October 2024 | Volume 17, Issue 5
Rufous hummingbird photo by ABR Trustee Daniel C. Davis, MD
Stakeholder Feedback Continues to Drive ABR Decisions
By Desiree Morgan, MD, ABR Governor
2024;17(5):1
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
– Winston Churchill
Listening is so important, and I challenge all of us to do more of it in this season and beyond. You will find multiple references in this edition of The Beam where we describe the courage of stakeholders, whether that of our Initial and Continuing Certification Advisory Committee members or that of the various stakeholder groups who have provided the ABR with their thoughts and opinions on our processes and assessment instruments over the past several years. All are highly valued by the ABR, and we are listening.
In this issue . . .
Cheri L. Canon, MD, who started her term as ABR president last month, answers questions about her new role.
ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, provides an interactive organization chart illustrating how the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees interact with each other, volunteers, and staff.
Click HERE to read more.
Q&A With New ABR President Cheri L. Canon, MD
2024;17(5):2
A volunteer since 2010, Cheri L. Canon, MD, became ABR Board of Governors president in late September. Dr. Canon, who is president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, chief physician executive of the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Health System, and professor emerita of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Radiology, has served as ABR president-elect for the past two years.
She recently took time to answer a few questions about her new role.
What inspired you to get involved as an ABR volunteer?
My chair, Dr. Bob Stanley, was a strong believer in the value of the ABR and an important sponsor for my first ABR volunteer role as a proctor for the “written” exam (yes, Scantrons and No. 2 pencils). I then joined the DR item-writing committee and honed my question-writing skill set. Writing a valid multiple-choice question is unbelievably challenging!
I had always held a high regard for the board certification process, but it was not until I was actively engaged as a volunteer that I genuinely appreciated the breadth of the ABR’s activities and the passion of its volunteers and staff. The ABR’s unwavering mission is remarkable and inspiring.
Click HERE to read more.
Board of Governors and Board of Trustees Work With Staff and Volunteers to Fulfill the ABR’s Mission
By Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director
2024;17(5):3
The ABR has two governing bodies staffed by volunteers: the Board of Governors (BOG) and the Board of Trustees (BOT). The following chart illustrates the connections among these two groups, our approximately 1,300 volunteers, and about 100 full-time staff. For more information, please see this article.
Click on the image for an interactive pdf.
Click HERE to read more.
ABR Seeks Public Member for Board of Governors
By Cheri L. Canon, MD, ABR President, and John A. Kaufman, MD, MS, ABR President-elect
2024;17(5):4
The ABR is seeking qualified applicants for a volunteer public member position on its Board of Governors (BOG). The board’s mission is to certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients.
The ABR provides both Initial and Continuing Certification in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology, and is one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Discussions among BOG members benefit from the varied backgrounds of individuals with diverse experience, including those in both academic and nonacademic practice settings alongside a public member from outside the profession. BOG members often bring experience from senior leadership roles in their institutions and/or national organizations. Although most members of the BOG are ABR diplomates, public members offer distinct perspectives because they are not radiologists, radiation oncologists, or medical physicists. Public members have the same voting privileges as other members of the board and, like all members, act in support of the mission.
Click HERE to read more.
Call for Nominations for ABR Board of Trustees
By Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, ABR Board of Trustees Chair
2024;17(5):5
According to the ABR Bylaws, the Board of Trustees is a “multidisciplinary body that advances the quality, relevance and effectiveness of the ABR’s assessments for certification.” Trustees are distributed among the four disciplines certified by the ABR: diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology.
We are currently seeking nominations for Trustee positions in diagnostic medical physics, radiation oncology, interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology, pediatric radiology, neuroradiology, and cardiothoracic imaging. The term for new Trustees will begin in October 2025. The initial term is three years, and Trustees may be reappointed to serve for up to eight total years.
Nominees are expected to be professionally active and well-respected among their peers. A nominee must be 10 years or more post-certification and have been an active ABR volunteer within the last five years. Participation in ABR’s Continuing Certification (formerly Maintenance of Certification, MOC) program is required. Those not currently enrolled in Continuing Certification are required to enroll before beginning service.
Click HERE to read more.
