Thank you for reading this issue of ABPM’s newsletter!

The first quarter of 2022 has been an exciting time at ABPM – we have a lot of great news to share with you!

First of all, I’d like to extend my hearty congratulations to ABPM’s newest Diplomates and current ABPM Diplomates who recently recertified! We celebrate your dedication to excellence and your commitment to continuously improving your skills and improving outcomes for the populations you serve. Well done!

Two accomplished individuals from the ABPM community, Karen R. Studer, MD, MBA, MPH, FACPM, and Jeffrey Hoffman, MD, FAMIA, will be joining the Board later this year. At the Board’s Annual Meeting in January 2022, we selected Dr. Studer to fill the Director position representing Public Health and General Preventive Medicine that will be vacant when Dr. Carolyn Murray completes her final term on the Board in August 2022, and we elected Dr. Hoffman to take the reins of the Clinical Informatics Sub-board after Dr. Adi Gundlapalli completes his final term in August 2022.

In March, we were very pleased to announce that the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved a second extension to the Practice Pathway for Clinical Informatics. This is a fantastic development that will not only provide experienced and well-qualified physicians with a few more years to apply for the Clinical Informatics certification exam, but also will allow more time to grow the number of ACGME-accredited fellowships and ensure the continued sustainability of the Clinical Informatics Subspecialty. Details are reported later on in this issue.

In this issue we also report on a milestone in ABPM’s efforts to raise awareness of Preventive Medicine Specialties! In February, ACGME tentatively approved ABPM’s request to list each of the three ABPM Specialties (Aerospace Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine) separately on its website. All three Specialties will remain under one common Review Committee. ACGME will post the updated program requirements on its website for a period of public review and comment, after which the program requirements will be submitted to the ACGME Board of Directors for its final review in June 2022.

While a seemingly small change, this will provide greater visibility for the individual Specialties. Coupled with Medscape’s recently published 2022 Physician Burnout & Depression Report which found that Preventive Medicine physicians reported the lowest rates of burnout and depression, ABPM is well-positioned to advocate for the attractive career options Preventive Medicine can provide, and we’ll continue spreading that message!

As you may know, ABPM is moving forward in its transition from MOC to a new Continuing Certification Program (CCP) and as part of that transition, we’ve been piloting a longitudinal assessment program (LAP) with our Clinical Informatics Diplomates. We just finished the first year of the LAP Pilot and we’re pleased to report that nearly 85% of the questions were rated “very” or “somewhat” relevant by participants. We’re encouraged to have a strong foundation of relevant content upon which to build the final LAP and we’re looking forward to sharing details of the CCP with all of you as they become available.

These strides forward make us confident about the future of not only ABPM but also Preventive Medicine. Thanks for taking the time to read this issue; it’s packed with updates and great news we’re happy to share with you. If you have any questions or comments for us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We read and respond to every message and we look forward to hearing from you!

All the Best,

Wendy E. Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM

Happy New Year from the Board and Staff of ABPM! We wish all of you the very best for 2022, especially good health and happiness.

We’re excited to begin the new year with a couple of items of good news!

First, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) officially approved a new set of Standards for Continuing Certification. ABPM, along with the other 23 ABMS member boards, is required to implement the new standards in its Continuing Certification Program over the next few years. You can find the new standards for Continuing Certification here. ABPM’s goal is to offer a meaningful program that recognizes Diplomates for their dedication to lifelong learning and quality improvement and provides a credential in which the public and other stakeholders can be confident. We will keep you informed on developments to ABPM’s Continuing Certification Program as they are available – be sure to read future newsletters and follow ABPM on LinkedIn for updates on this, and many other important topics.

Secondly, the ABPM recently announced that it will merge the Core Preventive Medicine exam content into each of the three Specialty certification exams, beginning in 2022. This means that Candidates will only need to schedule and sit for a single Specialty exam, rather than the two separate exams that were previously required. This change is designed to provide a more convenient and flexible exam experience while ensuring that physicians who are Certified in Aerospace Medicine, Occupational & Environmental Medicine or Public Health & General Preventive Medicine have a well-rounded knowledge of Preventive Medicine principles. Read more on this later in this issue.

Lastly, and most importantly, we’d like to recognize ABPM Diplomates after another year of hard work and dedication to the Specialties and Subspecialties of Preventive Medicine. We salute physicians who are continuing the battle against the ongoing pandemic and its wider effects, who are researching ways to make healthcare better for everyone, and who are serving their communities every day.

