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

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

Sep 5, 2019
2 min

Journal Highlights its Participation in Quarterly Questions

Survey of Ophthalmology has updated its website to promote its participation in the article-based component of the American Board of Ophthalmology’s Quarterly Questions program. The journal’s contribution to this year’s Quarterly Questions’ activity, “Clinical Decision-Making Heuristics and Cognitive Biases for the Ophthalmologist,” may be accessed here as one of the ABO’s core article options. The full list of article offerings from Quarterly Questions’ inception in 2017 thr

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

Feb 21, 2019
1 min

ABIM Foundation Issues Trust Practice Challenge

Is there something you do in your institution or practice setting that builds trust between you and your patients, your physician peers, or other patient care collaborators? If so, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation wants to hear from you. The ABIM Foundation is looking to close the health care “trust gap” and promote medical professionalism by identifying practices that foster transparency, trust, and trustworthiness, such as: disclosure of medical err

Nov 20, 2018
2 min

ABO Diplomate Dr. Joel Schuman Named to ABMS Stakeholder Council

Joel Schuman, MD, a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, has been named to the newly formed Stakeholder Council of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABMS is the umbrella organization for the 24 medical specialty certification boards in the United States. As an advisory body, the ABMS Stakeholder Council will represent the interests of physicians, patients, and the public. It was established in 2018 to ensure that the decisions of the ABMS Board 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

Aug 5, 2018
1 min

Update from the ABMS Vision Commission

A summary of the testimony shared at the two public meetings of the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission (Commission) has been released and posted on the Vision Initiative website this month. The summaries capture the commentary shared by a range of stakeholders regarding their perspectives and experiences with continuing certification as well as exploration of opportunities for the program in the future. Presenters represented a broad cross sec

Aug 4, 2018
2 min

Thank You, 2018 Exam Development Volunteers

The American Board of Ophthalmology thanks the following groups of diplomate-volunteers who contributed their knowledge and ophthalmic expertise to the 2018 Exam Development Meeting in Philadelphia from August 2-4. Cataract Geoffrey Emerick, M.D. Robert Fish, M.D. Gregory Katz, M.D. Yousuf Khalifa, M.D. Amy Lin, M.D. Leslie Olsakovsky, M.D. Bhavna Sheth, M.D. Sonal Tuli, M.D. Brian Welcome, M.D. Comprehensive Jane Bailey, M.D. Sean Breit, M.D. John Campagna, M.D. Francesca Gi

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 23, 2018
1 min

Ophthalmology Influencers Come Together at ASOPRS 2018 Spring Symposium

American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) subspecialty liaison Jeremiah Tao, M.D., recently organized a panel of speakers at the ASOPRS 2018 Spring Symposium in Austin, TX, which included ABO CEO George Bartley, M.D., and ABO Public Director Scott Wallace, J.D., MBA. In a session entitled, “You Know You’re Great…But How Will Your Patients Know,” Dr. Bartley discussed how ABO certification serves as an objective source of public information and a reliable, verifiable credential of

Jun 1, 2018
2 min

Two Facts About ABO Standards That May (Pleasantly) Surprise You

In early May, 18 board-certified ophthalmologists met with American Board of Ophthalmology Psychometrician Sarah D. Schnabel, Ph.D., to set standards for the Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) for initial certification. Here are the two most important things they wanted you to know about ABO standards: 1) It’s always possible for all examinees to pass an ABO examination. Though it’s not likely that every examinee will pass on his or her first try, it’s important to understa

May 31, 2018
1 min

Thank You, Florida Diplomates

In early May, diplomates in Orlando and Tampa, Florida joined representatives from the ABO to discuss opportunities for the future of the Quarterly Questions program. The ABO thanks our colleagues for their willingness to tell us what’s working—and what still needs work—in our newest assessment program and the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program overall: Jonathan Adler, M.D. Jasmina Bajric, M.D. Lisa Chriss, M.D. Matthew Cunningham, M.D. Payman Haft, M.D Robert Howard,

Mar 29, 2018
1 min

Ideas Wanted: A Fresh, Fun Future for Quarterly Questions

Last year, in partnership with our diplomate community and societies in ophthalmology, we created a new assessment and learning tool for board-certified ophthalmologists that’s helping to transform the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) experience. The Quarterly Questions program not only proved successful in measuring everyday ophthalmic knowledge, it’s helped more than 2,000 diplomates learn something new. So, what’s next? How do we take a positive experience (99% of partic

Jan 4, 2018
1 min

ABO Participates in ACGME Review Committee for Ophthalmology

Members of American Board of Ophthalmology leadership participated in the ACGME Review Committee for Ophthalmology held January 4-5, 2018. ACGME Review Committees meet twice annually to conduct accreditation review and discuss other matters pertaining to education in the specialty. Pictured from left to right: Kathleen Quinn-Leering, Ph.D., ACGME Executive Director for Ophthalmology Review Committee (RC) Jenny Campbell, M.A., Associate Executive Director for Ophthalmology RC

Jan 3, 2018
1 min

New SACME Option: 2018 American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting

The American Board of Ophthalmology will recognize attendance at the 2018 American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting for up to 8 credits of Self-Assessment CME. The Annual Meeting will be held March 1-4, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, New York, NY. What is Self-Assessment CME? Self-Assessment CME, known as "SACME," promotes active learning. Activities that qualify for self-assessment involve question and answer exercises designed to evaluate the participant's unders

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
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
1 min

Talk About the Future of Certification With Us in New Orleans

UPDATE: Couldn't join us for the discussion? Download the slide presentation. Join American Board of Ophthalmology Directors at the 2017 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting in New Orleans for an informational session in the Learning Lounge. "Beyond MOC: The Future of ABO Certification" will be held Monday, November 13th from 3:30-4:30 PM in Learning Lounge 1, Hall G, Booth 3847. The discussion will be led by ABO Directors Jane Bailey, M.D., Andy Lauer, M.D.