New DR Oral Exam Builds on Previous Model with Scoring Rubrics
By Stephen F. Simoneaux, MD, and Desiree E. Morgan, MD, ABR Governors; Mary S. Newell, MD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Diagnostic Radiology; and Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director
2024;17(5):6
For the Diagnostic Radiology Certifying Exam, the ABR will be transitioning from a computer-based exam to an oral exam in 2028. The development of the new model benefited from iterative contributions of a wide range of external stakeholders, and the subsequent decision to return to an oral exam format was largely focused on a specific goal: to create an exam that assesses the higher order skills that are part of clinical practice (in contrast to knowledge assessable on a multiple-choice exam).1
In communications related to the change, the ABR compared the 2028 model with the legacy ABR oral exam that existed for decades through 2012. In conveying that the 2028 version will be different from the old DR oral exam, we have unintentionally created the impression for some faculty and candidates that we have not retained some of the attributes and principles of the legacy exam.
Click HERE to read more.
OLA Allows Interventional Radiologists to Align Content With Practice
By James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology, and John A. Kaufman, MD, MS, ABR President-elect
2024;17(5):7
One of the inherent benefits of ABR’s Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) for diagnostic radiology (DR) and interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology (IR/DR) diplomates is the flexibility of the program in allowing individuals to align the content with their practice profile.1 Although the platform cannot accommodate an exact fit for every diplomate (for example, those with highly specialized practices that do not extend across more than one imaging modality), adjustments in content allow an approximation of the relative frequency of subspecialty elements of practice.
To satisfy the Part 3 requirement (“Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, and Skills”) of ABR’s Continuing Certification program, nearly all IR/DR diplomates use OLA. (Less than 5% choose a point-in-time exam, required every five years.) OLA has both summative (“assessment of learning”) and formative (“assessment for learning”) functions, as described previously in The Beam. Starting in January 2022, those wishing to maintain an IR/DR certificate but preferring not to answer exclusively IR content have been able to select one or two other content areas in diagnostic radiology (in addition to the required 50% of interventional radiology content). If two content areas are selected, each must be 25% of the total.
Click HERE to read more.
Medical Physics Trustees Welcome Dr. Jennifer Stickel
By Robert A. Pooley, PhD, Former ABR Trustee; Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, ABR Trustee; Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, ABR Board of Trustees Chair; and Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics
2024;17(5):8
In this issue of The Beam, we focus our spotlight on ABR Trustee Jennifer R. Stickel, PhD, a medical physicist at the Colorado Associates in Medical Physics (CAMP).
Dr. Stickel became the nuclear medical physics (NMP) Trustee in September at the conclusion of the ABR fall board meeting. Dr. Stickel replaces Robert A. Pooley, PhD, who rotated off the Board of Trustees (BOT). As described in the article “Roles and Responsibilities of an ABR Trustee,” most Trustees have oversight of three or more committees. Dr. Stickel will have oversight of the MP Part 1 Clinical and Part 2 NMP Qualifying exams, Part 3 NMP Certifying Exam, and NMP Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) committees.
Dr. Stickel graduated with a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Davis; her advisor, Simon R. Cherry, PhD, literally wrote the book describing the discipline: Physics in Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Stickel was introduced to medical physics when it was time to find employment after graduating with her PhD, having no awareness of the field prior to that time. UC Davis was seeking a nuclear medical physicist to support the clinical imaging program, and she realized she could have a rewarding career supporting the equipment and clinical applications. She was fortunate to have wonderful mentors: John Boone, PhD, Ramsey Badawi, PhD, and former ABR Governor Tony Seibert, PhD. Dr. Stickel remained at UC Davis for two years before moving to Colorado and joining CAMP, a consulting group that provides medical physics services to the Rocky Mountain West. She worked her way up to partial owner and vice president while still supporting clinical medical physics needs.
Click HERE to read more.
ABR Volunteers and Advisory Committee Members Represent the Interests of the Profession and the Patients We Serve
By Catheryn Yashar, MD, ABR Trustee, and David Laszakovits, MBA, ABR Communications Director
2024;17(5):9
To maintain ABR certification, radiation oncology diplomates with certificates issued after 1994 are required to participate in Continuing Certification (CC, formerly Maintenance of Certification [MOC]). Lifetime certificates are valid without participation in CC, although lifetime certificate holders are strongly encouraged to participate.
