Chicago, IL, August 19, 2020 – The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) announced today that it has elected one new member to its Board of Directors and appointed a new Chair of the ABPM’s Sub-Board of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. After considering a number of well-qualified candidates, the Board elected the following individuals.

Mr. George Roberts will become the ABPM’s first Public Member Director.  Mr. Roberts is the CEO of the Northeast Texas Public Health District and brings an extensive background in hospital and public health administration to his new position on the Board. Mr. Roberts received his Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Roberts is looking forward to incorporating his years of experience in public health in his new role on the Board of Directors: “I recognize that physician specialty certification is a complex and important responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of the public. …I’m also hopeful that my background and experience will lend itself to providing the ABPM with a unique and important perspective to physician certification and continuing certification for preventive medicine specialists.”

With the departure of Brett Hart, MD, as the ABPM’s Sub-board Chair for Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, the Board elected Laurie Gesell, MD, FACEP, FUHM. Dr. Gesell is currently the System Director of Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care for Aurora Health Care Medical Group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed a residency in Emergency Medicine as well as a fellowship in Hyperbaric Medicine at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Gesell has been a member of the ABPM’s Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine exam subcommittee since 2016 and has served on the Board of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society since 2003.

Dr. Gesell is passionate about the subspecialty of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine and looks forward to the opportunity to “guide the future success and advancement [of this subspecialty]” as the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Sub-Board Chair.

The terms for Mr. Roberts and Dr. Gesell began at the conclusion of the ABPM’s Interim Board Meeting in August 2020.

The Directors of the ABPM are pleased to announce the election of these new members and welcome them as they join in ABPM’s mission to promote the health and safety of the American people through high standards in certification and maintenance of certification in the profession of preventive medicine.

The ABPM is a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Founded in 1948, ABPM works with the ABMS in the development of standards for the ongoing assessment and certification of over 12,000 physicians certified by the ABPM in the specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine; and in the subspecialties of Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Updated October 11, 2021

On March 26, 2020, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) issued a Statement Regarding Continuing Certification During COVID-19. You can read the entire ABMS Statement here. The ABPM, along with the 23 other ABMS Member Boards, is committed to supporting its Diplomates as they continue to work to combat the COVID-19 virus.

Consistent with the ABMS Statement, the ABPM has waived its Transitional MOC Parts 2 and 4 requirements for all current Diplomates who have registered their accounts on the ABPM’s Physician Portal. For more information, please see the announcement. This waiver extends through December 31, 2022.

In addition to in-person MOC exams when possible, the ABPM will continue to offer MOC exams online to provide flexible and convenient options for our Diplomates. Please check the MOC exam section of the ABPM website for the latest MOC exam schedule.

Lastly, the ABPM continues to support physicians through their certification activities and provide comprehensive services through the online support center. Contact the ABPM via email at [email protected] with any questions related to your individual circumstances.

Chicago, IL, April 10, 2020: In an effort to ease the burden on an already-strained physician workforce and in an effort to support its Diplomate population that is on the front lines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) announced today that it has implemented a structure that will allow for the waiver of the current Transitional MOC requirements for its Diplomates. Effective as of April 1, 2020 and continuing through December 31, 2022, Diplomates who meet the qualifications below will not be required to complete the Transitional MOC Part 2 (CME),  Part 4 (Improvement in Medical Practice) or the Patient Safety Course (PSC) requirements. ABPM will recognize these qualified Diplomates as fully participating in MOC through the remainder of the ABPM’s Transitional MOC Period.

To qualify for this waiver of Part 2, Part 4 and PSC requirements, Diplomates must possess current, unexpired Certification in at least one ABPM Specialty or Subspecialty and must, by December 31, 2020:

Register their Diplomate account on the ABPM’s online Physician Portal at https://certification.abpm-us.org/diplomate-registration

Diplomates with ABPM Certificates expiring between August 1, 2020 and January 31, 2023 and who have; (i) taken and passed the MOC Exam prior to the expiration date on the Diplomate’s Certificate and, (ii) by the December 31, 2020 deadline, have registered their Diplomate account on the ABPM’s Physician Portal, will be deemed to be fully compliant with the Transitional MOC requirements.