Tell us what you or your colleagues are up to – we’d love to hear how you are serving your community and to highlight you in a future issue of this newsletter. Send us your news and achievements at [email protected].

Once again, best wishes for a new year of health and happiness!

Wendy E. Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM

Thank you for reading this issue of the ABPM’s newsletter! I’m very honored to be writing this to you as the new Chair of the ABPM Board of Directors, a role I stepped into after the Board’s Interim meeting in August 2021.

First, I’m very grateful for Dr. Joe Ortega’s leadership of the Board over the previous two years. During Dr. Ortega’s tenure, the Board accomplished a lot, including launching the Clinical Informatics Longitudinal Assessment Program (LAP) Pilot, extending the Addiction Medicine practice pathway and thus allowing many more qualified physicians to become certified, and successfully navigating 2020 remotely proctored exams and virtual meetings, to name just a handful. Dr. Ortega set us on a great path towards many more successes and I am fortunate to follow him as Chair at this exciting time.

I started my tenure on the Board in 2014 and I’ve seen the Board grow tremendously during that time. You can learn a little more about my background later in this issue but since I became a Director of the Board in 2014 my dedication to advocating for Preventive Medicine specialties and subspecialties and to the promoting the value of board certification has only increased. As a Public Health and General Preventive Medicine physician directly involved in improving health on a broad scale, I am passionate about the practice of Preventive Medicine and the necessity of growing Preventive Medicine specialties. While Preventive Medicine might be small compared to other Boards, it is no less important – as we’ve seen so powerfully recently during the pandemic.

Every day, ABPM Diplomates show the power of Preventive Medicine through their dedication to improve the health of populations small and large. For some examples ABPM recently shared via LinkedIn, scroll down – from working with public health departments to overcome vaccine hesitancy, to studying the rise in digital addictions, to advising the public on work/life balance, and so much more, ABPM Diplomates like you are the often-unsung heroes of Preventive Medicine. We’re so proud of all you’ve done and we’d like to share your accomplishments with the ABPM community and beyond! Let us know what you’re working on – drop us a line.

Thanks again for reading – I’m excited to embark on this journey with all of you.

Wishing you all the best,

Wendy E. Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

Wendy Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM, stepped into the role of Chair of the Board following the Board meeting in August 2021. Learn more about Dr. Braund and what she hopes to achieve during her term.

Why did you get into medicine and how did you come to choose the specialty of Public Health and General Preventive Medicine? 

I wanted to help people – in a different way than I was doing as a special education teacher and school counseler. And so, I started to revisit the desire to become a physicians that I had felt when I was much younger – and ended up a first-year medical student in my thirties! I discovered preventive medicine while reading a “how to get into residency” guide that I was reviewing for a medical society journal. The prevention and population health focus really appealed to me after caring for so many patients with preventable injuries and conditions as a neurosurgery resident.

What do you think the value of board certification is?

ABMS board certification connotes a physician’s competence in their specialty. Initial certification verifies successful residency completion and mastery of the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to practice one’s medical specialty. Continuing certification confirms a diplomate’s currency and demonstrates a commitment to practice improvement.

What do you hope to accomplish during your tenure as Chair of the ABPM?

At the top of my list is establishing a longitudinal assessment platform that is responsive to our diplomates’ needs, provides high-quality assessment and learning opportunities, and satisfies ABMS requirements. Also very important: increasing the public profile and awareness among stakeholders (and “should be” stakeholders) about preventive medicine, its specialties and subspecialties, and all that we have to offer that will improve healthcare and public health systems, operations and, ultimately, the public’s health.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

Mostly I hang out with my dog, Max, a border collie-Australian Shepherd rescue who makes sure I stay active! Also, I am a Washington Capitals season ticket holder, so the NHL hockey season keeps me busy nearly year-round.

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

ABPM welcomes Dr. Joseph “Tim” LaVan as one of the newest Directors elected to the Board! He will begin his term immediately following the August 2021 meeting.

Dr. LaVan is a Command Flight Surgeon and Aeromedical Instructor at the School of Aviation Safety at the Naval Safety Center and a staff physician at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola. He is certified by ABPM in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is also certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Read on to learn more about Dr. LaVan, his take on the value of board certification, and why he thinks Preventive Medicine is more important now than ever!

How did you get into the specialties of Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine?