Continuing Certification is broken into four parts: Part 1: Professionalism and Professional Standing; Part 2: Lifelong Learning; Part 3: Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, and Skills; and Part 4: Improvement in Medical Practice. Information about each part and FAQs about CC can be found on the ABR website.
The ABR’s Continuing Certification program is developed by practicing physicians and medical physicists through a volunteer committee structure. The ABR solicits volunteers for its committees who represent a diversity of practice types, gender, and geography. Anyone who meets the volunteer requirements can apply here.
Click HERE to read more.
New Residents Excited to Start Their Training Days
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(5):10
This past summer, future diagnostic and interventional radiologists completed their internships and started residencies. We caught up with six of them to see what they think of the experience so far and what they expect from their training.
Amanda Bronte Balon, MD
Mount Sinai Medical Center
“Starting residency was both exciting and overwhelming. Radiology builds on the clinical skills we’ve developed over the past five years but also requires us to master the entirely new skill of interpreting and reporting on images. Within the first week of residency, I realized how extensive and broad the specialty of radiology is and the effort needed to bridge that knowledge gap. Although this thought can be intimidating, I’ve felt incredibly supported by my program, attendings, and co-residents as I take these initial steps. I have experienced the rewards of contributing to patient care and recognized how central radiologists are to many healthcare decisions.”
Click HERE to read more.
Volunteer’s ‘Unique Perspective’ Makes Him Valuable for Several Committees
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(5):11
There are more than 1,300 subject matter experts who serve as ABR volunteers. They write exam questions, serve on Angoff committees, give oral exams, and act as go-betweens with candidates and diplomates on Initial and Continuing Certification advisory committees.
Some, like Ezana Azene, MD, find their talents useful in multiple roles. Dr. Azene, an interventional radiologist at Gunderson Health System in Wisconsin, has written questions and been an oral examiner. His latest duty has him serving on the IR Continuing Certification Advisory Committee.
That committee’s chair, James B. Spies, MD, appreciates the knowledge and experience that Dr. Azene offers.
“He brings a unique perspective informed by his long career in IR clinical practice to every committee discussion and, along with other committee members, brings practical suggestions and invaluable feedback,” said Dr. Spies, who’s also the ABR’s Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology. “Our IR CC Advisory Committee is essential to the ABR’s continuing efforts to improve its Continuing Certification processes and Dr. Azene has been a key contributor.”
Click HERE to read more.
Drawing on Her Days as a Candidate Makes Her a Better Examiner
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(5):12
As an ABR radiation oncology oral examiner, Malika Siker, MD, puts herself in the place of the candidate.
She knows that an examiner’s goal is to gauge knowledge and ensure that examinees can independently treat patients safely. But she and her colleagues also understand the nerves that examinees bring to the event because they’ve been there.
“It’s been reassuring to see that all the volunteers make the best effort to make sure that the examinee is comfortable and is given an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge,” she said. “It’s a stressful process. I remember from when I went through it.”
Her experience as a candidate led her to serve as an examiner. She uses the best of what she saw during her time being examined and combined it with what she’s learned from the being on the other side of the table.
Click HERE to read more.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Participants Address Disparities in Health Care
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(5):13
Physicians across the country use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to encourage patients to undergo screenings that help save lives. Estimates state that more than 310,000 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
Knowledge and access are power. An article in the RSNA’s RadioGraphics journal reported last year that despite having a 5.8% lower incidence of breast cancer, Black women have a 40.7% higher mortality rate than non-Hispanic white women.
“Through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are able to reach new audiences, including people from diverse backgrounds,” said Toma Omofoye, MD, an associate professor in the department of breast imaging at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “While mammography screening and precision medicine have contributed to incredible improvements in breast cancer survival, disparities persist. The higher risk for certain racial and ethnic groups, such as Black women and Ashkenazi Jews, may be unknown to many women. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to reach diverse communities to empower them.”
Click HERE to read more.
New ABR Board Members Announced
2024;17(5):14
At the close of the ABR board meeting in September, six volunteers began their terms as new Governors and Trustees. In addition, one Trustee has moved from the Board of Trustees to the Board of Governors. More information about each member can be found by clicking on their names.
The following individuals have joined the ABR Board of Governors:
James C. Anderson, MD, is a professor of neuroradiology and vice-chair of education in the department of diagnostic radiology and assistant dean for graduate medical education at Oregon Health & Science University.
