#abocertification

Jul 6, 2017
1 min

What Do You Love About Ophthalmology?

It’s July—which means it’s time to welcome the newest group of medical school graduates as they begin their ophthalmic training at programs across the country. To our newest trainees: what attracted you to the specialty ophthalmology? And for those already in practice, what do you love most about the profession? For American Board of Ophthalmology Diplomate Charles C. Wykoff, M.D., Ph.D., it’s the possibility of restoring sight. In a recent piece for Medscape, he explains: Fo

Jul 2, 2017
2 min

Quarterly Questions Pilot Program: First Quarter Report-Out

Thank you to the 972 early adopters who helped the American Board of Ophthalmology to pilot our new Quarterly Questions program. In the first three months of this initiative, participants answered 17,626 questions related to comprehensive ophthalmology and provided valuable feedback that the ABO will use to improve the Quarterly Questions pilot. New questions for the third quarter of 2017 are now available at https://questions.abop.org. (If you haven’t explored this optional

Jul 1, 2017
3 min

High or Low: Where Should We Set the Bar?

Last month, we began an examination of the seven principles that support the ABO’s mission: “To serve the public by certifying ophthalmologists through the verification of competencies.” The initial post fleshed out our commitment to our diplomates and to the public that “The ABO stewards its finances with integrity and transparency.” In this column I wish to comment on the principle that “Certification should promote and recognize aspirational goals, not minimum standards.”

Jun 29, 2017
1 min

Do Physicians Need More Business Training?

This week, LinkedIn published a recent survey of 500 physicians in the United States. The findings suggested that doctors believe their training has not fully prepared them to address the “business of healthcare.” Healthcare news editor Beth Kutscher writes: Physicians practicing in the United States complete four years of medical school and then spend several more years in residency and fellowship. But all that clinical training, they say, doesn’t prepare them for the realit

Jun 22, 2017
2 min

A Fascinating Journey to the ABO Oral Exams

Pinar Aydin O'Dwyer, MD, PhD, is Professor of Ophthalmology and a Neuro-ophthalmologist in Ankara, Turkey. She is a member of the ICO Board of Trustees, a member of AOI, and Chair of the Turkish Board of Ophthalmology. Oral examinations are a potential nightmare for examining bodies because of issues related to standardization and bias. Although "a valid and fair" process is key to a successful examination, “gold standards” are difficult to attain. However, my experience as a

Jun 9, 2017
4 min

Financial Stewardship FAQs

Over the next few months, Diplomate Digest will feature each of the seven principles that support the ABO’s mission: To serve the public by certifying ophthalmologists through the verification of competencies. Although the principle "The ABO stewards its finances with integrity and transparency" is not the first one listed on our web site, it may be the theme about which I and others on the Board are asked most often. These inquiries likely result from critical reports about

Jun 9, 2017
1 min

Drs. Borchert & Tabbara to Receive Volunteer Award

The Board is pleased to recognize the longtime service of volunteers Mark S. Borchert, M.D., and Khalid F. Tabbara, M.D., by presenting them the 2017 Ben Goldfeller Volunteer Service Award at the 2017 Spring Oral Examination. Both Drs. Borchert and Tabbara have helped to administer 20 or more Oral Examinations for the American Board of Ophthalmology. The award is named for the late Mr. Ben Goldfeller, a resident of San Francisco and longtime friend of the ABO, who volunteered

Jun 9, 2017
2 min

Thank You, Chicago Examiners

The Board thanks the following diplomates for volunteering their time and talents to the administration of the June 9-11 Oral Examination in Chicago. Chrisfouad R. Alabiad, M.D. J. Brent Bond, M.D. Steven M. Couch, M.D. Robert I. Fish, M.D. Christopher T. Hood, M.D. Irene C. Kuo, M.D. Peter A. Quiros, M.D. Rithwick Rajagopal, M.D. Christen K. Richard, M.D. Steven I. Rosenfeld, M.D. Sarwat Salim, M.D. Lisa S. Thompson, M.D. James C. Tsai, M.D. John E. Bishop, M.D. Christophe

Jun 8, 2017
1 min

In Memoriam: Emeritus Director Lee Duffner, M.D.

The American Board of Ophthalmology mourns the loss of Lee Duffner, M.D., who served as a director of the Board from 1995 through 2002. Dr. Duffner completed his residency at Bascom Palmer in 1969, and was a voluntary professor of ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer for nearly 50 years, where he contributed to the ophthalmic education of hundreds of residents and fellows. He was one of the founding members of Eye Surgery Associates in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Duffner was a fellow o

May 26, 2017
2 min

Remembering Emeritus Director Robert C. Drews, M.D.

Robert C. Drews, M.D., Emeritus Board Director, 1985-1992, passed away, May 9, 2017. He was fondly known as Bob by all who knew him. He was born September 9, 1930 to Leslie C Drews, M.D., also an ophthalmologist, and Sarah E. Drews and lived his entire life in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Washington University in 1951 from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine in 1955. Bob trained as an ophthalmology resident from 1956-1959, and as chief resident

May 5, 2017
1 min

ABO Launches Patient Experience Survey-Based Quality Improvement Pilot

The American Board of Ophthalmology is now accepting sign-ups from up to 20 diplomates interested in piloting the development of a customized quality improvement project based on patient feedback for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) practice improvement credit. Here's how it works: Click here to register for the pilot. (Signing up now will not require you to complete the pilot. We just want to make sure we follow up with you to provide all the information and instructions y

May 5, 2017
1 min

WATCH: Measuring What Matters, a Webcast by ABO Public Director Scott Wallace

In this 15-minute video, ABO Public Director Scott Wallace, Managing Director of the Value Institute of Health and Care at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, issues a call-to-action for the medical community to “measure what matters most”—the patient experience. “How do we return physicians to their professional mission as healers?” asks Wallace. “The answer is pretty simple—to measure more, and to measure differently.” Watch now and submit your que

May 4, 2017
1 min

5 Great Reasons to Try the Quarterly Questions Pilot

Nearly 800 diplomates have tried the new Quarterly Questions Pilot Program. Will you be next? In this one-minute video, we present the top five reasons to give this optional pilot program a try, according to diplomates who've tried the program. (Comments are kept anonymous to maintain diplomate privacy.) If you're ready to get started, simply log in to questions.abop.org. #pilots #americanboardofophthalmology #abocertification #collaboration #abo #codesign