President’s Message: Supporting Physicians Impacted by the Pandemic as Challenging Times Persist

Greetings Colleagues,

We hope that you, your practice, and family are doing well. As I write this, the COVID delta variant appears to be leveling off but we know that many physicians and families have been impacted by the recent surge.

As these challenging times persist, we recognize the unique stressors and time constraints brought on by the pandemic and remain committed to supporting you by reducing the burden related to completing certification activities and by providing meaningful activities that can seamlessly be integrated into your everyday practice. I’m delighted to share with you some of the most recent updates and enhancements made to certification since our June edition of The Phoenix.

First, to ease the pressure of upcoming stage deadlines, ABFM announced on October 6, 2021, a six-month extension through June 30, 2022, for Diplomates with a 3-year stage that was to end on December 31, 2020 or 2021. Also, in early August we launched the National Journal Club pilot to help you stay up to date by providing access to the latest peer-reviewed medical literature while also earning valuable certification points. This new activity has been well received with more than 15,000 participants accessing and completing over 21,444 article assessments since its launch in August.

To continue to support family physicians engaging in a broad scope of practice, we have partnered with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) to provide current Diplomates with KSA credit for completion of the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) Provider Course. Certification points from this activity will automatically be transferred from AAFP to ABFM and will be visible in your MyABFM Portfolio.

Finally, as we announced earlier this year, the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment (FMCLA) was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as a permanent exam alternative. We’re excited to share that the first cohort of physicians in the pilot are nearing completion of their exam assessment and will be receiving their scores as early as January 2022.

Our goal has always been, and continues to be, supporting you as you serve your patients—throughout this pandemic and beyond, as we assure the public of your expertise. Please see below for other important dates, certification tips, and announcements, including a story on the new National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Puffer/ABFM Fellow, the 2021 Pisacano Scholars, a Health Disparity/Equity Self-Directed Performance Improvement activity example, and a closer look at our work in the development of a new Continuity of Care Clinical Quality Measure.

Thank you for all you do.

Warren Newton, MD, MPH
President and CEO