Blog | ABO Diplomate Digest

Mar 31, 2020
1 min

Share Your Patient Safety Story

The American Board of Ophthalmology is collecting stories for an ABO-led series in the Morning Rounds section of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeNet magazine. If you have a story you think would help illustrate the importance of patient safety protocols, the ABO is presently collecting anonymized cases. Each story of 1,500 words or fewer adheres to a template that includes the following elements: Case Summary Brief case description with key details, including: Expl

Oct 3, 2019
1 min

Measuring What We Do: The ABO Scorecard

The American Board of Ophthalmology’s primary responsibility, as summarized in its mission and guiding principles, is to the public. To help track progress toward key initiatives, the ABO uses a scorecard similar to the Balanced Scorecard developed by Robert Kaplan of Harvard Business School and his associate David Norton. As illustrated in the accompanying figure, the scorecard includes four quadrants: stakeholders, internal processes, learning and growth, and finance. Each

Oct 2, 2019
1 min

See You in San Francisco!

Give your certification status a check-up by checking in with the American Board of Ophthalmology at AAO 2019. All day Saturday, Sunday, and Monday during the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in San Francisco, American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) staff will be available to answer your recertification questions. We'll be set up in an informational booth located inside the AAO Resource Center. No pre-registration is necessary. Stop by and say hello! On Sunday f

Sep 30, 2019
2 min

ABMS Seeks Diplomates to Join Stakeholder Council

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is seeking nominations for active diplomates to join the ABMS Stakeholder Council. Active diplomates must be board certified by an ABMS Member Board, participating in continuing certification/MOC, and not serving in a leadership position in any Member Board, Associate Member, or specialty society or association. The Stakeholder Council is an advisory body to the ABMS Board of Directors representing volunteer physicians and pati

Aug 15, 2019
1 min

Dr. Julia Haller, ABO Diplomate, Named Philadelphia Inquirer's Physician of the Year

The American Board of Ophthalmology congratulates diplomate Julia A. Haller, MD, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Hospital, who will receive the 2019 Physician of the Year Award today, given by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The award, one of the news publication's "Influencers of Healthcare" honors, celebrates the city's leading healthcare professionals who go above and beyond to improve the collective health of Philadelphia and strive to make a difference in their patients

Jul 3, 2019
1 min

Goldfeller Volunteer Service Award Presented to Two Longtime Examiners

At the June 2019 Oral Examination in Rosemont, IL, two longtime American Board of Ophthalmology examiners reached the 20-examination milestone: John Welch, MD, of Hastings, NE, has been an examiner for the ABO since 1995. Dr. Welch has mentored nine new examiners and assisted with oral examination content development. Dr. Welch, who practices at Retina Center of Nebraska, earned a medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and went on to complete his i

Jul 3, 2019
4 min

Congratulations to the Newest American Board of Ophthalmology Diplomates

The following ophthalmologists achieved certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology following the June 2019 Oral Examination held in Rosemont, IL: -A- Musa Abdelaziz, M.D., Washington, DC Daniel Agarwal, M.D., New Haven, CT Faheem Ahmed, M.D., Herndon, VA Syeda Ahmed Naqvi, M.D., Cincinnati , OH Alaa AlAli, M.D., Toronto, ON Daniel Albertus, M.D., Falls Church, VA Sulaiman Alhumaid, M.D., miami, FL Mohsin Ali, M.D., Durham, NC Zegary Allen, M.D., Montgomery, OH Zane

Jul 3, 2019
1 min

Share Your Most Memorable Patient Safety Cases

In the July 2019 edition of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeNet magazine, American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate Tamara Fountain, MD, with co-author and ABO Emeritus Director Philip L. Custer, MD, explore the root cause of a surgical oversight (note: AAO login required). Edited by ABO Director Jane Bailey, MD, the article is part of an ABO-led series for the Morning Rounds section of the magazine. If you have a story you think would help illustrate the importanc

May 17, 2019
2 min

Newly Created Program Supports ABO Examiners with Training, Feedback, and CME

Last October, I left the American Board of Ophthalmology Oral Examination in San Francisco and flew to Los Angeles to visit my son, who had just moved across the country. The night I arrived, we walked out of his apartment and noticed a group of people standing in the street, staring up into the sky. We looked up and saw something that resembled Daenerys Targaryen's dragons flying overhead. With Hollywood nearby, I figured it was some kind of special effect for a movie produc

Apr 23, 2019
1 min

ABO Psychometrician Publishes Article in CLEAR Exam Review

In the Spring 2019 edition of the CLEAR Exam Review, American Board of Ophthalmology Psychometrician Sarah D. Schnabel, PhD, discusses why assessment in medical continuing certification must be three things: relevant, dynamic, and frequent. In the article, Dr. Schnabel makes the case for ongoing summative assessment in board certification -- the same idea behind the ABO's Quarterly Questions program framework: "When a certifying board has reason to believe that certificate ho

Apr 3, 2019
12 min

Recognizing ABO Volunteers During National Volunteer Month

Volunteers make the work of the American Board of Ophthalmology possible. The extraordinary contributions of nearly 600 examiners and examination development volunteers enable the ABO to deliver high-quality assessments and professional development activities to thousands of ophthalmologists each year. Volunteers for the American Board of Ophthalmology are diplomates selected to examine at the oral examination, develop items for written and oral examinations, and serve as spe

Apr 3, 2019
3 min

Ask a Test Scientist: What's the lifecycle of a Quarterly Question?

