The ABPS: Committed to the Advancement of Rural Medicine
All patients deserve to receive the best possible medical treatment from a board certified physician. Unfortunately, rural medicine often is trumped by medical practices in urban and suburban areas, as many physicians make career decisions that lead them to the economically thriving urban centers and not in small towns and rural communities.
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has created the Rural Physician Workforce Initiative as an incentive for rural physicians to demonstrate their mastery in the core body of knowledge of a practice medical specialty. This unique initiative, enables qualified rural physicians to become board certified in a specific specialty, at a professional courtesy rate for a limited time.
Qualifying physicians must submit a completed ABPS board certification application by September 30, 2013. The ABPS certifies qualified allopathic and osteopathic physicians practicing rural medicine in the 17 specialties below:
- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Disaster Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine Obstetrics
- Family Practice
- Geriatric Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Psychiatry
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgery
- Urgent Care
Physicians interested in determining their eligibility for the limited time rural medicine courtesy rate of a 50 percent off ABPS written exam fees through September 30, 2013 should complete the online form. Applicants will receive an email update of their qualification status and further board certification information in the specialty/specialties indicated. The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. Contact the ABPS for more information.
