Diplomate Digest - The American Board of Ophthalmology Blog

You may have seen American Board of Ophthalmology Emeritus Director Daniel M. Albert, MD, in a recent PBS documentary on the life of Joseph Pulitzer, the late 19th century newspaper publisher whose fortune funded the launch of the journalism school at Columbia University as well as the famous prizes for writing that bear his name. Ophthalmic history expert and OHSU professor Dr. Albert, who served as an ABO Director from 1998-2005, provided research and commentary for the pro

This week, American Board of Ophthalmology Emeritus Director Ivan Schwab, MD, FACS, introduced readers of the Wall Street Journal to entoptic phenomena, or what a person sees with closed eyes. From eighth-century Taoist monks who could generate phosphenes while in a hypnagogic state to modern scientific research on what "visual noise" actually is, Dr. Schwab, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, Davis, explained how and why people are able to sense li

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

American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate Mark Rosenblatt, MD, PhD, MBA, has been named Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Dr. Rosenblatt was most recently the Illinois Lions/Charles I. Young Chair, Professor, and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago. As an internationally recognized clinician-scientist and Director of the Corneal Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Dr. Rosenbl

American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate Nikhil Wagle, MD, has been appointed to the Iowa Board of Medicine by Governor Kim Reynolds for a 3-year term beginning May 1, 2019, pending Senate confirmation in April. Dr. Wagle, who is in private practice at Eye Surgeons Associates of Bettendorf, IA, will become one of 10 members of the board, which includes five practicing MDs, two practicing DOs, and three members of the public. Dr. Wagle, who achieved board certification in oph

What is our responsibility, as a profession, to the public when one of our colleagues has done something wrong -- or allegedly has done something wrong? The ABO occasionally hears from our diplomates, and sometimes even from patients, after they learn that an ophthalmologist is under investigation for unethical or unprofessional behavior. These concerned individuals go to the ABO website, are perturbed to see that the diplomate is identified as Certified, and demand that we “

On Wednesday, February 6, the American Board of Ophthalmology released a minor update to its online Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Status Page to display MOC progress in an easier-to-read format. The Status Page was modified to feature a brief Status column, which provides at-a-glance information about whether an MOC activity is complete, in progress, or action on your part is needed. A new Notes column follows up with instructions about how to finish the requirement or a

American Board of Ophthalmology Emeritus Director Keith Baratz, MD, and Examiner Sanjay Patel, MD, of Mayo Clinic, were recently featured by Minneapolis television station KARE for their efforts to study and treat Fuchs' dystrophy, a swelling of the cornea that causes blurry and foggy vision. The news broadcast told the story of two sisters who needed surgery following their Fuchs' diagnosis. Once their procedures were completed and their vision improved, their concern turned

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

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

New Examiners Beardsley, Robert M. - Eugene, OR Birkholz, Emily S. - Mankato, MN Birnbach, Charles D. - Lake Forest Park, WA Bishop, Frank M. - Chula Vista, CA Carolan, James A. - Novato, CA Cavuoto, Kara M. - Miami, FL Chan, Clement K. - Palm Springs, CA Giangiacomo, Annette L. - Decatur, GA Goldstein, Jeffrey B. - Asheville, NC Hegleh, Joseph A. - Sarasota, FL Kim, Brian Y. - Williston, VT Larson, Scott A. - Iowa City, IA Lin, Amy - Salt Lake City, UT Mohadjer, Yasaman - Gu

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

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

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

The American Board of Ophthalmology congratulates diplomate Joan Miller, M.D., who received the 2018 American Ophthalmological Society's (AOS) Lucien Howe Medal for her scientific and service contributions to ophthalmology and medicine. Dr. Miller is the David Glendenning Cogan professor at Harvard Medical School as well as the chair of ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. #professionalachievement #professionalism #diplomate

In the latest edition of Retina Today, Andy Lauer, M.D., who chairs the American Board of Ophthalmology’s (ABO) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Committee, writes about new directions for ophthalmology’s lifelong learning and assessment program. As diplomate George A. Williams, M.D., explains in his introduction to the piece, “American Board of Ophthalmology certification, and likewise MOC, is voluntary, but each offers an opportunity to help you put your best foot forward.

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

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,

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery recently named Thomas W. Samuelson, M.D., of Minnesota, as its new president. A diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Samuelson is the current vice president of ASCRS and the OSN Glaucoma Section Editor. He specializes in the treatment of glaucoma and anterior segment disorders. The ABO extends its congratulations to Dr. Samuelson on this appointment. #professionalachievement #diplomates #professionalism

The American Board of Ophthalmology is pleased to announce that progress is underway on the new ABOP.org. A new website, the ABO’s first redesign since 2011, will help deliver a better experience to you and to patients in search of a board-certified ophthalmologist. Its launch is anticipated in June 2018. Anchored by a modern diplomate portal, the website will be faster, easier to navigate, and bring a range of new developments, including: A new, fully responsive design. Expe