Blog | ABO Diplomate Digest

Nov 20, 2019
5 min

Congratulations, New Diplomates!

The American Board of Ophthalmology is pleased to welcome the following newly board-certified ophthalmologists to our diplomate community following the Fall 2019 Oral Examination in Rosemont, IL. -A- Walid Abdallah, M.D., Alhambra, CA Osemelu Aburime, M.D., Atlanta, GA Christopher Adam, M.D., Detroit, MI Mona Adeli, M.D., Columbus, OH Esen Akpek, M.D., Baltimore, MD Tomas Aleman, M.D., Croydon, PA Rashed Alhabshan, M.D., McAllen, TX Mouhab Aljajeh, M.D., Newburgh, IN Erica Al

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

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

Dec 4, 2018
1 min

Real-Life Patient Encounters Put Board Questions to the Test

When does a test question become something more? When knowing the answer saves a life. In a recent article for The New York Times Magazine, contributing author Lisa Sanders, MD, shares the story of a young patient experiencing unusual and worsening symptoms while struggling to receive a proper diagnosis. After several visits to her family physician and local emergency care facilities, the patient met Sonali Advani, MD, an infectious disease specialist certified by the America

Nov 21, 2018
1 min

Two New Directors Set to Join the ABO in 2019

The American Board of Ophthalmology will welcome Chris V. Albanis, MD, and Bennie H. Jeng, MD, to the Board of Directors in 2019. Dr. Albanis is a Managing Partner at Arbor Centers for EyeCare, a Clinical Associate at the University of Chicago, and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago, where she practices comprehensive ophthalmology. Dr. Albanis has held numerous leadership posts with the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and

Sep 19, 2018
2 min

ABMS Releases Statement Opposing Increase in Government Regulation of Physicians

The American Board of Medical Specialties, which represents 24 medical specialty certification boards in the United States including the American Board of Ophthalmology, released a statement this week in response to proposed legislation in Maryland that would restrict hospitals and health plans from setting quality standards for physicians using board certification. The statement defends the value of independent, physician-led self-regulation, and champions the advanced knowl

Jul 2, 2018
1 min

New Directors Set to Join the ABO in 2019

At its June meeting, the American Board of Ophthalmology voted to invite Chris V. Albanis, M.D., and Bennie H. Jeng, M.D., to join the Board of Directors in 2019. Dr. Albanis is a Managing Partner at Arbor Centers for EyeCare, a Clinical Associate at the University of Chicago, and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago, where she practices comprehensive ophthalmology. Dr. Albanis has held numerous leadership posts with the Illino

Jul 1, 2018
2 min

The Science of Testing: How Key Validation Ensures Fairness on ABO Examinations

Key validation is a process whereby examination items (questions) are reviewed to ensure they are fair. After the administration of an examination, an item analysis is performed by a psychometrician. This analysis provides information about how many examinees answered each item correctly, which options (A, B, C, or D) were selected most often, and which items positively discriminated higher from lower performers. This analysis doesn’t in and of itself identify an unfair or “f

May 4, 2018
1 min

ABO Updates Board Eligibility Policy

Eligibility for certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology now requires successful completion of all requirements, including achieving a passing score on both the Written Qualifying Examination and the Oral Examination, within five years of residency graduation. Candidates who do not qualify for Board Certification within the timeframe requirements may enter a re-entry process. Successful re-entry does not restore the original eligibility status, but it does allow t

Dec 19, 2017
2 min

Join the Multi-Specialty Vision Commission for the Future of Board Certification

T he Planning Committee for the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future initiative is issuing a Call for Nominations for 21 to 25 individuals to serve on the Vision Commission. Designed to be a collaborative and transparent process, the Commission will bring together multiple stakeholders to assess the current state of continuing Board Certification and envision its framework for the future. The initiative’s Planning Committee will identify the construct and mem

