Greetings and thank you for reading this issue of ABPM’s newsletter!

An important part of ABPM’s mission is to certify physicians in their chosen specialty or subspecialty. After a busy summer that included reviews of over 2,100 applications, we are excited to move into exam season and prepare to welcome our next group of Diplomates.

This record-setting year of applications occurred as the practice pathway option ended for Addiction Medicine and Clinical Informatics. Applying for initial certification through the practice pathway requires review of quantitative and qualitative practice requirements that can be described in a variety of ways by the applicant. Reviews of these types of applications often require a level of focus and understanding to ensure applicants have met the necessary practice requirements. Our Addiction Medicine and Clinical Informatics reviewers dedicated countless hours to complete this year’s record number of application reviews. Their ability to conclude their reviews within the set timeline all while maintaining the same level of attention to detail as experienced throughout the past seven years is amazing! On behalf of ABPM’s Board and staff, I’d like to express my deep appreciation for their work, not just this year, but in all the preceding years as well.

The skills and experience of preventive medicine specialists and subspecialists are pivotal in our healthcare system – but often go unnoticed. In this issue, we feature an interview with an ABPM diplomate certified in both Public Health & General Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine who was recently honored as an Unsung Hero by the National Hispanic Medical Association. This is just one story that underscores the often unseen contributions of preventive medicine physicians. We hope you are inspired by these outstanding accomplishments.

In my final thoughts for this issue, I want to join the ABPM staff, as well as past and current Board members, in recognizing the life of Loreta Krutulis, Chief Administrative Officer at the ABPM. For those that had the opportunity to meet Loreta, I know you experienced a professional, intelligent and caring woman. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends and, though we are saddened by her passing, we know that she will continue to live in our hearts.

Thank you for reading this issue; if you have a story you’d like to share with us and the larger ABPM community, we welcome you to reach out to us at [email protected]. And to those preparing to take this year’s exams – I wish you every success!

Yours in good health,

Heather O’Hara, MD, MSPH, FACOEM, FACPM