ABR to Offer Pilot of Core Exam
The ABR will conduct a pilot of its new computerized, image-rich Core exam in Louisville during the May 2011 oral exam week. The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate various aspects of the reliability and validity of the exam, ensuring that the ABR will present the best, most psychometrically valid exam possible. Read more. | |
Exam Security Policy Update
The ABR's policy is to maintain a sufficient level of exam security to protect the integrity of all of its certification decisions, which are based on examinations. Read more. | |
Focus on Residents The Exam of the Future (EOF)
Everything you always wanted to know about the Core and Certifying exams! Read more.
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Forbes Elected Foundation Chair |
 The American Board of Radiology Foundation (ABRF) announces the election of its new chair, Glenn S. Forbes, MD, whose two-year term of service will begin July 1, 2011. Dr. Forbes will lead the Foundation in fulfilling its mission, which is to demonstrate, enhance, and continuously improve accountability to the public in the use of medical imaging and radiation therapy. He will replace William R. Hendee, PhD, who is completing a two-year term of service. Read more.
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Pilot Focused Practice in Cardiac CT |
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has approved a proposal by the ABR to develop a demonstration pilot program on focused practice recognition in cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT). Read more. |
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Eligibility Reinstatement Pathway to Subspecialty Certification |
For a limited time period, a diplomate of the ABR may regain an opportunity to attain subspecialty certification when more than 10 years have passed since the completion of a fellowship. For further information and requirements, read more. |
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ABR Certification Services Staff |
The ABR's Certification Services (CS) Division is here to serve you! For further information about individual CS staff members and their roles at the ABR, read more. |
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From Creighton University
In Memory of Dr. Adam B. Smith |
 The death of Adam B. Smith, MD, leaves a tremendous hole in the heart of our radiology residency program at Creighton University Medical Center. Our small program of 12 residents misses him immensely. From his humor to his diligence, we are reminded daily of his absence. Read more.
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Volume 4, Issue 1, Spring 2011
 We hope you will enjoy reading this issue of The Beam. If you have questions or suggestions about how we can improve our newsletter to better meet your needs, please send an e-mail to abr@theabr.org. If you'd like to share this newsletter with a friend or colleague, .
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About to Lose Your Certification?
Don't Fall Off the Cliff! | |
by Jennifer L. Bosma, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director
for Administration
 As the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program matures at the ABR and at the 23 other medical specialty boards under the umbrella of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), more attention is being focused on completing cycles successfully. This article provides answers to some of the questions raised about this part of the MOC experience, such as: 1) What does finishing my MOC cycle successfully look like? 2)What if I miss something and don't get it done within my 10 years? and 3) What if I get to the end of that 3-year grace period, and I haven't completed everything? Read more.
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From the Editor
Results of The Beam Survey
by Thomas H. Berquist, MD, ABR Trustee | |
Life has definitely become more complex, with new training requirements in diagnostic radiology, the new examination process, Maintenance of Certification (MOC), and health care reform changes on the horizon. What can this publication do to assist residents and fellows, physicians just entering practice, and all physicians and medical physicists engaged in MOC or holding lifetime certificates?
Our recent readership survey results provided significant insight into what we are doing right and where The Beam needs improvement. Read more. |
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Ask the Director: Why Do I Have to Pay MOC Fees?
by Gary J. Becker, MD, ABR Executive Director
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At the suggestion of several who responded to the ABR survey on The Beam, we are instituting a new feature article called "Ask the Director." For the first installment, I will address a question often received from ABR diplomates regarding the annual fees they pay for the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Typically, diplomates want to know why an annual fee is charged and what the ABR is doing for them in return for their money. Read more.
If you would like to submit a question for the director to answer in future issues of The Beam, please send it to abr@theabr.org. |
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ABR Conditionally Qualified for PQRS Maintenance of Certification Incentive |
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has conditionally
qualified the American Board of Radiology (ABR) for participation in the 2011 PQRS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program Incentive, clearing the way for ABR MOC participants to have access to the additional incentive.
