Home     |    Contact ASA     |     Join ASA!    |     Members Only     |    Retail Store   |    Advertising Information
 
ASA NEWSLETTER
 
 
December 2002
Volume 66
Number 12

ABA Announces


Oral Examiner Recruitment: ABA Needs YOU!

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) annually seeks anesthesiologists to assist with its oral examination. ABA anticipates a need to expand the size of its examiner pool in 2004 and 2005. Effective January 2, 2003, ABA will accept nominations for a limited number of new examiner positions, expected to vary between eight to 24 per year.

Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by another ABA diplomate. Nominees must satisfy the following two minimum requirements:
• They must be certified in anesthesiology by ABA within three to seven years prior to and including the nomination year or recertified in anesthesiology by ABA within seven years prior to and including the nomination year.

• They must be clinically active in the practice of anesthesiology.

ABA defines “clinically active” as performing, directing or supervising anesthesia in the operating room or other anesthetizing areas an average of one day per week during 12 consecutive months over the past three years.
Nominees must be prepared to devote one week as an oral examiner every year for 18 consecutive years. They must remain clinically active for their entire tenure as an oral examiner. They must recertify every 10 years. Additionally, they must not participate in practice oral examinations when a fee is charged for such examinations and in courses devoted solely to securing ABA certification for the registrants because such activities constitute conflicts of interest.

ABA conducts oral examinations twice each year in April and September/October. Examiners typically are invited to one examination every 12 months and are required to remain at the examination site from Sunday afternoon until the following Friday afternoon, inclusive. They are expected to contribute to the creation of future oral examination questions prior to every examination at which they serve. Because the hotel rooms of examiners also double as examination rooms, examiners assigned to such rooms must be willing to vacate their room every morning by 6:45 a.m. and not return until late afternoon. ABA covers the examiner’s reasonable travel and hotel expenses and provides a service per-diem and a travel per-diem.

Most examiners derive a strong sense of satisfaction from providing an important service to the profession. They enjoy the camaraderie with other examiners and take advantage of frequent opportunities to network with leaders of the profession. Finally, they receive outstanding continuing medical education during each week of examination activity for which ABA officially acknowledges 24 hours of category 2 credit.

ABA seeks examiners from private practice as well as academic medical centers. It will ask character referees how nominees stay current in their practice and how they interact with their surgical and anesthesia colleagues. When new examiners are selected, ABA invites them to examine as soon as eight months after their appointment. For those who are interested, a letter of nomination and the nominee’s postal and e-mail addresses, telephone number and a current curriculum vitae as well as the name and postal and e-mail addresses of three ABA diplomates who could serve as referees should be sent by March 1, 2003, and annually by March 1 thereafter as additional examiners are needed, to the following address: American Board of Anesthesiology, c/o Oral Examiner Nominations, 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 510, Raleigh, NC 27607-7506.



Critical Care Medicine Examination for Certification and Recertification

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) will administer its critical care medicine examination via computer at more than 350 test centers on Saturday, September 13, 2003. ABA will inform candidates of the test sites when the list is available.

All applicants for initial certification in the subspecialty must satisfactorily complete one year of training in a critical care medicine program accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Anesthesiology by August 31, 2003; they also must be certified in anesthesiology by ABA or scheduled for ABA oral examination in 2003.

Physicians previously certified in critical care medicine by ABA may apply to recertify in the subspecialty. After December 14, 2002, applicants may use the ABA Web site <www.ABANES.org> to electronically submit their applications for the critical care medicine examination, download the application from the ABA Web site or request the form by fax at (919) 881-2575 or by writing ABA, 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 510, Raleigh, NC 27607-7506. The standard application deadline is February 15, 2003. The ABA will consider late applications received by March 15, 2003.



Pain Medicine Examination for Certification and Recertification

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) will administer its pain medicine examination via computer at more than 350 test centers on Saturday, September 20, 2003. ABA will inform candidates of the test sites when the list is available.

All applicants for initial certification in the subspecialty must satisfactorily complete one year of training in a pain medicine program accredited by the Residency Review Committee for Anesthesiology by August 31, 2003; they also must be certified in anesthesiology by ABA or scheduled for ABA oral examination in 2003.

Physicians whose ABA pain medicine certificate soon will expire may apply to recertify in the subspecialty. After December 14, 2002, applicants may use the ABA Web site <www.ABANES.org> to electronically submit their application for the pain medicine examination, download the application from the ABA Web site or request the form by fax at (919) 881-2575 or by writing ABA at 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 510, Raleigh, NC 27607-7506. The standard application deadline is February 15, 2003. ABA will consider late applications received by March 15, 2003.



 

FEATURES

Governmental Affairs

ARTICLES

DEPARTMENTS


The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views, policies or actions of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

NL Archives

Information for Authors