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Leadership Opportunities for Physician Board Certification

Leadership OpportunitiesAs the medical profession continues to change at an incredible pace from year to year, the physicians who assume leadership roles will be those who not only grasp the significance of changes as they occur, but also take an active hand in shaping the profession going forward. Physicians who demonstrate through board certification that they have mastered the core competencies within their chosen specialties also have proven that their voices matter when it comes to shaping the future of the medical profession.

ABPS-Certified Physicians as Healthcare Leaders

The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) provides physicians a platform for achieving board certification in 21 distinct specialties. Our Diplomates are leaders in their chosen specialties, taking on roles such as aligning their organization’s missions and operations with those of the medical staff, managing resources, overseeing operations, making purchasing decisions, and managing the financial concerns of an organization. Why would physicians wish to take on these kinds of leadership roles? Because as the landscape of healthcare shifts, it is more vital than ever that providing the best quality care remains the priority and does not suffer because of the realities of the business of medicine. Who better than physicians to protect the integrity of medical care in the 21st century? And, among physicians, who better than those who have demonstrated their skill, knowledge and commitment to quality care? In other words, perhaps more than ever, leadership has become the purview of those who have achieved physician board certification.

Leadership Skills & ABPS Certification

Whether to lead the medical profession into the 21st century is a choice every physician will inevitably face. Not everyone possesses the will or the desire to shoulder the responsibilities and risks associated with leadership. Neither is leadership limited to those in managerial roles at hospitals and clinics. Leadership is about motivating others to understand and implement a vision of how things should be. It is about understanding the nature and source of change, and taking an active hand in shaping what is to come. It is about the ability to collaborate and build consensus, and to find a way to get things done. Not coincidentally, these qualities are found in abundance among the Diplomates of the ABPS.

Benefits of Certification Through an ABPS Member Board

Board certification with the ABPS provides more than a title—it offers credibility, peer recognition, and increased marketability to employers. It strengthens a physician’s resume, opens doors to teaching and leadership opportunities, and demonstrates a commitment to continual learning and ethical medical practice. Physicians certified through the ABPS join a community of like-minded professionals focused on advancing patient care and system-wide improvement.

Eligibility Requirements for ABPS Certification

The ABPS believes that board certification should be earned only by physicians who demonstrate exceptional expertise in their specialty. To uphold this standard, we have established rigorous eligibility requirements. While specific criteria vary by specialty, all ABPS Member Boards require the following:

  • Adherence to the ABPS Code of Ethics, a reputation for professional integrity, and active clinical practice in the specialty for which certification is sought
  • Graduation from a recognized allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the U.S., Canada, or internationally (international graduates must also hold a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates [ECFMG] certificate)
  • Possession of a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada

These shared requirements ensure that every ABPS-certified physician meets the high standards expected by peers, patients, and the broader medical community.

To learn more, including details about specialty-specific eligibility or the value of ABPS certification, 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.

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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