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July 2025

The Phoenix is ABFM’s e-newsletter distributed to all Diplomates and residents to provide important updates, useful tips, and other resources related to certification  and other ABFM initiatives.

5-Year Cycle Registration Now Open, MyABFM Portfolio App Available, New ABFM Board Members and Officers Announced


Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration

Registration for the 5-Year Cycle is now available for ABFM Diplomates who will begin the new certification process in 2026. Is Your Next Exam Due in 2026? If your next exam is due in 2026, registration will be accessible in your MyABFM Portfolio when all your current stage requirements have been completed. Did You Gain Initial Certification or Complete the Re-Entry Process in 2025? If you passed the April 2025 one-day exam and gained your initial certification or completed the Re-Entry process to regain your certification, registration for the 5-Year Cycle is accessible now in your MyABFM Portfolio. We encourage you to complete registration early to ensure you receive the maximum amount of time to complete 2026 Q1 longitudinal assessment exam questions. Read more


Now Available: MyABFM Portfolio App

ABFM is excited to announce the launch of the MyABFM Mobile App, a significant step forward in simplifying how you access your ABFM certification requirements. The new mobile app provides a convenient and efficient way to stay informed about your certification with the touch of a finger! Read more


ABFM Welcomes New Board Members and Officers

Carlos Gonzales photo
Carlos R. Gonzales, MD

We are pleased to announce the election of four new officers and four new board members to the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Board of Directors. Carlos R. Gonzales, MD, has been elected as Chair. The other new officers elected in April are Christine A. Hancock, MD, MS, as Chair-Elect; Sabesan Karuppiah, MD, MPH, DFM, as Treasurer; and Tiffani N. Maycock, DO, MS, as Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee. Read more


Juneteenth – Celebrating the Art of Freedom

ABFM’s Senior Vice President of Diplomate Experience Gary LeRoy, MD, wrote an article, “A Celebration of the Art of Freedom,” for this year’s Juneteenth celebration. “The freedom to express oneself artistically is one of many attributes we celebrate in the wake of the first Juneteenth gathering,” Dr. LeRoy said. Read his latest article on this historic day here.


HALM Qualifying Exam Available in November 2025

If you are currently in a leadership role or looking to advance your career in healthcare leadership, the Certification of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management may be of interest to you. Due to increasing interest from physicians across the four co-sponsoring boards (American Boards of Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and Preventive Medicine), an additional HALM CAQ qualifying exam will be offered in November 2025. Read more


New! ABFM Insights Blog Is Now Live

ABFM InsightsABFM Insights is our newest resource available for ABFM Diplomates and residents that offers access to certification tips and best practices to help with completing board certification requirements. Whether it’s learning about the 3-Things You Need to Know about Your Exam Requirement, understanding how Implementing Comprehensive Care Can Lead to Improved Outcomes, taking a trip down memory lane with ABFM Diplomate, Dr. Philip Wagner, board certified for almost 40 years, or learning about recently published ABFM research that supports the specialty, there is a variety of content available for you. Read more


Coming Soon! ABFM Engagement Network

Are you a family physician who is eager to help shape the future of board certification? Are you passionate about giving back to the specialty to support future generations of family physicians? The ABFM Engagement Network will allow board-certified physicians to share their insights, participate in surveys, and volunteer to be recognized for their contributions. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!


Read the Latest ABFM Research

Lars Peterson quoteCheck out ABFM’s latest research below and in our research library, or follow us on LinkedIn where we regularly highlight research relevant to family medicine. ABFM conducts research devoted to creating, evaluating, and maintaining cutting edge certification methods and advancing the scientific basis of family medicine. The ABFM studies listed below offer important findings that can inform policy and practice for the betterment of family medicine, including the importance of primary care access, how organizational partnerships can improve community-level health outcomes, and understanding what drives family physicians’ scope of practice. Read more


Upcoming Outreach Events

Important Dates and Deadlines

Family Medicine Certification
2023-2025 Stage Deadline to Complete Stage Requirements: December 31, 2025
2025 5-Year Cycle Registration Now Available
2026 5-Year Cycle Registration Now Available
Longitudinal Assessment Quarter Deadlines
2025 Quarter 2 Deadline June 30, 2025
2025 Quarter 3 Deadline September 30, 2025
Upcoming Exams
Family Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam November 10-18, 2025 (Excluding Sundays)
Geriatric Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam October 23, 2025
Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management - Fall 2025 Exam November 10-25, 2025
Hospice & Palliative Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam November 10, 2025
Pain Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam (Initial Certification) September 27, 2025
Sleep Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam November 10, 2025
Sports Medicine - Fall 2025 Exam November 10-18, 2025 (Excluding Sundays)