May 27, 2020 | Volume 13, Issue 3
by J. Anthony Seibert, PhD, ABR Governor
2020;13(3):1
In this edition of The BEAM, President Brent Wagner discusses the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adjustments the ABR continues to make regarding volunteer activities and exam scheduling for all disciplines. Please visit the ABR website for the latest information and ABR policies concerning these issues.
From the Executive Director – Valerie Jackson, who is retiring in July, reminisces about her professional career and the many opportunities that volunteering and serving the radiology profession, particularly with the ABR, has provided.
From the Board of Governors – Robert Barr, the secretary-treasurer and newly named president-elect, discusses his thoughts on present plans and future directions of the ABR.
Click HERE to read more.
ABR, Stakeholders Remaining Flexible During Uncertain Times
by Brent J. Wagner, MD, ABR President
2020;13(3):2
The current challenges facing the world have impacted our families, our friends, and ourselves in ways we would have struggled to imagine as recently as late last year. Medical professionals have continued to exercise their invaluable talents in the care of their patients while adapting to unusual and evolving circumstances. This includes residents and fellows across all specialties who must balance, as part of their training, the demands of both requisite clinical duties and self-directed learning.
For the ABR, as it became clear that standard exam development activities would not be effective in the short term, staff and volunteer content experts quickly made adjustments: test assembly activities for upcoming exams were revised to use remote conferencing software. While this is often not optimal for the volunteers, the modification to the process promised to support continued success in exam creation that would be relevant and cost effective.
Click HERE to read more.
Serving Radiology Field Was Opportunity of a Lifetime
by Valerie P. Jackson, MD, ABR Executive Director
2020;13(3):3
This July, I will close a huge chapter in my life – my professional career. I am often asked how I got where I am today, and I know it has been through good luck, great mentors, and an open mind. When I was in college, I had 11 different majors and a lot of uncertainty about what I should do with my life. I decided on medicine and ultimately diagnostic radiology. I have never regretted my decision! This was absolutely the right thing for me.
Like many radiologists of my era, I didn’t plan to become a breast radiologist. It was assigned to me, a bit against my will. However, it turned out to be a great opportunity. I loved the patient interaction, the ability to do research in a relatively young field, and the chance to pass on my knowledge to many residents and fellows during my 32 years on the faculty at Indiana University.
Click HERE to read more.
Lessons Learned Will Help Guide New President-Elect
by Robert M. Barr, MD, ABR President-elect
2020;13(3):4
I am excited to be named president-elect of the American Board of Radiology. As a private practice radiologist, this is not a role I had ever imagined myself in before joining the Board of Governors several years ago. At the time, I didn’t know what to expect.
Since becoming involved, I have found that I believe even more strongly in the ABR’s mission. What we do is not perfect, nor is it an exact science. But it serves an important role and it matters that we do it as well as we possibly can. The value of the public’s ability to rely on the knowledge, skill, and understanding of healthcare workers has been highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, our medical colleagues rely on us as trusted partners.
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Impact of COVID-19 on IR Training and Certification
by M. Victoria Marx, MD, ABR Trustee
2020;13(3):5
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a profound effect on all aspects of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education in all specialties. The new primary specialty of interventional radiology (IR) is no exception. There is likely to be variability in medical student access to IR electives/selectives in the coming months – at the time of year when many fourth-year students interested in IR typically choose to participate in an IR clerkship. The breadth and volume of patients cared for and procedures performed in IR divisions may be lower than normal, limiting the educational experience available to residents. The most dramatic effect to most residents, however, has been the necessity for the ABR to cancel the June 2020 Core Exam.
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Preparing for Non-Interpretive Skills Portion of ABR Exams
by David Larson, MD, MBA, ABR Trustee
2020;13(3):6
Preparing for the Non-Interpretive Skills (NIS) section of ABR exams used to be a source of anxiety for some examinees, who were uncertain what material would be covered and questioned the relevance of the content. Significant changes have been made to NIS content on the Core and Certifying exams over the past several years to make it more predictable and relevant. Following is some of the thinking behind those changes.
The first task facing developers of NIS content for the ABR is determining what material examinees should be expected to master and at what level of detail. The scope of potential NIS topics is large; knowing what to exclude may be just as important as knowing what to include.
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His ‘Marathon’ Complete, Former Volunteer Savors Rewards
by Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications and Marketing Manager
2020;13(3):7
After 17 years of long days and challenging work, Mark Madsen, PhD, stepped down last year from his duties as an ABR volunteer. He doesn’t regret a second of that time working as a committee member and examiner.
“Putting the exams together often required marathon sessions where hundreds of questions were reviewed,” he said. “Even though the days were long, the discussions associated with improving the quality of the exam material were very educational, and I learned a lot that I never would have been exposed to in my routine work.”
Click HERE to read more.
Spring Brings Record OLA Participation
2020;13(3):8
Early spring was a busy time for Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) participation. During these challenging times of COVID-19, diplomates have stayed involved with OLA, setting single-day records for participation and questions answered in four consecutive weeks bridging March and April. The marks were set each Monday, the day OLA questions are issued to diplomates.
OLA started in January 2019 for diagnostic radiology and DR subspecialty diplomates. Interventional radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology diplomates began participating in January 2020.
Click HERE to read more.
Two New AEDs Beginning Their Work in July
2020;13(3):9
Starting July 1, the ABR will have two new associate executive directors (AEDs). Geoffrey Ibbott, PhD, will be replacing Donald Frey, PhD, for medical physics, and James Spies, MD, will take over for Anne Roberts, MD, for interventional radiology.
Both will act as liaisons to the board and other stakeholders. The ABR employs four AEDs as part-time staff, including those for diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology.
Click HERE to read more.
May 19 Blog
Diplomate Stays Fresh by Participating in MOC
May 12 Blog
Diagnostic Radiology IC Advisory Committee Improving Communication Between ABR, Candidates
May 5 Blog
Pandemic Bringing Changes to Residency Education
April 28 Blog
Radiology’s Vital Contribution to Patient Care During U.S. Epidemics
April 24 Blog
MOC Participation Agreement Gets Update
April 21 Blog
Radiology World Scrambling to Help Face Down Pandemic