Karen Ragland Cole, MD, MBA, is a partner at MemorialCare Medical Group of Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children and Women’s Hospital.
Stephen F. Simoneaux, MD, is a professor of radiology and pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta. He will continue in his role as the diagnostic radiology pediatrics representative on the Board of Trustees until a replacement is found while simultaneously serving on the Board of Governors.
Click HERE to read more.
Dr. Borgstede Awarded 2024 RSNA Gold Medal
2024;17(5):15
Former ABR President James P. Borgstede, MD, was recently selected as one of three 2024 Gold Medal winners by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Board of Directors. The Gold Medal is RSNA’s highest honor and is awarded annually to individuals who have excelled in their service to the science of radiology.
Dr. Borgstede received his medical degree in 1974 from the University of Illinois, Chicago, completed his residency at the University of Colorado (CU) Health Sciences Center in Denver, and joined the faculty of the CU Department of Radiology in 1978. After spending most of his career in private practice, he joined CU Radiology full time in 2008 as professor and vice chair of Clinical Operations, Quality and Safety.
In addition to serving as president of the ABR from 2012 to 2014, Dr. Borgstede is a past president of the RSNA, the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the International Society of Radiology. He was also chair of the RSNA Board of Directors and Research & Education Foundation, and is a past president of the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners and the Colorado Physician Health Program, a peer assistance program for physicians.
Click HERE to read more.
October 8 Blog
She’s Having a Jolly Good Fellowship So Far
October 3 Blog
Early Career Radiation Oncologists Stay Busy as Volunteers
September 24 Blog
New Trustee Bringing Private Practice Experience to Role
September 17 Blog
She’s Helping Her ‘Small Community’ by Volunteering
September 10 Blog
Embracing the Journey: From Sports Medicine Chiropractor to Aspiring Diagnostic Radiologist
September 3 Blog
He’s Stepping in for ‘Quite a Role Model’ on Board of Trustees
New ABR Board Members Announced
2024;17(5):14
At the close of the ABR board meeting in September, six volunteers began their terms as new Governors and Trustees. In addition, one Trustee has moved from the Board of Trustees to the Board of Governors. More information about each member can be found by clicking on their names.
The following individuals have joined the ABR Board of Governors:
James C. Anderson, MD, is a professor of neuroradiology and vice-chair of education in the department of diagnostic radiology and assistant dean for graduate medical education at Oregon Health & Science University.
Karen Ragland Cole, MD, MBA, is a partner at MemorialCare Medical Group of Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children and Women’s Hospital.
Stephen F. Simoneaux, MD, is a professor of radiology and pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta. He will continue in his role as the diagnostic radiology pediatrics representative on the Board of Trustees until a replacement is found while simultaneously serving on the Board of Governors.
The following individuals have joined the ABR Board of Trustees:
Kristopher Cummings, MD, is chair of the division of cardiothoracic imaging in the department of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, and an associate professor of radiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Umesh Oza, MD, is a partner at American Radiology Associates in Dallas and professor of radiology at Baylor University Medical Center.
Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD, is chair of the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Health System and a professor in the department of radiation oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
Jennifer Stickel, PhD, is vice president of diagnostic/nuclear medicine physics at Colorado Associates in Medical Physics in Colorado Springs.
Dr. Borgstede Awarded 2024 RSNA Gold Medal
2024;17(5):15
Former ABR President James P. Borgstede, MD, was recently selected as one of three 2024 Gold Medal winners by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Board of Directors. The Gold Medal is RSNA’s highest honor and is awarded annually to individuals who have excelled in their service to the science of radiology.
Dr. Borgstede received his medical degree in 1974 from the University of Illinois, Chicago, completed his residency at the University of Colorado (CU) Health Sciences Center in Denver, and joined the faculty of the CU Department of Radiology in 1978. After spending most of his career in private practice, he joined CU Radiology full time in 2008 as professor and vice chair of Clinical Operations, Quality and Safety.
In addition to serving as president of the ABR from 2012 to 2014, Dr. Borgstede is a past president of the RSNA, the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the International Society of Radiology. He was also chair of the RSNA Board of Directors and Research & Education Foundation, and is a past president of the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners and the Colorado Physician Health Program, a peer assistance program for physicians.
