TMP Qualifying Exam Committee Supports ABR Mission
By Matthew B. Podgorsak, PhD, ABR Board of Trustees Chair; Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, and Robert A. Pooley, PhD, ABR Trustees; Jennifer Stickel, PhD, Future ABR Trustee; and Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics
2024;17(3):8
For medical physics (MP) candidates seeking initial board certification, the ABR administers three computer-based qualifying exams followed by an oral certifying exam. The qualifying exams consist of two Part 1 exams (general and clinical) and a Part 2 exam specific to one of the three medical physics disciplines: diagnostic (DMP), nuclear (NMP), or therapeutic (TMP). To complete the board certification process, a candidate must pass a final oral certifying exam (Part 3) in their discipline. Eligibility requirements and timelines for each exam can be found here: www.theabr.org/medical-physics.
Content for each exam is developed by committees of MP volunteers, all of whom participate in the Continuing Certification program. Each committee has approximately 10 members who are subject matter experts, along with a chair who is responsible for the committee’s work. An associate chair is selected during the chair’s last year on the committee to ensure a seamless transition to new leadership. A committee is also assigned two ABR staff exam developers who provide administrative support.
Committee members are selected by a trustee and the associate executive director for medical physics and are appointed initially for a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for an additional three-year term. It is possible for a member to be extended beyond six years on a committee at the trustee’s discretion, although this is unusual. Member productivity is assessed annually by the trustee who oversees the committee. If a committee member is not meeting their goals, the trustee may reach out to establish the reason and determine if the member has the capacity to improve their productivity during the next writing cycle, or if resignation from the committee is more appropriate.
Committees complete their work during an annual item-writing cycle spanning approximately six months and meet virtually several times during the cycle to review, edit, and ultimately approve questions that are added to each exam’s casebook. They build an exam using both new and previously used questions from the casebook and then review it during an end-of-cycle in-person meeting. A trustee provides final approval of an exam after it has been approved by the committee.
The Therapeutic Medical Physics (TMP) Part 2 Qualifying Exam Committee develops content for the casebook from which the exam is built. Candidates for the TMP Part 2 Qualifying Exam are primarily those who have completed a CAMPEP-accredited therapy medical physics residency program, and they generally take this exam for the first time shortly after graduating from their residency. In selecting committee members from the list of potential volunteers who have applied for and were approved for this role, the trustees focus on subject matter experts who have close knowledge of the material upon which an exam is based. For this reason, most members of this committee are either program directors or program faculty of therapy medical physics residency programs. The constitution of other committees will be different based on the specific exam content being developed.
This committee’s work, like that of all item-writing committees, takes place throughout an item-writing cycle. Each member is responsible for drafting numerous questions independently and then presenting them for review first to a senior committee member (known as a senior reviewer) and then, during a virtual meeting, to other committee members and the exam developers. Frequently, a draft question undergoes several rounds of review before ultimately being approved to be added to the casebook. The volunteer engagement throughout an item-writing cycle is typically many hours of independent work, several committee meetings, and finally a 1.5-day in-person retreat.
We are grateful not only to the members of this committee, but also to the members of all medical physics item-writing committees. It would not be possible for the ABR to fulfill its mission without the efforts of the medical physicists who volunteer numerous hours to develop, review, and ultimately approve the questions that the ABR uses to “certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients.”
DEI Training Helps Optimize the Oral Exam Experience
By Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, and Paul J. Rochon, MD, ABR Trustees
2024;17(3):5
The ABR is dedicated to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all its efforts and activities with candidates, diplomates, volunteers, staff, and the public. The ABR DEI Committee is responsible for making recommendations and developing and supporting initiatives to create and sustain a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. The DEI Committee comprises trustees from diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology as well as representatives from the ABR Board of Governors. Over the past year, the committee has been evaluating options for introducing DEI unconscious bias training for ABR volunteers. Since most receive DEI workplace training at their places of employment, the ABR has been focused on developing DEI training geared more toward ABR activities.
We recently conducted a pilot to compare prerecorded versus live DEI training for oral examiners. We tailored one vendor’s DEI training program for use with the examiners who participated in the Medical Physics Oral Certifying Exam. A prerecorded version of the DEI training was sent to all examiners to review in advance of the exam. On-site examiners received additional DEI training that was similar to the prerecorded version but presented in a live interactive format. The purpose was to determine which format would work best for future DEI training.
Overall, the feedback received from examiners about the oral exam experience optimization was positive. The training was found to be helpful by both remote and on-site examiners, with most examiners preferring the prerecorded version as that could be viewed at the examiner’s convenience and paused while viewing. On the other hand, several of the on-site examiners noted that the interactive format was better suited for live discussion. In addition, the live format was presented the day before the exam, which provided a timely reminder of what not to do when conducting exams.
We are in the process of discussing which training works best for our volunteers. Currently, we are considering incorporating the prerecorded version of the training for the next interventional radiology and radiation oncology oral certifying exams. We will offer the training well in advance of the exam date, setting the deadline for completion at 30 days prior to the exam. This will help identify examiners who did not complete the training. “Test your knowledge” questions will also be inserted at the end of the training to ensure active participation. The DEI Committee will re-evaluate the process annually to ensure this training is effective.
The ABR DEI Committee will continue to develop training for other ABR scenarios that will take into account language, gender, race, age and other forms of bias to optimize the oral exam experience, and later extend this experience to all ABR volunteers.
Diplomates Prefer OLA for Part 3 Continuing Certification Requirement
2024;17(3):13
In this video, ABR Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, talks about the Part 3 requirement (“Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, and Skills”) for Continuing Certification. Compared with a point-in-time exam, Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) has been overwhelmingly preferred by ABR diplomates because it offers immediate feedback on specific question topics, a dashboard to show progress and performance relative to the standard, and an opportunity to learn (the formative component) while being assessed. The “decline” option for a small number of specific questions that are not related to a diplomate’s professional practice allows for customization and enhanced relevance of the exercise.
For a small number of diplomates, the alternative to OLA is the Continuing Certification Exam (CCE). The CCE is offered to diplomates who choose not to participate in OLA or who have not met the passing standard via OLA. CCE content differs from OLA and requires some review or targeted study to refresh one’s knowledge of topics relevant to the practice of the discipline.
For more information, please see the article we published in April.
Deadline to Start Answering OLA Questions Fast Approaching
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager
2024;17(3):14
An important date is coming for diplomates participating in Continuing Certification (formerly MOC) who haven’t started answering OLA questions yet this year. August 4 is the last day when those diplomates can start answering questions and still reach their OLA progress requirement for the year.
Here are a few things to consider as you assess your OLA participation.
Staying on Pace Is Important
Since two questions are offered to most participants every week, 104 are available to be answered each year. To meet the annual progress requirement, most diplomates need to answer only 52 questions per year. OLA allows substantial flexibility regarding when diplomates answer questions, as questions do not expire until four weeks after they are offered.
Avoid Forfeited Questions
Questions that are required but unanswered for a given year are considered “forfeited” and count as incorrect responses. For example, if you are required to answer 52 questions and only answer 50, the two unanswered will be “forfeited” and scored as incorrect.
You Have Choices After Meeting Your Annual Progress Requirement
When you meet your annual progress requirement, you have options regarding participation for the rest of the year.
- Take a break: You may wait until next year to resume answering questions.
- Keep going: You may choose to answer more than 52 questions this year. There is no penalty for continuing to participate.
Questions? Contact Us
If you have fallen behind or have questions about your OLA status, please contact a certification manager at information@theabr.org or 520-790-2900.
