Find Your Specialty 813-433-2277

Physician Leaders Are Valued

Physician Leaders ABAMIn recent years, leading healthcare organizations have begun to encourage physicians to pursue leadership positions, and in fact, many of the most prominent hospitals in America are currently run by physicians. Indeed, the business of healthcare has never been more complex than it is today, and there is a clear benefit to having physician leaders who are not only experts in patient care but also the business side of medicine. It is for this reason that the American Board of Physician Specialties® developed the American Board of Administrative Medicine, the country’s first Member Board dedicated to providing board certification in this emerging specialty. One of the first Diplomates of ABAM, Richard Paula, CMIO at Shriners Hospital for Children, explained that ABAM “recognizes the efforts of physician executives who endeavor to impact patient care from an operational perspective.”

In an article in the Harvard Business Review, the authors explored what makes physicians adept at leading healthcare organizations as well as some of the inherent challenges that must be overcome to be a decisive, competent leader. As it turns out, one of the best things that physicians in leadership positions have is credibility among their staff. They know what it takes to deliver patient care, manage heavy workloads, hire qualified staff, and walk the walk, so to speak. In fact, the article concludes that “having spent their careers looking through a patient-focused lens, physicians moving into executive positions might be expected to bring a patient-focused strategy.” This respect from subordinates for managers with specialty experience is not unique to the medical field – people want to work for people who are perceived to be experts in the domain specialty – but it is acutely shown in many healthcare environments.

Yet, not all physicians are inherently equipped to lead. As the Harvard Business Review notes, “physician-leaders appear to be the most effective leaders precisely because they are physicians,” and yet, “physicians have traditionally been trained in ‘command and control’ environments as ‘heroic lone healers’ who are collaboratively challenged.” The solution, it seems, is to provide physicians with enthusiasm for leadership the training and skillset required to effectively manage, and in recent years, many healthcare organizations and medical schools have invested training programs for future physician leaders.

The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) recognized the growing importance of physicians with joint medical and business backgrounds and developed ABAM to provide standardized board certification to leading physician candidates. If you are interested in learning more about ABAM or pursuing board certification in Administrative Medicine, contact the ABPS today.

Save the Date
House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
June 10-15, 2022
Plan Your Visit. Meeting Information
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
Meet Our Staff Read All Reviews
Boards
Careers
Login
Contact