Diplomates with ABPM Certificates expiring on or after February 1, 2023 and who have, by the December 31 ,2020 deadline, registered their Diplomate account on the ABPM’s online Physician Portal, need take no further action and shall be deemed to be fully compliant with all Transitional MOC requirements.

While not required, Diplomates who complete a Part 4 activity between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022 will receive credit towards the first Improvement in Medical Practice requirement (or its equivalent) of ABPM’s Continuing Certification Program which is currently scheduled to launch in April of 2023.

“The ABPM appreciates the major contributions of Preventive Medicine physicians battling the spread of COVID-19 and applauds them for their tireless dedication to the public during this challenging time,” said Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH, ABPM Chair. “While it is important for the ABPM to continue to maintain its rigorous standards for the continuing education, development and training of our Diplomates, it is equally important that we take this action and temporarily waive Transitional MOC requirements as a responsible way to recognize the education and training that is occurring organically as our Diplomates fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Diplomates who do not qualify for the waiver by registering their Diplomate account on the ABPM’s Physician Portal by the December 31, 2020 deadline will be required to complete all Transitional MOC requirements as set forth on the ABPM website at https://www.abpm-us.org/maintain-certification/transitional-moc-to-continuing-certification-program/.

The ABPM encourages Diplomates to check its website for the latest updates and announcements on ABPM’s response to COVID-19. Diplomates may reach ABPM Staff at [email protected] with questions about their individual circumstances.

The ABPM is a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Founded in 1948, ABPM works with the ABMS in the development of standards for the ongoing assessment and certification of over 12,000 physicians certified by the ABPM in the Specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, and in the Subspecialties of Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Chicago, IL, April 7, 2020: The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) announced today its newly-implemented policy regarding eligibility for residents and fellows whose training has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter to both residency and fellowship directors, ABPM confirmed its commitment to the rigorous requirements that form the foundation of its Specialty and Subspecialty Certification but recognized that  now more than ever a skilled, energetic, and qualified physician workforce is critical to protect the health of our communities and our nation.  Citing its support of the ACGME’s Guidance to Residency Programs in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, for the 2020 Exam Cycle, ABPM will make accommodations for early graduations or truncated residency and/or fellowship training for physicians who would otherwise-qualify to sit for this year’s ABPM Initial Certification Exams.

The letters to the ABPM’s Specialty and Subspecialty Program Directors may be viewed at the following links:

Letter to Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Residency Program Directors [pdf]

Letter to Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship Program Directors [pdf]

“This policy of accommodation is designed to maintain the rigor of the ABPM’s training requirements while reassuring those residents and fellows who, through no fault of their own, have seen their training programs negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, that they will be found eligible to sit for this year’s Initial Certification Exams ” said ABPM’s Board Chair, Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH. “We appreciate the sacrifices being made by this year’s cohort of residents and fellows and feel strongly that those qualified physicians, many of whom are on the front lines fighting the spread of the COVID-19 virus, should not be penalized for those heroic efforts during this unprecedented pandemic.”

Program directors, residents, and fellows who have questions about the updated policies may contact the ABPM directly at [email protected].

The ABPM is a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Founded in 1948, ABPM works with the ABMS in the development of standards for the ongoing assessment and certification of over 12,000 physicians certified by the ABPM in the Specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, and in the Subspecialties of Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.

ABMS Reaffirms Support for Physicians to Focus Their Priorities on Patients, Families, and the Communities They Serve

As the worldwide health care community continues to navigate and respond to the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and its 24 Member Boards are committed to supporting diplomates and trainees as they work on the front line to combat this virus by providing expert care to patients. For our residents, fellows, interns and program directors, this has translated into supportive strategies Boards can employ regarding initial board certification requirements and leave policies.

We recognize that the current priority of the Member Boards’ more than 900,000 diplomates and their fellow health care providers is caring for the patients, families, and communities they serve. They must focus the limited time they have for education on the most urgent issues facing us all: learning how to prevent and treat COVID-19 and to protect themselves and fellow health care workers from harm.

