October 2024

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

This is a particularly special issue for me personally, as it’s my first opportunity as ABPM’s Chair to introduce myself to the ABPM community. I want to start off by saying thank you. Thank you to all of you that I have had the honor of learning from your passion and guidance in the field of Preventive Medicine. I know that I am here today because of the path that so many of you have already laid the foundation for and I am forever grateful.

I am a practicing Occupational and Environmental Medicine physician and I’ve been a Director on the ABPM’s Board since 2019. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working under three past Board Chairs that are true trailblazers in our field and am in awe of all that they accomplished since I joined the ABPM Board. I am especially thankful for the mentorship afforded to me by our immediate past Chair of ABPM, Dr. Wendy Braund. I know I will build on the Board’s accomplishments and continue to propel ABPM into the future.

I’m passionate about communicating the value of certification for both ABPM physicians and the communities they serve. As a practicing clinical physician, I recognize that ABPM has a duty to physicians to provide relevant, flexible programs that provide value for diplomates. At the same time, preventive medicine physicians have a critical charge – to protect the health of the public – and ABPM programs are dedicated to ensuring that ABPM diplomates have demonstrated the knowledge and skills to do exactly that. ABPM’s commitment to ensuring the excellence of its programs – from initial through continuing certification – demonstrates that ABPM takes its responsibility to the public and to its physicians seriously.

Inclusive of communicating not just the value of certification, but the value that a preventive medicine physician brings to any role they serve in, I am excited for the opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine specialties and subspecialties. Working with my fellow board members, our partner specialty societies, and others, I will continue the work we’ve already done to enhance the position of preventive medicine in the house of medicine and to prioritize the expansion of the pipeline for early-career physicians and others to enter our rewarding field.

I humbly look forward to serving ABPM and our diplomates as Chair these next three years.

I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy fall season.

Yours in good health,
Heather O’Hara, MD, MSPH, FACOEM, FACPM