I started my career in the Navy as a Flight Surgeon. Although my first residency and board certification was in Family Medicine, I never got away from the rewarding practice of aviation and occupational [and environmental] medicine with my assigned squadrons. When my career got to a point that I had the opportunity to return to more military focused medicine, I jumped at the chance and dove into the Navy’s Residency in Aerospace Medicine. After getting Board Certified in Aerospace, my first tour as the Senior Medical Officer on an Aircraft Carrier involved so much Occupational [and Environmental] Medicine that I was able to challenge the Occupational [and Environmental] Medicine boards by Special Pathway.

Why did you choose to become board certified in these specialties, and what do you think the value of board certification is?

One reason that I put the effort in to challenging Board Certification exams in both specialties was the opportunity to ensure myself that I had competencies in the full spectrum of the specialties. The effort to systematically prepare to challenge the exam forces the applicant to survey all areas of the specialty. I think this is part of the value of board certification. Residencies and Medical Practices inevitably have variations in areas of focus. Completing the requirements of Board Certification ensures that Diplomates maintain basic competencies in the full scope of the field, rather than just the areas they are most focused on.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Director on the Board?

I think the events of the last one to two years have illustrated the value and the need for Preventive Medicine and its specialties. I hope that during my time on the Board, I will be able to help the specialties under Preventive Medicine continue to sustain and increase their relevance. I think that our specialties truly encompass the concepts of evidence-based medicine and we need to lead the way in providing evidence-based care to both individual patients and the population as a whole.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy cooking and woodworking, and I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction.

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself with ABPM Diplomates?

My favorite movie character is Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption.

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

ABPM welcomes Dr. Joseph “Tim” LaVan as one of the newest Directors elected to the Board! He will begin his term immediately following the August 2021 meeting.

Dr. LaVan is a Command Flight Surgeon and Aeromedical Instructor at the School of Aviation Safety at the Naval Safety Center and a staff physician at the Naval Hospital in Pensacola. He is certified by ABPM in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is also certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Read on to learn more about Dr. LaVan, his take on the value of board certification, and why he thinks Preventive Medicine is more important now than ever!

How did you get into the specialties of Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine?

I started my career in the Navy as a Flight Surgeon. Although my first residency and board certification was in Family Medicine, I never got away from the rewarding practice of aviation and occupational [and environmental] medicine with my assigned squadrons. When my career got to a point that I had the opportunity to return to more military focused medicine, I jumped at the chance and dove into the Navy’s Residency in Aerospace Medicine. After getting Board Certified in Aerospace, my first tour as the Senior Medical Officer on an Aircraft Carrier involved so much Occupational [and Environmental] Medicine that I was able to challenge the Occupational [and Environmental] Medicine boards by Special Pathway.

Why did you choose to become board certified in these specialties, and what do you think the value of board certification is?

One reason that I put the effort in to challenging Board Certification exams in both specialties was the opportunity to ensure myself that I had competencies in the full spectrum of the specialties. The effort to systematically prepare to challenge the exam forces the applicant to survey all areas of the specialty. I think this is part of the value of board certification. Residencies and Medical Practices inevitably have variations in areas of focus. Completing the requirements of Board Certification ensures that Diplomates maintain basic competencies in the full scope of the field, rather than just the areas they are most focused on.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Director on the Board?

I think the events of the last one to two years have illustrated the value and the need for Preventive Medicine and its specialties. I hope that during my time on the Board, I will be able to help the specialties under Preventive Medicine continue to sustain and increase their relevance. I think that our specialties truly encompass the concepts of evidence-based medicine and we need to lead the way in providing evidence-based care to both individual patients and the population as a whole.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy cooking and woodworking, and I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction.

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself with ABPM Diplomates?

My favorite movie character is Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption.

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

John D. Meyer, MD, MPH is one of the newest members of the Board of Directors, elected to the Board at its January 2021 meeting. He will begin his term immediately following the August 2021 Board of Directors Meeting.

Dr. Meyer is Professor and Interim Chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York; the Director of the New York – New Jersey Occupational Safety & Health Center; an attending physician at the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health at Mount Sinai Hospital; and the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

He is certified by the ABPM in both Occupational & Environmental Medicine and Public Health & General Preventive Medicine.

He took some time to tell us a bit about himself, including his journey to Preventive Medicine, the importance of board certification, and more!

How did you get into the specialties of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Public Health and General Preventive Medicine?

