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ABPS Diplomates are Committed to Medical Ethics

Medical EthicsAt the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), we make a concerted effort to ensure that our Diplomates represent some of the most educated, experienced, and ethical physicians currently practicing medicine. This is why, in 2005, the American Association of Physician Specialists®, began requiring that all physicians interested in recertifying with an ABPS Member Board must complete Medical Ethics training every eight years.

To make this process as engaging and beneficial to our Diplomates as possible, we began offering our AAPS Medical Ethics Course, which is taught by Mark Pastin, Ph.D. Pastin is president and CEO of the Health Ethics Trust, a division of the Council of Ethical Organizations. This class is unique in that it not only provides an understanding of the theoretical and historical foundations of medical ethics but also focuses on practical, complex ethical issues that physicians are frequently faced with in contemporary medical practice. The advantage of this approach is that participants are given the opportunity to review real life case studies, with a Harvard-educated ethics specialist, that are based on common situations, making them relatable to physicians who are taking the course.

As Dr. Pastin explains, “The greatest benefit of the course to physicians is the shared experience with other physicians when confronting the complex ethical issues of contemporary medical practice.” Rather than focusing on fictionalized scenarios, which can often be difficult to relate to and largely impractical, participants have the opportunity to review situations they’re most likely to face in practice. By reviewing these ethical quandaries as a group, physicians are encouraged to share best practices, brainstorm solutions, and gain insights into the ethical decisions that their peers make every day. The course also focuses on applying ethical decision-making tools to actual circumstances, training physicians on understanding the appropriate roles of medical ethics/bioethics committees, and explaining methods for guiding public discussion on medical ethics issues.

The AAPS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Medical Ethics Course described above accounts for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. To learn more about this program, contact the ABPS today. Each year, the AAPS Medical Ethics Course is held at the AAPS Annual Scientific Meeting. For details about the next meeting, click here

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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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