Provided the ABR receives final qualification, physicians who meet specified requirements may have their applicable Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) quality incentive for 2011 increased by 0.5% (i.e., the Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive). The ABR will provide an annual submission of physician MOC participation data directly to CMS to qualify MOC participants already participating in PQRS to receive the additional payment incentive. This is the only pathway by which the PQRS MOC Program Incentive may be obtained. Read more. |
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Nuclear Medicine Update
ABR Training Requirements for I-131 Sodium Iodide Therapy
by Milton J. Guiberteau, ABR Trustee |
 The ABR certification process in diagnostic radiology (DR) has specific requirements related to the education and hands-on experience with Iodine-131 sodium iodide for therapeutic indications. This process is recognized by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) such that ABR diplomates with certificates imprinted with "AU-Eligible" may qualify to become "Authorized Users" for therapeutic administration of I-131 sodium iodide through this NRC board certification pathway. It should be noted that such authorization applies strictly to I-131 sodium iodide and not to other I-131 labeled radiopharmaceuticals. Read more.
More News: Nuclear Radiology 16-Month Pathway Announced
Because of the recent reduction in months of required nuclear medicine rotation from six to four, an opportunity now exists for some residents to supplement their nuclear medicine training in the fourth year of residency to achieve as much as the maximum of 16 months. If obtained in a manner that meets certain criteria, at the end of training a resident may gain qualification to become certified in both diagnostic radiology and nuclear radiology.
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Radiation Oncology Update
Clarification of Brachytherapy Requirements for Initial Certification in Radiation Oncology
by Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology, and Dennis C. Shrieve, MD, PhD, ABR Trustee |
 | | Paul E. Wallner, DO |
 | | Dennis C. Shrieve, MD, PhD |
Program directors and candidates for ABR initial certification have frequently raised questions regarding the appropriate category for logs in brachytherapy cases due to differing terminology employed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as well as the periodic introduction of new radioactive agents and delivery systems that seem not to permit simple categorization. Because of an increasing number of queries, the ABR radiation oncology trustees decided to develop a more up-to-date and formalized policy statement to clarify the issues and reduce confusion. Read more. |
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Medical Physics Update
The ABR Oral Examination in Medical Physics: A Review of the Current Status
by ABR Medical Physics Trustees G. Donald Frey, PhD; Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD; and Richard L. Morin, PhD; and Stephen R. Thomas, PhD, ABR Associate Executive Director for Medical Physics |
 | | From left: Drs. Morin, Ibbott, Frey, and Thomas |
The ABR conducts initial qualifying and final oral examinations to ascertain the qualifications of those who have chosen radiology as their professional career pathway. A board-certified radiologist, radiation oncologist, or medical physicist is one who has demonstrated a requisite standard of knowledge, skill, and understanding essential to the practice of radiology. The examination process in medical physics consists of three parts. Read more.
More News: Radiologic Physics Changes Name to Medical Physics
In concordance with the prevalent and accepted terminology used in the field of medical physics, the ABR is making a nomenclature change from the previous "radiologic physics" to the updated terminology "medical physics." This represents an adjustment in nomenclature only, with no change in any of the processes and requirements previously in place for certification of medical physicists by the ABR. Read more. |
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Dr. Jerry Wiot: An Ever-Faithful Servant of the ABR
by Lee F. Rogers, MD, Former ABR Trustee |
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| | Andrea and Jerry Wiot |
Jerome Wiot was unique. Jerry was admired and respected by all, and he seemed to have been blessed at birth with the "happy" gene. Just the thought of Jerry Wiot would put a smile on the face of most who knew him; you couldn't help but feel better when he was around. It was a delight to be in his presence.
Jerry's enthusiasm was infectious. He greeted everyone with gusto, brightening the mood of those around him. Jerry was everybody's friend. Oh, I suppose there may have been one or two who were not so disposed and who managed to find something about him that annoyed them, but, if so, their displeasure most likely arose from envy and jealousy of Jerry rather than anything he did to them. Read More. |
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Thank you for reading this issue of The Beam. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please email abr@theabr.org.
Sincerely,
Gary J. Becker, MD, Executive Director
American Board of Radiology |
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