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Why Qualified Integrative Medicine Physicians Should Seek Board Certification

Integrative Medicine Weil

The reason physicians who practice integrative medicine should seek physician board certification is to demonstrate that he or she has achieved a mastery of the core competencies required to provide patients the best care possible. The American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM), a specialty board affiliated with the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), was formed to administer exams that are developed using the most rigorous standards for measuring medical knowledge, experience level, and skill set for physicians who practice this growing specialty.

Integrative Medicine Founder Supports the ABOIM’s Mission

The ABOIM is fully endorsed by the founder of integrative medicine, Andrew Weil, MD, who applauds the formation of the board as an important step in the ongoing development of the specialty.

“As a founder of the field of Integrative Medicine, I strongly support the American Board of Integrative Medicine,” Weil said. “The formation of ABOIM marks an important milestone in the development of the field. Finally there’s a way for qualified physicians to present themselves as experts in offering competent integrative care to patients.”

Benefits of Integrative Medicine Certification

In addition to providing a platform for demonstrating competency, physician board certification with the ABOIM and the ABPS is beneficial to Diplomates in many other respects. Board certification is often a key factor in career growth, and it frequently is one of the first things a potential employer will investigate about an applicant. In addition, integrative medicine board certification gives qualified physicians access to:

  • Unlimited board certification attestation for active ABPS Diplomates
  • Opportunities to participate in Member Board development and governance
  • Emeritus certification for retired Diplomates
  • Use of the ABOIM certification mark
  • Opportunities for dual-boarded certification and recertification
  • Career networking opportunities

Eligibility for Initial Board Certification in Integrative Medicine

To qualify for initial board certification in integrative medicine, candidates must first meet the general requirements set by the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). These prerequisites include graduating from an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the U.S., Canada, or internationally, and holding a valid and unrestricted medical license in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

The American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) has additional specific requirements:

  • Completion of a residency accredited by ACGME, AOA, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
  • Current or previous board certification by a Member Board of ABPS, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC.
  • Completion of an ABOIM-approved fellowship in integrative medicine.
  • Submission of an up-to-date curriculum vitae detailing medical school attendance, degrees obtained, and chronological work history.
  • Submission of three letters of recommendation from Diplomates of an ABPS, ABMS, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC board of certification.
  • Completion of a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submission of the resulting report, which can be found here.

Once applicants meet these eligibility criteria, they must pass a computer-based written exam to obtain ABOIM board certification. All ABPS certifications are valid for eight years, expiring on December 31 of the eighth year.

To learn more about physician board certification for qualified integrative medicine practitioners, contact the ABPS today.

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Patient Care Is Our Priority

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

With declining access for maternity care amid rising maternal mortality, ABPS and their Board Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics has been essential for me and many of my colleagues in getting privileges and thereby creating local access for mothers and their children.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
John B. Waits, MD
Family Medicine Obstetrics
Board certification through the American Board of Physician Specialties has served to substantiate my interest and additional training in several fields of medicine including Internal Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Administrative Medicine. As a result, I have been able to serve my community in clinical, disaster response, and administrative medicine roles. Through the ABPS, I have become recognized as a leader in my various fields of interest.

Spencer Price MD, MPH, MBA
Administrative Medicine
In this era, when continuous updated medical knowledge means so much to you, when quality of emergency care matters most to you ,when you need to excel in your medical career to continue providing exceptional service to your critically ill patients, please consider board certification with the Boad of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). Where your knowledge & expertise translates to credentialing & certification with wider approval & recognition every day at many fronts. We Welcome you to join our team for a brighter future of our emergency healthcare where dedication to profession relies not solely on clinical practice but also on sound academic certification.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Ashraf A. Gerges, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
Board certification in Orthopedic Surgery through the American Board of Physician Specialties validated my training and surgical experience through a process that was both rigorous and respectful of real-world practice. ABPS recognizes clinical competence, not just credentials, and that sets it apart.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Orthopedic Surgery
The American Board of Physician Specialties is a forward- thinking organization that focuses on where Medicine is going, not just where it has been. Traditional Certification Boards like Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Dermatology are represented as are Integrative Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Family Medicine-Obstetrics. Physicians appreciate the ability to showcase their skills and knowledge through Board Certification, and this organization allows excellent physicians the ability to bring their skills to patients. The dedication and commitment of this organization and its volunteers will ensure ongoing distinction and commitment for decades to come.

Jeffrey B. Stricker, DO, MBA, FAASD
Jeffrey B. Stricker, DO, MBA, FAASD
Dermatology
Serving as a member on the American board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) for many years and now serving as a Member at Large of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has been an enriching and rewarding experience. The board’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and positive impact is truly inspiring. I am grateful to collaborate with such a dedicated and visionary group, and I am proud of the meaningful progress we continue to achieve together.

Arti Prasad, MD, FACP
Arti Prasad, MD, FACP
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 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
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
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
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