"ABR Exam of the Future: Update from APDR/APCR Meeting," March 2010, by Dr. Duane Mezwa
OUR MISSION
The mission of The American Board of Radiology is to serve patients, the public, and the medical profession by certifying that its diplomates have acquired, demonstrated, and maintained a requisite standard of knowledge, skill, and understanding essential to the practice of diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, and radiologic physics.
The ABR and ABMS
The ABR is one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the boards work together to establish common standards for physicians to achieve and maintain board certification. The boards were founded by their respective specialties to protect the public by assessing and certifying doctors who meet specific educational, training and professional requirements. The ABR is an independent, not-for-profit organization. For more information about ABMS, visit www.abms.org.
ABMS and the specialty boards are accountable both to the public and to the medical profession through:
- Helping patients
by providing information about the board certification process and which doctors are board certified. - Supporting physicians
by creating programs that assist doctors in staying current in their field and improving their practice. - Collaborating with healthcare leaders
to foster initiatives for the promotion and monitoring of healthcare quality. - Transforming healthcare
by increasing awareness of the importance of board certification and lifelong learning in assuring quality care.
ABR History
Background
As early as 1910, the medical profession knew there should be a standard of minimum requirements for the practice of any specialty to protect the public, the profession in general, and the specialists themselves. Before 1932 some states had attempted to prescribe such requirements by law; however, there was no model for them to follow, and the concern was that each state would pass different statutes, making uniformity from state to state impossible. The practical solution was for each specialty to put its own house in order and place its mark of approval on those qualified to practice in that field. Accordingly, five nationwide radiologic organizations appointed committees to investigate the feasibility of establishing a central qualifying board. |
The ABR was incorporated in January 1934 in Washington, DC. |
The ABR is organized
The result was the American Board of Radiology (ABR). The ABR was incorporated in January 1934 in Washington, D.C.
At that time bylaws were adopted and resolutions were established to ensure the ABR's proper function. Representatives of the five sponsoring organizations then set to work to:
- improve graduate medical education in radiology,
- elevate the standard of training,
- and formulate means by which to evaluate the competence of those wishing to be recognized as specialists in the field.
Growth and changes
New sponsors came on board. Now eight organizations are represented on the Board of Trustees by three persons nominated from each of those organizations and elected by the ABR trustees. As the field of radiology has developed, various certificates have been added and deleted to accommodate the technology. (see list of discontinued certificates) The ABR has issued more than 65,000 certificates since its inception in 1934. |
The ABR has issued more than 65,000 certificates since 1934. |
In addition to the ABMS, the ABR maintains an open working relationship with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and the Residency Review Committees for Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology. The Board enjoys active interaction with sponsoring organizations, other medical specialty boards, specialty societies, medical societies, residency program directors, chairmen of hospital departments, diplomates of this board, and the entire radiologic community.