Similar to many others in the specialty, a very long and tortuous road. My original training was in ob/gyn and surgery, and when I moved out of those, I worked in student health for Boston University, who were willing to pay for an MPH degree while I worked there. Thinking I was headed into health care administration, I instead became fascinated with the environmental and occupational courses I took, along with those in epidemiology. When I was close to finishing, some of the faculty in the program pointed out to me that I could return to residency and train in, and make a career in occupational [and envrionmental] medicine and take that fascination with me into practice. So I returned to residency in [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] and haven’t looked back since. I think because of my somewhat unusual road to training, with the MPH before the clinical training, I’ve always looked at [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] and [General Preventive Medicine] first and foremost as public health specialties and tried to use (and teach) the tools of public health practice.

Why did you choose to become board certified in these specialties, and what do you think the value of board certification is?

I think that board certification is a way of demonstrating to yourself, as well as to the larger world, that you have achieved mastery of a subject area. That was certainly my feeling on qualifying in [Occupational and Environmental Medicine]. I subsequently (11 years after my [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] Boards) took the [Public Health and General Preventive Medicine] Boards for much the same reason. I was teaching clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine to medical students at the time and there was talk of establishing a [General Preventive Medicine] residency – so I wanted to demonstrate that I had the mastery and knowledge base in the field to move forward on those fronts. There is value in gaining those credentials, I think, in order to demonstrate to the public as well as colleagues that one has developed expertise in the field, as well as sharing in a specialty’s definition of its field and scope of practice. The tricky part, of course, is to determine what the shared knowledge is for any field, as I’ll go into further below.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Director on the Board?

Most of my career I’ve been involved in residency training and teaching relevant subjects in MPH courses, as well as developing and leading board review courses for trainees coming into the field and those needing to recertify. This has led me to consider questions of how practice skills and new material are assimilated by trainees and updated by physicians in practice. This is a particularly important time to address these questions, as specialty boards and certification bodies move from narrow assessments such as the high-stakes exam, and into mechanisms that promote continuous learning and updating of knowledge throughout a career. My goal as an ABPM Director will be to help move the specialty into new methods and programs that promote ongoing learning and practice informed by the most current information available, in order to ensure the capacity of practitioners to address current and future challenges that arise within preventive medicine and within the larger society.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Growing up for the most part in Syracuse (where there are two seasons: Winter and the Fourth of July), my affinity has been for that region’s outdoor activities. Cross-country skiing is a particular favorite; I’ve also been blessed with a high-school age daughter interested in both downhill skiing (which I took up again with her after a long hiatus) and lacrosse, in which we can engage together.There’s a shared interest between my wife and I in the 19th century, which means that vacations are always focused on exploration of old factories and old churches. And just try prying me loose from any used bookstore…

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself with ABPM Diplomates?

Like most people in this field, I feel very lucky to have come by it, even if it took some time to get there. Many probably feel as I do that [Occupational and Environmental Medicine], [Preventive Medicine] and public health have been the ideal combination of clinical medicine with an interest in other facets of the world that one never saw in the hospital or clinic, such as how most of the world does its work and how medicine and the larger society intersect. The fact that we find this field fascinating probably helps contribute to our goal of continous learning as practitioners. I also want to add a pitch to the ABPM Diplomates to consider the role of mentors who guided them in their early career and to pick up the work that those people did in mentoring for the benefit of trainees and new practitioners in the specialty.

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

The ABPM is excited to announce the election of the first At-Large Specialty Director to its Board in January 2021. Joanna Nelms, MD, MPH will assume this position immediately following the August 2021 Board of Directors meeting.

Dr. Nelms is certified by ABPM in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine. She earned her medical degree at Texas A & M University and her Masters in Public Health Management at Wright State University. She completed an Aerospace Medicine residency at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. She is currently the Chief of Flight Medicine and Physical Standards at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.

We asked Dr. Nelms some questions to get to know her better. Read on to learn more about Dr. Nelms’ background, interests, and what board certification means to her!

How did you get into the specialties of Aerospace Medicine and Occupational and Environmental Medicine?

Like many in the fields of Aerospace and Occupational [and Environmental] Medicine – especially those who found our ways there through military service – my becoming a flight surgeon and occ doc were quite accidental. Upon matriculation from medical school, I was dead set on a career in plastic and reconstructive surgery, specifically focusing on burn reconstruction. After being informed that this was not conducive to the current “needs of the USAF” and was strongly encouraged to reconsider my path. After an intern year as a general surgeon, I opted to complete my service commitment as a general medical officer (GMO) flight surgeon, practicing both aerospace and occupational primary care medicine. It was through this time that I truly fell in love with the operational and practical aspects of these fields – especially Aerospace Medicine. When the time presented for me to have a chance to attend the USAF Residency of Aerospace Medicine, I jumped at that opportunity.

