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Why Should Patients Choose a Board Certified Integrative Medicine Physician?

Integrative Medicine ABPSThere are many reasons why patients should consider choosing a board certified integrative medicine physician when they are looking for a specialist in their area. Integrative medicine is a specialty that combines traditional modern medicine with a variety of complementary and alternative techniques in order to provide the patient the best possible, most comprehensive care. Board certification is a trusted indicator to the public that the physician has successfully demonstrated his or her mastery of the core concepts and competencies that define integrative medicine. Moreover, in order to maintain board certification, the physician must be committed to staying up to date on their specialty, growing as a physician through continued training. This provides peace of mind that when you elect to visit a board certified physician, you are working with a professional who is highly trained, experienced, and competent.

At the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we formed the American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM) because we have seen how quickly integrative medicine has grown in North America, and we wanted to provide an opportunity for highly qualified physicians to formalize their expertise through rigorous testing. Today, Diplomates of the ABOIM are among the most sought after physicians in their field because they are able to clearly show colleagues, prospective employers, and patients that they are specialists in providing health-enhancing treatments that combine modern medicine with effective complementary and alternative techniques.

In order to earn board certification in integrative medicine, a physician must complete extensive training and be able to clearly demonstrate their expertise by completing our application process and completing a standardized examination that tests knowledge of the core concepts of integrative medicine. Specifically, board certified physicians need to:

  • Complete an approved residency program
  • Hold or have previously held board certification granted by the ABPS, ABMS, or AOA
  • Be licensed to practice medicine
  • Complete an ABOIM-approved fellowship, or graduated from an approved program that provides instruction in complementary or alternative medicine
  • Successfully meet other eligibility requirements outlined here

Patients have many choices when it comes to choosing a physician, and understandably it can be difficult to know who to trust to handle something as important as healthcare, which is why it can be so helpful to start by looking at board certified physicians. You’ll know before your initial consultation that this specialist is truly a master of integrative medicine and has successfully proven his or her expertise before a nationally recognized multi-specialty physician certifying organization.

You’re also welcome to visit our online certification confirmation tool to verify the board certification of any ABPS physician. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc®.

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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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