American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Statement on Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission Recommendations

Dallas, Texas (March 27, 2019) – The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) supports the American Board of Medical Specialties’ (ABMS) plans to address the recommendations shared in the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission’s final report. The report, presented to the ABMS Board of Directors (BOD) in mid-February, outlines actions intended to make continuing certification programs more meaningful, relevant, and of value to stakeholders.

“ABOG is wholly supportive of the recommendations put forth by the Commission,” said Susan Ramin, MD, ABOG’s Associate Executive Director of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). “Our organization has been working for several years to make our continuing certification program as relevant and as valuable as possible for our diplomates. The Commission’s recommendations align well with our ongoing strategies and plans to consistently improve and evolve our program. As medicine continually advances and our diplomates’ needs change, our program will continue to evolve to meet their needs as effectively as possible.


With continuous learning and relevance in mind, one of ABOG’s initiatives launched in 2016 as a pilot program is the Performance Pathway. Approved for adoption by the ABMS in May 2018, the Performance Pathway integrates the Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLS) component and the periodic external assessment (examination) by allowing diplomates to meet the examination requirement if they read pertinent articles and maintain a ≥86% score on LLS throughout their six-year MOC cycle. ABOG survey data gathered while the program was still a pilot indicated a high percentage of diplomates who participated agreed that this learning approach provides higher value and relevance to their practices. Learn more about Performance Pathway. Diplomates must meet all other MOC program requirements, such as Professionalism and Professional Standing, to be eligible for Performance Pathway. Diplomates whose LLS scores fall below 86% must take the MOC examination in Year 6.

Additionally, ABOG has worked closely with OB GYN societies for several decades, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), to help physicians keep up with new and emerging medical information. As part of this effort, and within its article-based component (LLS), ABOG also created an Emerging Topics category to help physicians stay abreast of critical information on topics like the Zika virus and the opioid crisis. And with the rise in maternal mortality and morbidity rates, ABOG encourages physician participation in the registries working to track and analyze data in this area by awarding Improvement in Medical Practice MOC credit for registry participation. ABOG has partnered with ACOG to offer MOC credit for participation in many maternal initiatives using safety bundles of the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM). 

ABOG greatly appreciates the work of the Vision for the Future Commission to address the evolving needs of physicians to keep up-to-date with advances in medicine and working to ensure that patient safety and quality patient care remain at the forefront of the mission across the entire boards community. The full Commission report can be read here.

About ABOG

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States. Founded in 1927, ABOG is one of 24 specialty Boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Based in Dallas, ABOG serves candidates and diplomates in the United States and Canada in the ob-gyn specialty, plus several subspecialties, including Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Gynecologic Oncology; and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.