Why did you choose to become board certified in these specialties, and what do you think the value of board certification is?

Board certification in Aerospace Medicine was a double bonus as an active military member as it is both an actively changing and functional field of military medicine and the residency is typically a marker for those who want to pursue more leadership roles within medicine. I knew going in that with my prior work in an occuatpional medicine capacity that it would be possible for me to challenge the occupational and environmental medicine board following completion of my residency. Knowing that one day I would become a civilian and that civilian aerospace medicine jobs are slim, I wanted a broader certification base to work from. Board certification is important in all fields of medicine, but I think especially so in the preventive medicine specialties as we are numerically small and often underrepresented in the greater medical forum. Board certification servies as a communicator to other physicians and professionals not only of the legitimacy of our fields of medicine but also provides an expectation to be upheld of professional competence and excellence.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Director of the Board?

I am excited for the opportunity to help shape the future of not only the popularity of the preventive medical fields but also the availability and quality of information disseminated at the medical school (and even lower) levels of recruitment and education. In addition, I hope to be part of the positive change already in motion as we strive to create meaningful and useful maintenance of certification.

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

We have just recently welcomed our second child at the end of April and have a boisterous five-year-old boy. My family are, by far, my favorite thing! For fun, I enjoy cooking and some baking. I collect cookbooks and wine. I enjoy landscaping and decorating our home as well as other outdoor activities when the Texas heat and humidity allow.

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself with ABPM Diplomates?

Only that I am excited to be here and ready for the ride!

John D. Meyer, MD, MPH is one of the newest members of the Board of Directors, elected to the Board at its January 2021 meeting. He will begin his term immediately following the August 2021 Board of Directors Meeting.

Dr. Meyer is Professor and Interim Chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York; the Director of the New York – New Jersey Occupational Safety & Health Center; an attending physician at the Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health at Mount Sinai Hospital; and the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

He is certified by the ABPM in both Occupational & Environmental Medicine and Public Health & General Preventive Medicine.

He took some time to tell us a bit about himself, including his journey to Preventive Medicine, the importance of board certification, and more!

How did you get into the specialties of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Public Health and General Preventive Medicine?

Similar to many others in the specialty, a very long and tortuous road. My original training was in ob/gyn and surgery, and when I moved out of those, I worked in student health for Boston University, who were willing to pay for an MPH degree while I worked there. Thinking I was headed into health care administration, I instead became fascinated with the environmental and occupational courses I took, along with those in epidemiology. When I was close to finishing, some of the faculty in the program pointed out to me that I could return to residency and train in, and make a career in occupational [and envrionmental] medicine and take that fascination with me into practice. So I returned to residency in [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] and haven’t looked back since. I think because of my somewhat unusual road to training, with the MPH before the clinical training, I’ve always looked at [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] and [General Preventive Medicine] first and foremost as public health specialties and tried to use (and teach) the tools of public health practice.

Why did you choose to become board certified in these specialties, and what do you think the value of board certification is?

I think that board certification is a way of demonstrating to yourself, as well as to the larger world, that you have achieved mastery of a subject area. That was certainly my feeling on qualifying in [Occupational and Environmental Medicine]. I subsequently (11 years after my [Occupational and Environmental Medicine] Boards) took the [Public Health and General Preventive Medicine] Boards for much the same reason. I was teaching clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine to medical students at the time and there was talk of establishing a [General Preventive Medicine] residency – so I wanted to demonstrate that I had the mastery and knowledge base in the field to move forward on those fronts. There is value in gaining those credentials, I think, in order to demonstrate to the public as well as colleagues that one has developed expertise in the field, as well as sharing in a specialty’s definition of its field and scope of practice. The tricky part, of course, is to determine what the shared knowledge is for any field, as I’ll go into further below.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a Director on the Board?

