Phoenix Newsletter - October 2025 President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change Read President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change
Home Research Research Library Transforming physician certification to support physician self-motivation and capacity to improve quality and safety Transforming physician certification to support physician self-motivation and capacity to improve quality and safety 2016 Author(s) Phillips, Robert L, Kennedy, J, Jaén, Carlos Roberto, Stelter, Keith L, and Puffer, James C Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification Keyword(s) Professionalism, and Self-Assessment And Lifelong Learning Volume Journal of Enterprise Transformation Source Journal of Enterprise Transformation Physician certification boards are an intrinsic part of medical professionalism, and the public is their key stakeholder. A decade ago, the 24 boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties committed to moving beyond the summative evaluation of physicians to a process of continuously evaluating and improving the care they deliver. The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) has been a leader in this change and is making strategic investments in the next major evolution of continuous certification. Physicians are frustrated with the pace of change, inability to reliably assess and change their practices, and the perceived risk to both income and professional autonomy. Certifying boards are natural targets for that frustration. Certifying boards have an opportunity to support physicians in improving the quality and safety of healthcare and appeal to physicians’ intrinsic motivation for doing so. The ABFM is not retreating from that challenge but is instead listening carefully to family physicians and making strategic investments to evolve. The ABFM is the first certifying board to launch a registry that is designed to support physician capacity for quality assessment, improvement, data-reporting requirements, and population management. It also supports more effective measure development and research. The ABFM aims to help physicians maintain the privilege of self-governance by helping them continuously earn it. ABFM Research Read all 2009 The measure of family medicine Go to The measure of family medicine 2019 Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program Go to Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program 2025 Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence Go to Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence 2024 COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance Go to COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance
Author(s) Phillips, Robert L, Kennedy, J, Jaén, Carlos Roberto, Stelter, Keith L, and Puffer, James C Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification Keyword(s) Professionalism, and Self-Assessment And Lifelong Learning Volume Journal of Enterprise Transformation Source Journal of Enterprise Transformation
ABFM Research Read all 2009 The measure of family medicine Go to The measure of family medicine 2019 Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program Go to Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program 2025 Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence Go to Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence 2024 COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance Go to COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance
2019 Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program Go to Motivation for Participation in the American Board of Family Medicine Certification Program
2025 Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence Go to Leveraging Large Language Models to Advance Certification, Physician Learning, and Diagnostic Excellence
2024 COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance Go to COVID-19 Impact on Family Medicine Residents Exam Performance