ABMS and its Member Boards are responding accordingly by allowing flexibility during this critical time for our nation’s diplomates. Examples include enhanced activities and heightened education in partnership with specialty societies focused on COVID-19, to deferment of activities or requirements and/or the extension of cycle deadlines, depending on the timing of activities in the Boards’ continuing certification programs in 2020.

We understand that the pandemic will have a highly variable impact on physicians based on the unique needs of their specialty. Individual Boards will respond in ways that best meet the needs of physicians in their particular specialty.

In this rapidly evolving and challenging clinical environment, staying current is more imperative than ever. For this reason, the Boards will provide essential resources and programming in a variety of formats, share new information specifically relevant to COVID-19, and assure that additional training required to treat COVID-19 is recognized by the Boards. ABMS and the Member Boards will adjust their programs as necessary so that diplomates have flexible, responsive ways to maintain their certification even as they respond to the extraordinary patient care demands placed upon them related to COVID-19.

Some Boards have already made programmatic adaptations. All are receptive to discussions with diplomates who are concerned about their certification status. Adaptations, as well as supportive, educational options, will be communicated and, given the varied situations faced by each discipline, are best accessed by contacting the Board directly.

The extraordinary efforts, personal risk and tireless service our physicians and health care teams are displaying cannot be overstated; our entire country is relying on their collective expertise. We stand in support of these physicians and trainees and will continue to assist and inform them as they use this expertise to treat and protect the health and well-being of their patients, families and communities.

Click here to download a PDF version of this statement

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) will offer a free one-hour CME webinar on “Caring for Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic” on March 27, 2020 at 4:00pm Eastern time.  Register for the webinar on the ASAM website here.

As the leader in developing clinical guidelines and standards in addiction medicine, ASAM takes its responsibility very seriously. Many providers and programs are urgently working to mitigate risks related to COVID-19. ASAM convened a COVID-19 Task Force comprised of national experts recognized in the field of addiction medicine to rapidly develop comprehensive resources tailored to addiction treatment within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This webinar will provide an overview of the resources available to help you adjust your practices during this challenging time.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this internet live course for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) will offer a free 1.5-hour webinar, “COVID-19: Protecting Health Care Workers – Decontamination & Reuse of Respirators” on Friday, March 27, 2020, at 12:00pm EDT.

All registrants will be provided with a link to view the webinar recording. The recording will be published on the ACOEM COVID-19 page. For more information and to register, please visit the ACOEM website.

Worldwide, health care workers (HCWs), the front-line defense force against COVID-19, have been infected with and died from this disease. Occupational health care providers in the United States (U.S.) are currently addressing emergency protocols for protecting HCWs from COVID-19. However, there are many unanswered questions related to protecting HCWs especially with the limited supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 respirators.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), should release guidance documents this week on decontamination of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), elastomeric respirators, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), and covering a respirator with a surgical mask.

In this webinar, the speakers will review the NIOSH/CDC guidance followed by a discussion of studies on and systems for the decontamination of N95s. The speakers have conducted research on decontamination and use of respirators in health care setting. The presentations will be followed by live, moderated Q&A.

Register for the webinar here.

UPDATED March 23, 2020

The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) is carefully monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 and will post ongoing updates to the ABPM website. We recommend reviewing the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest updates along with additional information regarding COVID-19.

The ABPM’s Public Health & General Preventive Medicine leadership continues to examine and analyze all relevant datapoints and, along with the review of external expert recommendations regarding risk assessment, travel restrictions, and disease prevention, will make thoughtful and deliberate decisions regarding the upcoming application cycle and testing administrations. As this situation evolves, we encourage our stakeholders to check our website regularly for updates.

Based on current information and modeling, the ABPM’s 2020 application cycle and the 2020 Initial Certification exam dates will proceed as scheduled. Any updates to the 2020 application and initial exam cycles will be posted on the ABPM website.

Due to specialty society conference cancellations, the May and June 2020 MOC exams have been cancelled or postponed. Currently, ABPM is planning to offer all other in-person and online MOC exams as scheduled.  Please check MOC exam section of the ABPM website for the latest MOC exam schedule.

As this situation evolves, the ABPM will continue to support physicians through their certification activities and provide comprehensive services through the online support center. Please continue to contact the ABPM via email at [email protected] for any questions related to your individual circumstances.