With more than 1,300 volunteers on its dozens of committees, the ABR is fortunate to have subject matter experts who are eager to share their knowledge and limited spare time to keep board certification fair and relevant. Volunteers from smaller subspecialties can be hard to find. That’s what makes physicians like Caitlin Connolly, MD, especially…
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,…
ABR volunteer Sherwin Chan, MD, and his family enjoy traveling. They especially look forward to visiting state and national parks to take in the unique wildlife and stunning vistas. It’s a good thing Dr. Chan is comfortable on the move. At the beginning of March, he made a big jump from committee chair to pediatric…
When he was 14 years old, Cameron Brock, MD, was a typical teen. He was active, enjoying a life spent outdoors in his native Utah. There’s no way he could have imagined what was coming. “All of a sudden, I had a lot of pain in my right leg,” he said. “I wasn’t able to…
Last month, physicians and physicists from across the country matched into residency programs. Here are reactions from a few. Parris DiazDiagnostic radiologyResidency 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…
By Athena Loiacono, MS Matching into my top-choice radiology program last week was an unforgettable experience, one that was filled with immense excitement and overwhelming relief. Leading up to Match Day, I felt incredibly nervous. Despite working tirelessly throughout medical school, investing countless hours in studying, rotations, and research, there was still that lingering uncertainty….
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.