Most of my career I’ve been involved in residency training and teaching relevant subjects in MPH courses, as well as developing and leading board review courses for trainees coming into the field and those needing to recertify. This has led me to consider questions of how practice skills and new material are assimilated by trainees and updated by physicians in practice. This is a particularly important time to address these questions, as specialty boards and certification bodies move from narrow assessments such as the high-stakes exam, and into mechanisms that promote continuous learning and updating of knowledge throughout a career. My goal as an ABPM Director will be to help move the specialty into new methods and programs that promote ongoing learning and practice informed by the most current information available, in order to ensure the capacity of practitioners to address current and future challenges that arise within preventive medicine and within the larger society.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Growing up for the most part in Syracuse (where there are two seasons: Winter and the Fourth of July), my affinity has been for that region’s outdoor activities. Cross-country skiing is a particular favorite; I’ve also been blessed with a high-school age daughter interested in both downhill skiing (which I took up again with her after a long hiatus) and lacrosse, in which we can engage together.There’s a shared interest between my wife and I in the 19th century, which means that vacations are always focused on exploration of old factories and old churches. And just try prying me loose from any used bookstore…

Any other information you’d like to share about yourself with ABPM Diplomates?

Like most people in this field, I feel very lucky to have come by it, even if it took some time to get there. Many probably feel as I do that [Occupational and Environmental Medicine], [Preventive Medicine] and public health have been the ideal combination of clinical medicine with an interest in other facets of the world that one never saw in the hospital or clinic, such as how most of the world does its work and how medicine and the larger society intersect. The fact that we find this field fascinating probably helps contribute to our goal of continous learning as practitioners. I also want to add a pitch to the ABPM Diplomates to consider the role of mentors who guided them in their early career and to pick up the work that those people did in mentoring for the benefit of trainees and new practitioners in the specialty.

Get the latest news and updates from the American Board of Preventive Medicine: sign up for our quarterly email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/theabpm/newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

Greetings and best wishes from all of us at ABPM for a wonderful summer, hopefully spent traveling, enjoying time with friends and family, and doing all the things you’ve missed out on this past year!

I am looking forward to gathering in person with Directors and Staff of ABPM at the interim Board meeting next month in Chicago. It’s been two years since all of us have gotten together, and I am so grateful that I will be able to finish my tenure on the Board by seeing everyone in real life!

During my tenure as a Board member, I’ve seen the ABPM grow immensely: adding the subspecialties of Clinical Informatics and Addiction Medicine and welcoming thousands of new Diplomates. I’ve also seen a vast improvement in ABPM’s technological infrastructure.

I’d like to thank my predecessors, Drs. Denece Kesler and Tonette Krousel-Wood for setting ABPM on the pathway to modernization and expansion. I’d especially like to thank the ABPM’s Executive Director, Christopher Ondrula, JD, who has been an invaluable partner, improving Board processes, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for our diplomates, overseeing the transition from the previous MOC program to a continuing certification program that is compliant with ABMS standards, and implementing innovative programs like the Clinical Informatics longitudinal assessment program (LAP) pilot. His work ethic and ability to develop and present options has kept your Board moving forward despite multiple challenges.

I’d also like to thank ABPM’s Chair-Elect, Dr. Wendy Braund, for her support and engagement. I’m pleased to pass the reins to her capable hands! You can read more about Dr. Braund’s work and recent accomplishments at https://www.abpm-us.org/2021/02/03/abpm-chair-elect-appointed-as-interim-acting-physician-general-of-pennsylvania/.

This issue of your ABPM newsletter is chock full of updates on the Board. We’re very excited to welcome three newly elected Board members who will be guests at the ABPM’s Board of Directors meeting in August. Their terms will begin immediately following the meeting. Read more about each of them below!

We are also seeking nominations for qualified physicians to fill two very important roles on the Board: a representative of the Public Health and General Preventive Medicine specialty and the Sub-board Chair for Clinical Informatics. Learn about the qualifications for these roles and how to nominate yourself or someone else in this issue!

Be sure to keep reading for a link to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) draft standards for continuing certification. The draft standards define the “rules” that all ABMS member boards (including the ABPM) must abide by in their own continuing certification programs. I urge all of you to review the draft standards and send your feedback to ABMS. Your perspective is critical because the standards ABMS sets in place will ultimately shape ABPM’s continuing certification program. We need all of you to make your opinion on continuing certification count!

Lastly, we’re sharing an update on the Clinical Informatics longitudinal assessment program (LAP) pilot, which was launched April 1, 2021. We’re pleased with the participation so far in this new and innovative program. Thank you to our Clinical Informatics diplomates for being the guinea pigs and for engaging in this important endeavor!

I’d like to close by expressing again my sincere gratitude to the Board and the Staff of ABPM, many of whom have become friends during my nine-year stint here. It’s bittersweet to be leaving this Board, but I’m certain that ABPM has a bright future, confident of its continued upward trajectory. I wish all the best to my friends and colleagues – ‘til we meet again! Godspeed ABPM.

Respectfully,
Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH