By Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, ABR Trustee; Ben Babcock, PhD, ABR Associate Director of Psychometrics; Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics; Jennifer Stickel, PhD, ABR Trustee; and Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, ABR Board of Trustees Chair June 2025;18(3):7 In a recent Beam article, ABR Associate Director of Assessments Research and…
By James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology June 2025;18(3):6 Whether in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, radiation oncology, or medical physics, many international medical graduates (IMGs) wish to practice in this country and seek the confirmation of their competence that ABR certification provides. For years, the ABR has recognized the…
By Mary S. Newell, MD, Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology; Kate Maturen, MD, MS, ABR Trustee; Desiree E. Morgan, MD, ABR Governor; and Stephen F. Simoneaux, MD, ABR Governor June 2025;18(3):5 Time passes quickly! The new DR Oral Exam will launch in 2028, and ABR volunteers and staff are in planning and implementation mode….
By Michael Yunes, MD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology; Mary S. Newell, MD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology; Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics; James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology; and Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, ABR Board of Trustees Chair…
By Cheri L. Canon, MD, ABR President, and John A. Kaufman, MD, MS, ABR President-elect June 2025;18(3):3 The ABR’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Alternate Pathway offers a way for individuals trained in residencies outside the United States and Canada to become board certified. The pathway represents the ABR’s interest in recognizing the knowledge and skill…
By Marina I. Feldman, MD, MBA, ABR Secretary-Treasurer, and Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director June 2025;18(3):2 The ABR governing board has three legal duties: the “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.” The National Council of Nonprofits describes these as: Duty of Care: Take care of the nonprofit by ensuring prudent…
The ABR employs four experts from their fields to serve as extensions of Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA. These associate executive directors (AEDs), all of whom work part-time at the ABR, come from the four specialties that the organization certifies: diagnostic radiology (DR), interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (IR/DR), medical physics (MP), and radiation oncology (RO). …
By Ben Babcock When the ABR administers Initial Certification exams, some people pass and others don’t. How does the ABR decide where to draw the line between a passing and failing performance? The answer is a psychometric process called standard setting. ABR Initial Certification exams use a criterion-referenced standard setting process (Angoff) that involves a…
A quick glance at the CV of Stephanie Leon, PhD, proves that she enjoys being an ABR volunteer. Dr. Leon is part of the Medical Physics (MP) Continuing Certification Advisory Committee, serves as chair of the Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) committee for diagnostic medical physics, and is an oral examiner. ABR exams and OLA are…
As an interventional radiologist who teaches and performs clinical work, Divya Kumari, MD, keenly understands her role as an ABR volunteer who writes Qualifying (Core) Exam questions. It’s a balancing act. “I have a good idea of what (candidates) should know, particularly diagnostic residents,” she said. “We’re writing questions that they have to be able…
After living in every corner of the country while growing up, studying and training to become a medical physicist, and starting her career, Samantha Simiele, PhD, feels at home again. Her job in Northern Alabama is a long way from her Eastern Washington roots. But, for the past year and a half, she’s enjoyed the…
As far back as elementary school in Los Angeles, Chelsea Nwonwu knew what she wanted to do with her life. “I have notes from when I was a kid that asked, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” she said. “And I said, ‘I want to be a radiologist.’ I was asked,…
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.