Family medicine at 40 years of age: the journey to transformation continues

Forty years ago, the then-American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) was approved and recognized as the 20th medical specialty in the United States by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). At the time of its creation, several important milestones were established; the ABFP became the first medical specialty board to issue time-limited certificates and to mandate recertification every 7 years. Certification was attainable only by examination, and physicians’ certifications could not be “grandfathered.” Recertification was dependent on the completion of a required amount of continuing medical education; a full, valid, and unrestricted license; and the completion of an audit of office records. These requirements raised the bar for specialty certification in the United States and established the ABFP as a leader and innovator among ABMS member boards. Many of these innovations became the forerunners of the maintenance of certification (MOC) process that is now embraced by all ABMS specialty boards.