Diplomate Spotlight Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook Read Opening Doors with Board Certification: A Conversation with Long Standing Diplomate Joseph Cook
Phoenix Newsletter - July 2025 Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration Read Available Now: 2026 5-Year Cycle Registration
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. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2018 How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians Go to How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians 2021 Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents Go to Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents 2015 Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need Go to Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need 2014 The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition Go to The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition
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 2018 How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians Go to How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians 2021 Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents Go to Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents 2015 Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need Go to Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need 2014 The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition Go to The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition
2018 How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians Go to How Is Family Medicine Engaging Patients at the Practice Level?: A National Sample of Family Physicians
2021 Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents Go to Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents
2015 Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need Go to Family Physicians with a Sports Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ): Well Prepared to Meet a Significant Patient Care Need
2014 The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition Go to The Future Role of the Family Physician in the United States: A Rigorous Exercise in Definition