Importance of Integrative Medicine Board Certification
The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) established the American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM) to recognize highly competent, experienced physicians through a standardized board certification process. Today, Diplomates of the ABOIM represent some of the most highly trained and experienced Integrative Medicine specialists in North America, and their patients, peers, and employers recognize their mastery of the core competencies that define this branch of medicine.
The field of Integrative Medicine has evolved dramatically over the last several decades. As Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., explains, this time was necessary to “create competencies so that we could say ‘this is what a well-trained physician in IM should know.’ We now have an academic consortium of medical schools and health science centers – more than 50 of them; this is a reflection of the fact that this field has grown to a place where we really need this kind of recognition and certification.”
Yet, when any medical field grows as rapidly as Integrative Medicine has, it is important to establish processes in order to identify and recognize physicians who have the verifiable expertise and experience in the specialty area. The formation of the ABOIM was a significant step in the growth of Integrative Medicine. According to Randy Horwitz, M.D., this member board “adds credibility to the field in that there’s rigorous testing involved and rigorous standards that are established for physicians and clinicians in the field.” It is because of these rigorous requirements that Board Certified physicians are accepted by the public as leaders in their chosen career path.
Board Certification has been, and will continue to be, a trusted indicator of a physician’s expertise. Considering the rapid growth seen in Integrative Medicine, and the clear demand from the public for Integrative Medicine physicians, the formation of the ABOIM was an essential step toward taking “this emerging field to a new level of recognition and credibility both for the general public and the broader academic setting,” according to Scott Shannon, M.D.
To learn more about becoming board certified through the ABPS and the specific benefits to becoming an ABOIM Diplomate, contact us today. The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®