by Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, ABR Executive Director December 2021;14(6):3 The ABR Trustees and Governors met remotely over several days in late September and early October. Although the agenda spanned a broad range of issues, the discussions were focused on themes that stressed the organization’s mission: to certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge,…
December 2021;14(6):13 As the end of the year approaches, there are a few things to keep in mind for Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) participants. First, make sure you have completed your question requirements for 2021. For most diplomates, this will be 52 questions per certificate. As of mid-November, 91.25% of participants are meeting their annual…
By Donald J. Flemming, MD, Chair, ABR Board of Trustees; and Desiree E. Morgan, MD, ABR Trustee December 2021;14(6):7 In response to feedback from the ABR Diagnostic Radiology (DR) and Interventional Radiology (IR) Initial Certification Advisory Committees, the American Alliance of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology (A3CR2), the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR),…
by James B. Spies, MD, MPH, ABR Associate Executive Director for Interventional Radiology December 2021;14(6):6 Since the initiation of Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) at the beginning of 2020, many interventional radiology diplomates have asked for the opportunity to have more diagnostic imaging in the program. This has been of particular interest among those who do…
December 2021;14(6):12 Communication is an extremely important component of the ABR mission – “To certify that our diplomates demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding of their disciplines to the benefit of patients” – and The Beam is just one of many ways the ABR passes along important information about the rapidly changing landscape of…
By Kalpana M. Kanal, PhD, ABR Trustee December 2021;14(6):8 It has been almost two years since the ABR implemented Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) for medical physicists. OLA is based on the concept of walking around knowledge. This is knowledge that a typical medical physicist would need in order to provide general clinical medical physics (MP)…
By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager December 2021;14(6):11 The ABR offers resources to help candidates prepare for a positive exam-day experience. Here are a few pointers for candidates who have upcoming computer-based or oral exams. Computer-based Exams Candidates should complete the technical check at a time that is convenient for them. The check is performed…
By Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology; Brian J. Davis, MD, PhD, ABR Trustee; and Anthony M. Gerdeman, PhD, ABR Director of Exam Services December 2021;14(6):9 The ABR Trustees recognize that the three parts of the Radiation Oncology (RO) Initial Certification (IC) computer-based Qualifying Exam (QE) – Medical Physics for…
December 2021;14(6):10 By Rodney Campbell, ABR Communications Manager When approached by the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) to serve as a representative on the ABR Radiation Oncology Initial Certification Advisory Committee, Shauna Campbell, DO, didn’t hesitate to accept. “I was very grateful for the opportunity,” she said. “While the ABR is an independent…
by Vincent P. Mathews, MD, ABR President December 2021;14(6):2 Last month, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) released new standards for Continuing Certification. This effort began in 2018 with the establishment of the independent Vision Commission, which “brought together multiple stakeholders to advise on redesigning continuing board certification to be more meaningful, relevant, and…
by N. Reed Dunnick, MD, ABR Executive Associate Director for Diagnostic Radiology December 2021;14(6):5 To give participants an opportunity to better align their Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) questions with their current practice, the practice profile rules will change next month for diagnostic radiology (DR) diplomates. The new options will allow more flexibility in how a…
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.