Dec 7, 2017
1 min

VIDEO: ABO CEO Chats with Young Ophthalmologists

At the 2017 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) CEO George B. Bartley, M.D., sat down with Janice C. Law, M.D., to discuss the importance of being certified by the ABO as well as recent changes to the the Maintenance of Certification program. Watch the video below. #abo #abocertification #collaboration #codesign #competencies #certification

Dec 7, 2017
1 min

2018 Board Leadership Announced

Dale K. Heuer, M.D., has been named chair of the American Board of Ophthalmology for 2018. Dr. Heuer has served the ABO as a director for seven years, participating in the Finance, Conflict of Interest, and Oral Examination Committees. He is professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he is also the director of the Eye Institute. Dr. Heuer earned a medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg Sch

Dec 7, 2017
3 min

Thanksgiving, Celebration, and Hope

The year-end holidays remind us to give thanks for the past year, to celebrate all that is good in our lives, and to look forward to the opportunities ahead. As I conclude my first year as Chief Executive Officer of the American Board of Ophthalmology, I am grateful, joyful, and hopeful. First, I wish to share our thanks to you, the members of the ABO diplomate community, for engaging with us to help design and create a better board certification process. We particularly appr

Nov 8, 2017
2 min

5 Ways to Stay On Top of Your Recertification Status

November is a great time to take stock of your recertification progress to-date and begin planning for 2018. Answer “yes” to these 5 questions to ensure that you’re on track to maintain your certification: 1.) Have you logged in to your Status Page at least once in 2017? If you haven’t made time for a quick check-in this year, we encourage you to take a look at your Status Page by logging into the ABO website with your username and password. Your Status Page will show you t

Oct 1, 2017
1 min

ABO Creates Certification Pathway for Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists Practicing in the U.S

The American Board of Ophthalmology is now accepting online applications from qualified internationally trained ophthalmologists who practice in the United States and wish to become board certified. Applicants interested in entering the program in 2017 have until November 1 to apply. Current eligibility requirements for the ABO certification process include completion of residency training in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical education (ACGME)-accredited training

Aug 2, 2017
3 min

Message From the CEO: An Experiment in Cooperative Individualism

In June we looked at the ABO’s commitment to financial transparency and integrity, and last month we examined our goal of making the certification process an aspirational goal. In this column I will comment on our principle: “The ABO is an independent certifying board of practicing ophthalmologists who collaborate whenever possible with professional societies, organizations, and other stakeholders who strive to advance excellence.” A quick word about the first ten words. It s

Jan 6, 2017
1 min

How-To: Getting Started in MOC for 2017

Registration for all 2017 MOC activities is now open. Diplomates can manage and access activities using their Diplomate Status Page on the ABO website. Log into your Status Page today to: View a simple, color-coded grid that is home to all activities and activity progress, and see your status on each activity, along with where you are in your 10-year certificate timeline. Access required MOC activities as well as optional tools such as the Patient Experience of Care Survey an

Dec 22, 2016
22 min

Congratulations, New and Newly Recertified Diplomates!

The American Board of Ophthalmology welcomed the following new diplomates in 2016: Aaker, Grant - Olympia, WA Abdul Aziz, Hassan - Vancouver, BC Adam, Lindsay - Wilmington, NC Addis, Victoria - Philadelphia, PA Aggarwal, Divya - Elk Grove, CA Agrawal, Megha - Plano, TX Agrawal, Shivi - Scottsdale, AZ Ahmad, Habeeb - Westbury, NY Akduman, Levent - St. Louis, MO Akhtar, Jihan - Chicago, IL Alberelli, Tonya - San Mateo, CA Alegret, Armando - Miami, FL Alexander, Jamie - Dallas,

Dec 13, 2016
1 min

100 Years Ago Today: Recognizing America's First Board Certified Doctors

Over two cold December days in Memphis, Tennessee, 10 pioneering physicians assembled at the University of Tennessee Medical School to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and experience in ophthalmology—and set the precedent for excellence in American medicine. The written examination, held on December 13, required candidates to answer a series of questions in embryology, anatomy, pathology, and diseases of the eye. On the second day, candidates participated in an oral clini