The ABR Update
2009
Stephen R. Thomas, Ph.D
ABR Associate Executive Director –
Radiologic Physics (RP)
ACMP Annual Meeting, Virginia Beach, May 4, 2009
The ABR Radiologic Physics Trustees
Richard L. Morin, Ph.D.
Diagnostic Radiologic Physics
Assistant Executive Director – RP IC
G. Donald Frey, Ph.D.
Medical Nuclear Physics
Assistant Executive Director – RP MOC
Geoffrey S. Ibbott, Ph.D.
Therapeutic Radiologic Physics
The ABR RP Programs
ABR Headquarters Building
Tucson, Arizona
URL: http://theabr.org
On home page one finds: Radiologic Physics
American Board of Radiology
One of 24 member boards of the American
Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Board of Trustees: 24 members from 8
sponsoring organizations:
ARRS, ACR, ARS, ASTRO, AMA, RSNA,
AUR, AAPM
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15 Radiologists
6 Radiation Oncologists
3 Physicists
American Board of Radiology
Offices in Tucson, AZ
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Executive Director: Gary J. Becker, MD
Associate Exec Director/DR: Kay Vydareny, MD
Associate Exec Director/RO: Lawrence W. Davis, MD
Associate Exec Director/RP: Stephen R. Thomas, PhD
Associate Exec Director/Admin: Jennifer Bosma, PhD
Total Office Staff:
Major Divisions
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IT/IS
Financial Services
Testing Services
Initial certification
MOC
Digital Imaging
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American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS)
Established 1933: Now composed of 24 member boards:
Past-President (2001) - James Youker, MD (ABR)
Mission (in part): To maintain and improve the quality of
medical care by assisting the member boards in their
efforts to develop and utilize professional and educational
standards for the evaluation and certification of physician
specialists.
1973/1993: Formal policy regarding recertification.
March 2000: Agreed that existing or planned programs of
recertification
would
evolve
into
programs
of:
Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
Committee on Oversight and Monitoring of MOC
(COMMOC) SR Thomas: Elected member
American Board of Medical Specialties
(ABMS)
Board Enterprise: A team of 25 –
24 member boards plus the ABMS
Establishing the Public Trust:
Under new leadership: Kevin Weiss, MD
President & CEO
ABMS
National Partnerships: Putting the ABMS
and board certification on the national stage
as part of the National Quality Forum for the
health care improvement outreach.
ABR RP Initial Certification:
Exam Sequence
Part 1: Written exam
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Administered at Pearson VUE
General and clinical exams
Part 2: Written exam
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Specific to discipline
Therapeutic Radiologic Physics (TRP),
Diagnostic Radiologic Physics (DRP),
Medical Nuclear Physics (MNP)
Oral Exam: Specific to discipline
Initial Certification:
Written Examination
75 Type A questions (multiple
choice, one correct answer)
50 Simple (limited calculations
required)
25 Complex (calculator often
required)
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Computer-based,
Pearson VUE,
Requires MS Windows calculator
Initial Certification:
Written Examination
Developed by senior certified physicists
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Committee members
Item writers
7 committees
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Exam blueprint
New and used questions
Psychometric analysis
Reasons why the ABR now administers
the written exams at commercial
computer-based testing centers
1.
A computerized exam is more cost-effective
than a paper exam
2.
A computerized exam is more secure than a
paper exam
3.
Testing centers are available in most major
cities (convenient and cost effective for
candidates)
4.
Scoring can be performed quickly and the
results made available soon afterwards
Requirements for Part 1
Education
Experience
Education – Part 1
At time of application:
– BS (with physics courses) and
– MS or Doctorate (Medical
Physics or related discipline)
– If not a CAMPEP program:
Must supply evidence of courses in
biological sciences (2 minimum)
CAMPEP Requirements for
Accreditation ...
"Students entering a medical physics training
program shall have acquired a strong
foundation in basic physics. This should be
documented by either a degree in physics, or
a degree in ... other science with physics
training equivalent to a minor in physics .... If
applicants with deficiencies in their physics
background are conditionally admitted to the
program, the provision for remedial training in
physics shall be provided ...."
Education – Part 1
New
Medical Physics:
Course Requirements
If the degree or academic training
is not directly related to medical
physics:
- Must document a minimum of 3
courses in medical physics.
Experience – Part 1
You are currently working in a
clinical medical physics
environment under the supervision
of a certified medical physicist.
If a CAMPEP-accredited program:
Can apply while enrolled
What happens in 2012 ?
The candidate must be enrolled
in or have graduated from a
CAMPEP-accredited medical
physics program
Candidates applying in 2011 for
examination in 2012 must meet
this requirement
What happens in 2014?
The candidate must be enrolled
in or have graduated from a
CAMPEP-accredited residency
program
Candidates applying in 2013 for
examination in 2014 must meet
this requirement
Requirements for Part 2
Education
Experience
Education - Part 2
Hold MS or Doctorate in
Medical Physics or related
discipline
Experience - Part 2
You must have had at least 3 years (36
months) of full-time equivalent clinical
experience in ... an approved department
or practice in the area(s) in which
certification is sought under the
supervision of a certified medical
physicist.
This requirement must be satisfied by
June 30 of the year in which the Part 2
exam is to be taken.
Experience - Part 2
CAMPEP Accredited Medical Physics
Residencies
A 24-month CAMPEP-accredited residency
program meets the training requirement,
however it must be completed prior to
taking the Part 2 exam
(effective with 2009 exam).
Experience – Part 2
Clinical component of educational
program:
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MS
6 months, PhD
12 months
Postgraduate internship or residency
Postdoctoral research with clinical
component
Postgraduate employment
Supervision
The certified medical physicist
designated as the supervisor of
clinical training must interact with
the candidate (trainee) on a regular
basis.
For NRC recognition (AMP or RSO)
24 months under supervision of
ABR certified radiologic physicist.
NRC Recognized Status
RSO Eligible
June 2007 forward
Requirements for
Oral Exam
Must have
passed Parts
1 and 2
Must travel
to Louisville
Now
Crowne Plaza
Oral Exam
5 Examiners
5 Areas
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Radiation Protection & Safety
Patient Related Measurements
Image Acquisition, Processing, &
Display
Calibration, Quality Control, & Quality
Assurance
Equipment
Oral Exam
3 Committees
Crowne Plaza, Louisville, KY
Given in examiner’s room
Computer based presentation
Role of examiner
Statistics
Candidates for each exam by year
Passing rates
– Written
– Oral
Candidates per Year
500
400
Clinical
General
Therapy
Diagnostic
Nuclear
300
200
100
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Written Exam Passing Rates
(%)
100
80
Clinical (82%)
General (77%)
Therapy (72%)
Diagnostic (68%)
Nuclear (49%)
60
40
20
0
2004
(% = 5 year Ave)
2005
2006
2007
2008
Oral Exam Pass Rates
80
60
1st Time Takers
(53%)
Conditioned
(15%)
40
20
(% = 5 year Ave)
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Diplomates by Year
(New Certificates)
2008
TRP
181
DRP
14
MNP
5
Recent Application Numbers
2008
2009
Percent
increase
Part 1
340
415
+22%
Part 2
290
320
+10%
Failure Rates for CAMPEP
vs. Non-CAMPEP
2003 - 2007
CAMPEP
NonCAMPEP
Part 1
9.4%
15.4%
Part 2
8.1%
20.2%
Oral
28.8%
30.0%
Thank you for your
attention !
Now it’s time for your
Questions