailey, DO, a chance to help his specialty by volunteering for a medical certifying board. The committee, which Dr. Bailey joined on a recommendation by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) in 2020, acts as a go-between for candidates and the ABR. He…
ABR AED Newell Joins ABMS Board of Directors
ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology Mary S. (Mimi) Newell, MD, has been named to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Board of Directors. Dr. Newell, a professor of radiology and imaging sciences at Emory University and part of its breast imaging division, is a former member of the ABR Board of Governors….
She Helps Put Candidates at Ease as Medical Physics Examiner
Serving as chief of proton physics and associate chief of the medical physics division at Emory Proton Therapy Center keeps Katja M. Langen, PhD, busy. Fortunately for the ABR, Dr. Langen finds time to help her field by serving as a volunteer for the past 13 years. She likes it so much that she’s part of committees for therapeutic…
Family Tradition Built Medical Student’s Desire to Become Radiologist
Now in her fourth year of medical school, Rylee Friel has wanted to be a radiologist since she was a child. Her mother, Shelly, is a nurse, and Rylee has long focused on entering medicine. Her father, Thomas, also had a big influence. He’s not a physician, but he plays an important role in an…
Radiology Health Equity Coalition Working to Improve Patient Care
The visions and missions of the ABR and radiology societies focus on improving patient care. Medical imaging impacts most people at some point, and radiology professionals have the potential to be unifying change agents across an inequitable healthcare system. To help address these issues, the ABR was one of 11 partners that formed the Radiology…
Gratitude and Guidance: A Successful Candidate’s Road to IR Certification
Last month, Rayna Howse, MD, MBA, reached a career milestone: She passed the Interventional Radiology Oral Certifying Exam and became board certified by the ABR. She recently provided feedback to help future candidates succeed on the exam. How did you feel going into the exam and how did you prepare? I was nervous, but I…
Assistant Professor Learning as ABMS Visiting Scholar
Like many of his fellow Visiting Scholars, Francis Deng, MD, didn’t know much about the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) when he applied for the program. “I knew that the ABMS existed and that it comprised a number of Member Boards,” Dr. Deng said. “I knew that from my time as a (National Resident…
It’s Also the Season for Professional Gratitude
Thanksgiving is here and we all have many reasons to be grateful for things in our professional lives. We asked a few candidates and stakeholders for their thoughts this month, as we did with residents last year, and here’s what they had to say. Puneet Bhargava, MD University of Washington Professor of Radiology and…
Visiting Scholar Has Quality and Safety on Her Mind
Leslie Chang, MD, is on a mission. A fifth-year radiation oncology resident at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Chang is one of three American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Visiting Scholars supported by the ABR. Her small team’s research for the program involves establishing an education program for quality and safety in her specialty, an area…
Expertise in Variety of Roles Earns Volunteer ABR Lifetime Award
Anyone who has questions about serving as an ABR volunteer should reach out to Mark Mullins, MD, PhD. Dr. Mullins earned an ABR Lifetime Achievement Award this year after spending 15 highly productive years as a volunteer. His duties ran the spectrum: computer-based exam question writer, oral examiner, Angoff committee member, and Continuing Certification (MOC) Advisory…
Her Visiting Scholars Question: Why Aren’t More Women Interested in RO?
When considering career paths, would-be physicians often overlook radiation oncology. There are several reasons: too much math and physics; traditional routes, like diagnostic radiology, are more popular; and medical students don’t often get exposed to the specialty. All that is especially true for women, who make up a reported 30 percent of the field. Ria…
New BOG Member’s Experiences Help Her Better Relate to Patients
Ethnic violence and religious persecution caused an exodus of millions of refugees when the Soviet Union was crumbling in the late 1980s. Among those fleeing to find a better life was the family of Marina I. Feldman, MD, MBA, joined the ABR Board of Governors earlier this month. Dr. Feldman’s family was living in what…
ABMS Visiting Scholar Program Well Worth the Time
By Sara Hunter, MD When I applied for the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Visiting Scholar Program (VSP), I wondered if I was making a mistake. I was about to graduate fellowship, start as staff physician, and enter a new stage in my life. Furthermore, I was worried I would not be able to…
ABR Board of Governors Adds Three Members
Marina I. Feldman, MD, MBA; Desiree Morgan, MD; and Andrea K. Ng, MD, MPH, became members of the ABR Board of Governors (BOG) during last week’s Board meeting. Drs. Morgan and Ng were members of the Board of Trustees (BOT). Dr. Feldman joins the BOG after applying during the ABR’s open recruitment last year that…
ABR Sponsors Three New ABMS Visiting Scholars
A new class of American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Visiting Scholars has been named, including one diagnostic radiology assistant professor and two radiation oncology residents who are sponsored by the ABR. Francis Deng, MD (diagnostic radiology), Leslie Chang, MD (radiation oncology), and Ria Mulherkar, MD (radiation oncology), were selected from a group of applicants. This is…