To assemble a single year of the Quarterly Questions assessment program, it takes at least 530 test questions—enough to cover every subspecialty in ophthalmology from cataract to uveitis—along with additional questions based on more than 40 articles. So where does all of this content come from? And how does it make its way on to your screen as part of the assessment? This post explains the process of writing a Quarterly Questions item and how that moves through the process of

Mar 21, 2019
2 min

Remembering Dr. John T. Flynn, Emeritus Director

The American Board of Ophthalmology extends its deepest condolences to the family of renown pediatric ophthalmologist and educator John T. Flynn, MD, who passed away March 18 at the age of 88. Dr. Flynn served as a Director of the ABO from 1987 to 1995 and was a dedicated Oral Examiner for the Board. Even after his ABO service concluded, Dr. Flynn's training videos on how to deliver the Oral Examination continued to offer guidance to nearly two decades of ABO volunteers and a

Feb 8, 2019
1 min

ABO Director Dr. Debra J. Shetlar Named President-Elect of AAOOP

The American Board of Ophthalmology congratulates Director Debra J. Shetlar, MD, who was recently voted president-elect of the American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists (AAOOP). She will remain president-elect of the society for two years before serving as president for two years. Dr. Shetlar is an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She is also a staff physician at the Michael E.

Feb 7, 2019
3 min

American Board of Ophthalmology Adds Drs. Keith A. Warren and Martha M. Wright to its 2020 Board of

The American Board of Ophthalmology is pleased to announce that board-certified ophthalmologists Keith A. Warren, MD, of Kansas, and Martha M. Wright, MD, of Minnesota, will join the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2020. As part of a new on-boarding process for incoming ABO directors, both Drs. Warren and Wright will attend ABO meetings throughout 2019 as non-voting members. Keith A. Warren, MD Dr. Warren serves as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University

Feb 6, 2019
3 min

Get More for Your Quarterly Questions Participation: Earn Patient Safety and Improvement in Medical

In 2019, the American Board of Ophthalmology introduced two new incentives for Quarterly Questions participation which offer you the opportunity to claim additional credit for meeting Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements in Patient Safety (Part II) and Improvement in Medical Practice (Part IV). Completion of the Quarterly Questions program already satisfies MOC Part III. Here’s how the incentive works: Step 1: Participate in the 2019 Quarterly Questions Program N

Dec 30, 2018
1 min

The Difference Between Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians

With the help of American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate Stephanie Marioneaux, MD, of Chesapeake, VA, U.S. News & World Report recently posted an article designed to help educate patients on the differences between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. Dr. Marioneaux noted that in addition to extensive and rigorous medical education and ophthalmic training, ophthalmologists become board-certified: By the time an ophthalmologist has completed training, Marioneaux sa

Dec 5, 2018
2 min

Drs. Sheth, Kline Named to 2019 American Board of Ophthalmology Leadership Posts

The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) announced the appointment of directors Bhavna P. Sheth, MD, MBA, as chair, and Lanning B. Kline, MD, as vice chair, beginning January 1, 2019. Dr. Sheth is a tenured professor of ophthalmology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), chief of comprehensive ophthalmology at the Eye Institute, and chief of ophthalmology at Zablocki VA Medical Center, all located in Milwaukee. In 2019, she will begin the eighth and final year of her te

Nov 29, 2018
2 min

New CME Menu Launching in 2019 Will Expand MOC Activity Options for ABO-Certified Ophthalmologists

The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) will partner with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) in 2019 to expand opportunities for ABO-Certified ophthalmologists to earn Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit for participating in continuing medical education (CME) activities that meet ABO standards. The new collaboration is designed to increase the number and diversity of accredited CME activities that meet the requirements for ABO MOC and

Nov 28, 2018
2 min

DOCK Examination Deadline Extended through December 31, 2018

The American Board of Ophthalmology has extended the deadline to complete the Demonstration of Ophthalmic Cognitive (DOCK) Examination for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) through December 31, 2018. If you plan to take the DOCK, you must register on your MOC Status Page, schedule your appointment, and complete the online proctored examination no later than December 31. Upon registration, you may immediately schedule your preferred testing appointment through your ABO MOC St