Volunteers Drive the ABR’s Work
By Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics
2025;18(2):6
To candidates for certification and even many diplomates, the ABR might appear to be a black box from which exams, requirements, and rules appear and decisions are handed down. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
While the ABR has almost 100 full-time employees who perform valuable administrative, editorial, and IT functions, much of the work that most directly affects candidates and diplomates is performed by volunteers. Most of the ABR’s approximately 1,300 volunteers are members of committees that prepare, evaluate, and administer exams to more than 4,000 candidates for Initial Certification each year in the four disciplines. They also write and evaluate OLA questions that are distributed to the 37,000 diplomates who are enrolled in Continuing Certification.
Most medical physicists begin their journey to certification by taking the Part 1 General Physics Qualifying Exam. The questions that make up the exam are written by individual members of the Part 1 General Committee. After an editorial review, the questions are reviewed by the committee during several virtual meetings and assembled into a complete exam at an in-person meeting. Each of the exams given to medical physicists every year (including Part 2 Qualifying and Part 3 Oral Certifying) is assembled through essentially the same procedure.
Higher-level decisions about admission requirements, exam administration, and other matters related to candidates and diplomates are made by the Board of Trustees. This group, which includes three medical physicists, is composed entirely of volunteers who generally have served on one or more committees and are senior members of their professions. The exam-development committees are supervised by Trustees who attend many committee meetings and are in close contact with the committee chairs.
Decisions about policy, finances, and future priorities are made by the Board of Governors, who are also volunteers and often have served as Trustees.
Both boards adhere to term limits to ensure that the membership is continually refreshed.
Any diplomate in good standing can become an ABR volunteer. Continuing Certification participation is required, even for diplomates with lifetime certificates. The application process is straightforward: the volunteer link in myABR leads to an application form. Diplomates must confirm their contact information, enter details about their interests in volunteering, identify two people to serve as references, attach a CV, and complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure.
Completed applications are reviewed by the discipline’s associate executive director. Approved diplomates are added to a pool of available volunteers. When vacancies on committees occur, the committee chairs and the corresponding Trustee review the pool of applicants in the discipline and specialty to select replacement members appropriate for the committee. Practice type, geographic location, and gender are also taken into consideration when selecting new volunteers for a committee to ensure a diverse membership.
Each of the 12 medical physics committees (excluding advisory committees) has 10 members, including the chair and associate chair. Terms are three years and may be renewed once, and except in unusual circumstances, volunteers may serve on only one committee at a time. Consequently, the number of vacancies each year is not large.
But for the smaller specialties (diagnostic medical physics and especially nuclear medical physics), the pool of potential volunteers is limited. We sometimes struggle to find qualified volunteers to fill vacancies on the committees of these specialties. If you’ve been certified by the ABR for at least a year* and are looking for a way to contribute to the profession, please consider volunteering.
*The volunteer requirement is one year for medical physics, diagnostic radiology, and interventional radiology. For radiation oncology, volunteers are required to be two years post certification.
Last month, physicians and physicists from across the country matched into residency programs. Here are reactions from a few.
Parris Diaz
Diagnostic radiology
Residency match: Stanford Medicine
Unlike most Match 2025 applicants, I not only found out I matched on Monday, March 17, but discovered my program by the listed city, state, and zip code. Opening that message and seeing the words « Congratulations, you have matched to … STANFORD, CA, 94305 » immediately brought a feeling of comfort, familiarity, and excitement. Not only was Stanford Radiology a place where I had the opportunity to interpret studies as a visiting resident, but also the location where I was almost 10 years earlier as a college student when I realized I wanted to become a physician and could do it. As a visiting college sophomore who was still undecided at that point, living on the Stanford campus as part of a health career opportunities program gave me the tools, mentors, and confidence that I could succeed in this career. Stanford has always held a special place in my heart, and matching there feels like a storybook ending to one of the scariest chapters of my professional life.
Making the decision to leave the institution and urology field I worked so hard to reach was extremely difficult and isolating. It wasn’t until I shared my story that I realized many had done it before and many will after me. Speaking to those who went through it and who are at different stages of their careers motivated me and gave me mentors. One thing I’ve learned is that there are many individuals contemplating change, and that does not make them any less exceptional or dedicated. Change is OK and completely normal. While it is extremely uncomfortable, it is worth it.
Danet Lugo
Diagnostic radiology
Intern year and residency match: GME at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital
As a first-generation college graduate and the first doctor in my family, matching into my dream specialty was one of the most meaningful moments of my life. The days leading up to Match Day were filled with nerves, excitement, and reflection on all the years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance it took to get here. I thought constantly about my parents and everything they had given up so I could chase this dream. Opening that email, surrounded by them, and matching into a program that feels like home, in the city that shaped me, was overwhelming in the best way possible. I felt pure joy, disbelief, and relief all at once. It was a moment where everything came full circle. I felt incredibly grateful, not just for the outcome, but for the journey and the amazing people I met along the way. I’m excited to begin this next chapter of my life!
Sarah Montaquila
Interventional radiology/Diagnostic radiology
Intern year: HCA Florida Westside Hospital
Residency match: UC Irvine
I’m very happy and grateful to have matched at such an amazing program! I was instantly impressed with UC Irvine’s diagnostic and interventional radiology programs at my interview and was very excited about the potential of being able to join their team. Application season was an incredibly stressful process. Knowing that I matched at my dream program makes me feel like it was all worth it in the end, and I’m excited for what is to come!
Residents and early career physicians and physicists are encouraged to apply to become an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Visiting Scholar.
The ABR partners with the ABMS to assist candidates and early career diplomates with their research efforts and leadership development. The program facilitates research projects that address pressing health care issues and research priorities for the Member Board community.
Applications for the 2025-’26 Visiting Scholars cohort will be accepted until June 23. The one-year program begins in September.
The ABR’s goal is to fund as many as four scholars each year at $15,000 apiece. For more information, please visit the ABR’s website, the ABMS’ website or watch this video.
