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ABPS Diplomate Helps Patients Shed Pounds

Dr. Musa TangorenDr. Musa Tangoren has helped thousands of people lose weight since he founded The Biggest Winner Program in 2014. The program is a six-month weight loss challenge that aims to empower participants to achieve a healthier, happier life through smarter diet, increased physical activity, and, just as importantly, a boost in self-esteem.

Dr. Tangoren – an anesthesiologist at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono in East Stroudsburg, PA, and an American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) Diplomate in Anesthesiology – began his own journey to a healthier lifestyle when he was a teenager. “I used to play a lot of soccer,” he said. “I liked to play sports a lot, and I was always interested in health and fitness.” But, getting healthy is a complex process, Dr. Tangoren says. It’s about more than just reducing calories and eating more fruits and vegetables; it’s about achieving health in mind and body.

Many people struggling with their weight know they need to exercise and eat healthy but still never get around to actually doing that, much less embarking on any kind of weight-loss regimen. For some, there’s always an obstacle – no time, no equipment – excuses that Dr. Tangoren attributes to a fear of failure. “We need to liberate ourselves,” he told recent Biggest Winner participants. He exhorted them “to take a leap of faith” toward a healthier lifestyle.

The Biggest Winner participants include adult individuals, teams of two, and teens. They are educated about diet and exercise at the start of the program, and are coached and directed throughout. They also receive a daily positive message and motivational and educational lectures every two weeks. In addition, Dr. Tangoren brings in colleagues to speak to Biggest Winner participants. The goal is to broaden the support for participants by expanding their base of knowledge. “They have immediate access to an orthopedic surgeon, a cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, a nephrologist, and a dietician,” Dr. Tangoren says.

As part of the challenge, he takes participants to a gym to teach them how to exercise properly. He encourages them to relax and focus on their workouts in order to gain the most benefits. On average, people lose about 10-15 pounds in the program. One participant got in such good shape, she competed in a beauty pageant. A mother-and-son team shed a combined 140 pounds. The mother said that the most important takeaway from the program was learning to love herself.

Dr. Tangoren admits that it’s emotional to see people succeed in the program, that it reminds him that his life has importance. “Ultimately, we all want to feel like our lives have importance, that our lives matter,” he says.

The ABPS was founded to recognize physicians who have mastered their respective specialties and demonstrate an unwavering dedication to exceptional patient care. As public advocates for practical solutions to health care challenges, our Diplomates generously share their knowledge in order to improve the quality of their patients’ lives. If you would like to learn more the ABPS and the renowned expertise of our Diplomates, contact us today.

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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