Dear Diplomates and Colleagues,

We at the ABPM are pleased to present this issue of our quarterly newsletter!I’ll start by introducing myself, the incoming Chair of the Board of Directors. I’m Hernando J. “Joe” Ortega, originally grew up in Atlanta, GA, and spent 30 years in the US Air Force as an aerospace medicine physician. I was board certified in Aerospace Medicine in 2001 and in Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2004. I joined the Board seven years ago, and it is my honor to serve the specialists we represent at the ABPM.

I can’t go any further without thanking my predecessor, Dr. Marie “Tonette” Krousel-Wood for her service to our specialties, subspecialties and diplomates. As the ABPM’s Board Chair, Dr. Krousel-Wood proved not only an excellent steward but also a thoughtful visionary who successfully advanced the mission of the ABPM on several fronts. During her tenure, Dr. Krousel-Wood oversaw implementation of the ABPM’s electronic application and examination processes, secured ABMS approval of the ABPM’s newest Subspecialty of Addiction Medicine, and added both Subspecialty and Public Member representation on the ABPM’s Board of Directors. I am humbled to be able to follow such an amazing physician leader and look forward to advancing the many other initiatives begun under Tonette’s leadership.

While it is important to recognize how far we have come, it’s vital to keep in sight where we are headed. The ABPM is on track to finalize its transition plans from its current MOC program to a new and innovative Continuing Certification Platform.  I look forward to sharing more details about the transition in the very near future. Additionally, I’m pleased to welcome three new Directors to the ABPM Board. Like me, Dr. David Niebuhr (Public Health & General Prev Med Rep), Dr. Heather O’Hara (Occupational and Environmental Medicine Rep) and Dr. Michael Weaver (Subspecialty Rep) began their terms on August 11, 2019. I look forward to working with them and the other Directors as we continue important work on behalf of our profession and our diplomates. You can learn more about Dr. Niebuhr, Dr. O’Hara and Dr. Weaver in this issue.

Thank you for reading; we are pleased to share these stories with you. If you have any of your own stories, we would love to hear them and share them with your fellow ABPM Diplomates! From your personal perspective on what board certification means to you, to a shout-out to a Preventive Medicine colleague, let us know. You can send your stories to Clare Bonnema at [email protected].

Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH
Chair, American Board of Preventive Medicine