Dr. Borgstede’s research is in the areas of socioeconomics, government relations, quality, and safety. He has delivered more than 130 lectures on these topics nationally and internationally. He arranged and performed two international service projects: one in the Philippines and another in Cameroon, where his family purchased and delivered diagnostic medical sonographic equipment to hospitals and provided training for the staff. He also started the ACR Committee on International Service and made four working visits to Grace Children’s Hospital in Haiti.
Dr. Borgstede has received numerous honors and awards, including the Gold Medal of the ACR, the Gold Medal of the Colorado Radiological Society, the RSNA Honored Educator Award, and Honorary Membership in the European Society of Radiology.
Q&A With New ABR President Cheri L. Canon, MD
2024;17(5):2
A volunteer since 2010, Cheri L. Canon, MD, became ABR Board of Governors president in late September. Dr. Canon, who is president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, chief physician executive of the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Health System, and professor emerita of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Radiology, has served as ABR president-elect for the past two years.
She recently took time to answer a few questions about her new role.
What inspired you to get involved as an ABR volunteer?
My chair, Dr. Bob Stanley, was a strong believer in the value of the ABR and an important sponsor for my first ABR volunteer role as a proctor for the “written” exam (yes, Scantrons and No. 2 pencils). I then joined the DR item-writing committee and honed my question-writing skill set. Writing a valid multiple-choice question is unbelievably challenging!
I had always held a high regard for the board certification process, but it was not until I was actively engaged as a volunteer that I genuinely appreciated the breadth of the ABR’s activities and the passion of its volunteers and staff. The ABR’s unwavering mission is remarkable and inspiring.
How did your time serving on committees prepare you to join the Board of Governors?
Understanding the operations behind exam development allows for more informed discussions and decisions, particularly concerning resource allocation. The board is charged with strategic oversight and has a fiduciary responsibility, and with these conversations, I am able to draw upon my prior committee experience. As a bonus, serving in leadership roles for these committees was a great course in Leadership 101. It was a recurring exercise in change management and negotiation. It developed my appreciation of the value of different perspectives and diversity of thought.
At what point did you think you might be interested in the board president position?
I honestly do not remember. Although I have been involved with the ABR for over 20 years, it has been a blink of the eye. It is likely similar to other leadership roles. In the beginning, they seem daunting and out of reach. Once you spend time within an organization, gaining an understanding of its complexities and developing relationships, you are driven by a passion to be a part of something bigger. Then it happens. It is a very organic process.
How open has the Board of Governors been to making changes that answer stakeholder needs?
In my tenure with the ABR, I have witnessed an evolving approach to communication, including the important relationships with our stakeholders. I am proud of the steps we have taken, particularly as part of the pivot to the New Diagnostic Radiology Oral Exam, to assure broad input from all stakeholders. We should (and will) consistently strive to communicate better and actively solicit feedback. Diversity of thought is key to solving complicated problems.
An important part of the ABR’s mission is to ensure that physicians and physicists can safely treat patients. What are some activities you’ve seen the organization undertake to ensure that we meet that goal?
Most immediately, I think of the exam process to assure competency, and this is core to the ABR mission. Also, the Continuing Certification process. But there is an equally important component of safe patient care and professionalism, where we as physicians and medical physicists put the patient’s interests above our own. The public expects this of board certification.
What have you discovered about the president’s role in your time as president-elect?
That maybe I should reconsider accepting the challenge? Seriously, I have had the great benefit of following Dr. Bob Barr, the consummate radiologist and a leader whom all leaders should emulate. He has role-modeled a leadership approach that has been highly effective, even through some fairly contentious times. He diligently solicits input, carefully listens, and assures the board’s decisions align with the mission of the ABR. I have learned that the mission serves as our North Star, and the ABR’s primary service is to the public and our patients, while also serving our diplomates.
The great challenge for the ABR is balancing the ongoing assurance of candidate and diplomate assessment while ushering in new initiatives, such as the new DR oral exam. We must remain steadfast to the mission yet pivot as required. To be successful with these complexities, we need a board with foresight and diversity of thought coupled with the expertise of the trustees and the stellar execution abilities of the ABR staff, led by Dr. Brent Wagner. It makes for a great team.
What are the board’s biggest priorities as you become president?
We must conduct ongoing assessment of our processes, such as Initial and Continuing Certification. To do this successfully, we must actively solicit and respond to stakeholder input.
