#professionalism

Feb 22, 2019
2 min

Keeping the Public Informed

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 “

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

Dec 31, 2018
7 min

Get to Know the 2019 American Board of Ophthalmology Maintenance of Certification Program

Excellence begins at board certification, but it doesn’t end there. For physicians, what it means to be excellent advances with every new discovery and technological breakthrough. To offer patients the highest levels of care in ophthalmology, board-certified ophthalmologists adapt and improve on a lifelong continuum. So, too, does the program for Maintenance of Certification (MOC). What started as a regimented sequence of activities and assessments in the 1990s has evolved in

Dec 5, 2018
5 min

11 Ways To Get Involved With the ABO

The impetus for board certification in American medicine did not come from the federal government or even public watchdogs. It arose more than a century ago from practicing physicians like you who wanted to address concerns about the qualifications and training of individuals claiming to be specialists in ophthalmology. In the early 1900s, leaders of our profession came together and established a framework for board certification in a medical specialty that would go on to set

Nov 8, 2018
3 min

2019 American Board of Ophthalmology Maintenance of Certification Program Preview

If you attended the American Board of Ophthalmology’s Learning Lounge at AAO 2018 last month, you were among the first to hear about the improvements coming to the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program in 2019. In response to the feedback of the diplomate community in ophthalmology, and thanks to the hard work of your peer content writers and reviewers, the ABO looks forward to the January release of a 2019 recertification program that enhances the diplomate experience,

Nov 8, 2018
5 min

Get to Know the Quarterly Questions Program

The American Board of Ophthalmology’s new Quarterly Questions program brings the future of assessment in clinical knowledge to today’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Both a learning activity and an assessment tool, the Quarterly Questions program is available online, on-demand and may be completed at your own pace. The program invites you to answer questions in increments throughout the 10-year cycle in order to measure practice-related knowledge in a longitudina

Nov 7, 2018
8 min

2018 American Board of Ophthalmology Volunteer Honor Roll

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

Oct 10, 2018
2 min

Dr. Martha Wright Receives American Board of Ophthalmology's Goldfeller Volunteer Service Award

On October 5, 2018, the American Board of Ophthalmology recognized the extraordinary dedication of diplomate Martha M. Wright, MD, of Minneapolis, who has served as an Examiner at 20 Oral Examinations. For her long record of service, she was presented with the ABO’s Goldfeller Award. Dr. Wright became an Examiner for the first time in 2001 and has participated in exam development every year since 2013. (Dr. Wright is pictured with ABO Chair Dale Heuer, MD.) Dr. Wright is a pr

Aug 20, 2018
2 min

Patient Safety: Do You Have a Story to Tell?

American Board of Ophthalmology Emeritus Director Philip L. Custer, M.D., recently worked with colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to co-author a piece for July's EyeNet about a memorable patient safety encounter. Edited by ABO Director Jane Bailey, M.D., Dr. Custer’s article tells the story of a patient who underwent wrong fluorescein angiogram. Dr. Custer reviewed the series of events that led to the error and discussed the practice’s respons

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

Aug 1, 2018
1 min

Observer Calls Oral Examination a "Model of Professionalism"

Ophthalmology Times recently published a guest editorial by James Lifton, MBA, a public member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Board of Trustees who observed the American Board of Ophthalmology's June Oral Examination. In the editorial, which summarized his experience at the examination and his perceptions of the process, Lifton wrote that the Oral Examination, "offers a model of professionalism to ophthalmologists, most just beginning their careers...[p]h

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

Jun 28, 2018
1 min

ABO Diplomate Joan Miller, M.D., Receives 2018 Lucien Howe Medal from AOS

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

May 3, 2018
1 min

Congratulations to ABO Diplomate Thomas Samuelson, M.D., New ASCRS President

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

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

Jan 19, 2018
2 min

How to Maintain Certification in 2018

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) encourages board-certified ophthalmologists to advance their excellence in knowledge, skills, and practice. Activities adhere to a structured, four-part framework developed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): 1) Professionalism & Professional Standing; 2) Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment; 3) Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, & Skills, and 4) Improvement in Medical Practice. For ophthalmologists, this means completing the

Jan 8, 2018
1 min

Report: Docs Spend More Time With Computers Than Patients

In a recent post for Forbes, author, physician, and behavioral scientist Peter Ubel writes about something that may be coming between you and your patients—your computer. He cites two studies that analyzed physician time. Both found results you may already expect—that doctors spend as much as half their working hours using EHRs and less than half their time on direct patient care. “Good medical care depends upon creating work environments that motivate clinicians to spend tim

Dec 19, 2017
1 min

Board Certified Ophthalmologist Writes About Compassion for Patients in End of Life Care

In case you missed it, University of Michigan ophthalmologist and American Board of Ophthalmology diplomate Julie Rosenthal, M.D., authored a piece for National Public Radio (NPR) this month chronicling her recent decision to honor the wishes of a hospice patient with terminal cancer to perform cataract surgery. Her decision to proceed with the operation, despite the patient’s overall prognosis, sparked debate amongst her colleagues: “Our anesthesiologist and others on the op

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

Oct 4, 2017
4 min

Message from the CEO: It’s About You

“ABO diplomates are professionals and colleagues, and we honor them accordingly.” For me, this is the most personal and, arguably, the most important of the ABO’s guiding principles. In the nine months since I assumed the role as CEO of the ABO, I have been impressed by the breadth and depth of our diplomates’ perspectives about board certification. At one end of spectrum, there is a dedicated core of volunteers who ardently believe in our mission and support it with their ti