Diplomate Digest - The American Board of Ophthalmology Blog

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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

Nov 1, 2018
5 min

Congratulations and Welcome to Our Newest Diplomates (Fall 2018)

The American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate community officially grew 284 members stronger today. Please join us in congratulating the following newly board-certified ophthalmologists on their professional achievement in having recently passed both the Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) and Oral Examination. -A- Frances Acosta, M.D., Tampa, FL Matthew Adams, M.D., Rochester, MN Mariam Ahmad, M.D., Denver, CO Shazia Ali, M.D., Manvel, TX Joseph Alsberge, M.D., San Francisc

Oct 9, 2018
2 min

ABMS Releases Certification Report

More than 880,000 physicians in the United States are board certified; California, New York, and Texas are the states with the largest number of active physician certificates; and Neurological Care is the newest approved subspecialty certification. These are just a sampling of facts and statistics found in the latest ABMS Board Certification Report released by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). (The American Board of Ophthalmology is one of 24 Member Boards of

Aug 30, 2018
2 min

Phoenix Ophthalmologists Help Guide Oral Examination Improvements

On Tuesday, August 21, American Board of Ophthalmology Chief Executive Officer George B. Bartley, MD, met with diplomates and future Oral Examination candidates in Phoenix, Arizona to discuss ways to improve the Oral Examination for initial certification. Participants toured several potential suite-based examination room layouts and offered their thoughts on ways the ABO could enhance the examination experience. From furniture configurations to table size and room lighting, a

Jul 26, 2018
2 min

How the ABO Reports Your Certification Status

A recent American Academy of Ophthalmology Advisory Recommendation requested that the American Board of Ophthalmology modify its public reporting to include the dates of initial ABO certification in addition to whether a diplomate is participating in Maintenance of Certification. Actually, the ABO has been reporting such information for several years with the goal of helping patients make informed decisions when choosing a doctor. Reporting Certification Status: How it Works

Jul 9, 2018
6 min

Congratulations and Welcome to Our Newest Diplomates

The American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate community officially grew 287 members stronger today. Please join us in congratulating the following newly board-certified ophthalmologists on their professional achievement in having recently passed both the Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) and Oral Examination. -A- Salwa Abdel-Aziz, M.D., Tucson, AZ Lilit Ablabutyan, M.D., Glendale, CA Ashley Abraham, M.D., Plano, TX Usiwoma Abugo, M.D., Abingdon, MD Negin Agange, M.D., San

Jul 5, 2018
4 min

Nine Trailblazers Who Championed Ophthalmology’s Independence in Medicine

The founding Directors of the American Board of Ophthalmology included some of the most prominent ophthalmologists of the day. Directors, who believed in setting high standards for the protection of the profession and the public, represented each of the three founding organizations: the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, the American Ophthalmological Society, and the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association. The nine original directors o

Jun 29, 2018
1 min

Study: Physicians Who Participate in MOC Are Less Likely to Face Disciplinary Action

Physicians who pass the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examination given by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) within 10 years of becoming Board Certified are more than two times less likely to face state medical board disciplinary actions than those who do not pass the exam, according to a recent study published online by the Journal of General Internal Medicine. ABIM researchers studied MOC exam results and any reported disciplinary actions for nearly 48,000

Apr 30, 2018
8 min

Thank You to All Our Volunteers

National Volunteer Month is a perfect time to spotlight the hard work of board-certified ophthalmologists around the country who advance excellence in ophthalmology by giving generously of their time and expertise. Each year, hundreds of busy clinicians write and review questions and content for ABO examinations and Quarterly Questions, set rigorous standards for achievement in ophthalmology, and enable the successful administration of oral examinations. Here are the members

Apr 29, 2018
1 min

The Science of Testing: Why AIG is No Substitute for SMEs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the hottest topics in technology today. (Just ask Siri or Alexa.) But what if we could ask these virtual assistants to order our groceries, tell us the weather, and write examination content? It sounds a bit farfetched, but Automatic Item Generation (AIG), a major innovation in the science of test development, could change the way assessment organizations like certification boards develop multiple-choice questions. Multiple-choice questi

Apr 28, 2018
1 min

Clinician Well-Being Resources

As a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties community, ABO diplomates can access a new selection of physician well-being resources through the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). The Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub provides clinicians and health system leaders with valuable resources to combat clinician burnout in their professional and personal lives. According to research, burnout is nearly twice as prevalent among physicians as compared to US workers

Apr 27, 2018
2 min

Retiring? Changing Careers? There’s a Certification Status for That

If you’re considering retirement or your daily responsibilities have shifted away from direct patient care, there’s no reason to give up your hard-earned American Board of Ophthalmology certification. Consider the following options: No Longer Practicing Clinical Ophthalmology Diplomates employed in research, administration, or academia, who no longer engage in direct ophthalmic patient care, may designate themselves as Clinically Inactive. The Clinically Inactive Status optio

Jan 31, 2018
2 min

Choosing the Right Practice Improvement Activity for You

Practice improvement activities encourage continuous improvement of patient care. Working through the steps of an improvement activity, you will learn how to measure your practice performance, use data to identify opportunities for improvement, and implement interventions that improve your care processes or patient outcomes. The ABO encourages you to create an improvement activity relevant to your practice type and environment. If you enjoy working with data, you might wish t