July 2023
Thank you reading this issue of ABPM’s newsletter; all of us at ABPM are looking forward to another busy (and fun!) summer.
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of ABPM’s incorporation. Since 1948, ABPM has led certification in the specialties and subspecialties of Preventive Medicine. In August, both current and former Board members of the ABPM will gather in Chicago for a night of celebration; we are especially looking forward to hearing our keynote speaker, Dr. Duncan G. Hughes, an ABPM Diplomate and the Chief Medical Officer for Virgin Galactic.
ABPM has come a long way from offering one certification exam (in Public Health) in 1948 to now certifying physicians in three specialties and four subspecialties. You can learn more at https://www.theabpm.org/abpm-1948-2023/ where we’ve gathered highlights from our history to honor ABPM’s 75th anniversary. From our beginnings in 1948 through today, ABPM’s success can be traced back to ABPM Diplomates’ commitment to their mission of improving the health of the populations they serve. I am grateful to the ABPM Diplomates who laid the foundation for excellence in Preventive Medicine, to the current Diplomates who continue the legacy of the past while building their own, and to future Diplomates who will meet the challenges of the next century and beyond.
The members of ABPM’s Board of Directors, their unwavering dedication, and tireless efforts to carry out the Board’s mission are a core part of that enduring legacy. This summer I am especially grateful to Dr. Cheryl Lowry and Dr. Christopher Sullivan who will complete their terms on the Board following our August Board meeting. Both Dr. Lowry, who served as the Vice Chair for Aerospace Medicine, and Dr. Sullivan, who served as the Board’s Secretary/Treasurer and who represented Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, are passionate advocates for their individual specialties and Preventive Medicine as a whole. Their presence on the Board will be sorely missed!
While we say goodbye to Drs. Lowry and Sullivan, the Board welcomes two new members, who will begin their terms immediately following the August Board meeting: Dr. Paul “PJ” Jung, who will represent Public Health and General Preventive Medicine; and Dr. David Miller, who will represent Aerospace Medicine. Drs. Jung and Miller bring a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives to the Board and we are so happy to have them. Stay tuned to learn more about them in a future issue.
Finally, if you are or know an Occupational and Environmental Medicine physician who is interested in joining the Board, please be sure to keep reading to learn how you can submit a nomination this summer. Based on the number of highly qualified nominations we have received over the past several years for a variety of open Board positions, the future of our specialty looks bright!
All the best for a happy and healthy summer,
Wendy E. Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM