Diplomate Testimonials

The American Board of Dermatology has made the Maintenance of Certification process as easy as possible. I am very grateful for the personalized Table of Participation that is readily available online and easy to understand.  The ABD support staff have been very helpful with questions regarding MOC when I contact the office. Their service has been invaluable to me.

Dawn Marie Davis, MD

Recredentialling is now a part of our lives. In order to be a participant in the "House of Medicine", we need to abide by the regulations that have been placed upon us. The ABD has developed a pathway for us to achieve this goal that is neither too onerous nor unattainable. If you embrace the learning process with even a minor effort you will find recredentialling both academically satisfying and clinically relevant.

Daniel Finn, MD

It is understandable that many view recertification and Maintenance of Certification as just one more added responsibility on an overflowing plate of requirements…... But the ABD has done a very good job of focusing their efforts on making the recertification examinations fair and easy to take. I have recertified twice now, and the last time was in 2013. The exam questions were well-written and focused on clinical dermatology. The process at the testing center was straightforward, and reflected the hard work that I know goes into creating a fair and relevant recertification examination. As I move into the area of M.O.C. I am impressed by the excellent website and the “in person” assistance available to answer our questions. I am still not entirely on the bandwagon for some of the government-initiated requirements on our time, but the ABD is doing its best job to make them less onerous and to ensure that we are able to comply with the process in a smooth, understandable manner. 

Glenn Goldman, MD

I am one of the 8% of lifetime diplomate dermatologists that opted to recertify volutarily. As recertification was necessary to retain my board certification status in pediatric dermatology, I figured that I might as well take the general examination. Admittedly, I was a skeptic regarding why all these MOC programs are necessary and what would they really accomplish - after all, I keep up with the literature reasonably well. It all seemed like another layer of administrative hassle - would I get anything worthwhile out of it? The answer is a resounding yes. I realized this when I took the mandatory patient safety module after the exam. That MOC program put it all in perspective - it was great. It forced me to realize how important it is to be a lifetime student. The goal may be to show the world that you are an expert. The real purpose of the MOC program is to assure that you are.

Warren R. Heymann, MD

I was Board Certified in 1987, early enough to be ‘grandfathered in’, and therefore did not have be recertified or participate in maintenance of certification (MOC).  I initially decided that with all the regulatory burdens as well as my other obligations I was too busy to participate.  I simply planned to continue to earn my CME from meetings, reading and audio.  Upon further reflection, however, I thought that if I participated in the MOC-D and used some different tools to broaden my knowledge base it might benefit me, and more importantly, my patients.

So, with reluctance and trepidation I decided to enter the scary, confusing and daunting world of MOC.   It turns out it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. The MOC table is easy to navigate and with a small amount of planning the components can be achieved with minimal headache, within the allotted time, and with sufficient choices available.  The American Board of Dermatology (ABD) website provides easy and direct access to the resources and options necessary to fulfill the components and includes web based or meeting (e.g., AAD meeting) based participation.  The program also ties in with PQRS and software offered by the AAD.  There have been a couple times when I’ve fallen behind and received an email, with plenty of time to spare, reminding me that a component was due.   Looking ahead at the components that I need to complete, my next task is to participate in peer and patient communication surveys.  This requirement has encouraged me to think about the many aspects of these relationships as I go through my day. In addition, I think that it is imperative that we as dermatologists are preemptive and participate and plan our own regulations- if we don’t do it will be done for us.

Risa M. Jampel, MD

During the Fall of 2012, I was looking over the questions for the 2013 ABD Recertification Exam.  I had just finished reviewing a question about a woman with what looked like livedo reticularis and a history of TIA’s.  Within 2 hours, a patient with the same signs and symptoms walked into my office  Needless to say, I impressed my patient’s other providers by making the diagnosis of Sneddon syndrome.  Very satisfying, and most importantly, my patient got directed right away into the appropriate evaluation and treatment avenues.

This experience considerably enriched my enthusiasm for the remainder of the review.  Never let anyone tell you that the ABD Recertification Exam isn’t a worthwhile learning experience!

Stuart J. Kolner, MD

Dermatologists’ commitment to lifelong learning is well-recognized by our patients and colleagues. The American Board of Dermatology’s approach to recertification honors that commitment in an efficient, thoughtful, and respectful way. The Board's Directors have capably identified the decade's most important advances for our benefit. Our patients deserve each us to maintain the knowledge level which we all trust this Board to certify. I respectfully urge every Diplomate to review this highly relevant and carefully selected material. You will find the time and effort needed to prepare for the recertifying exam to be most worthwhile.

Louis Kuchnir, MD

I am a private dermatologist practicing in a dermatologic group.  I am not involved in academic medicine.  Although I have a lifetime certificate, I took the ABD recertification test in 1999 and 2009.  After I passed the 2009 test, I less than enthusiastically decided to participate in the Maintenance of Certification Program.

I did this for several reasons.  I was not sure what the government, hospitals, and insurance companies were going to require and I felt that participating in MOC would be the best way to prove I was staying current.  I also felt that if medico-legal problems arose it would indicate continuing competence.  With dermatologic care being rendered by providers at all levels from primary physicians to a nurse practitioner in the southeast corner of the local pharmacy, it would set me apart as truly the authoritative source of information and treatment.

What surprised me was how useful I found the MOC exercises to be; nor were they as odious as I thought.  The patient safety module took a little longer than I anticipated but I did make some changes in my practice from what I had learned.  The Dermatology Self Assessment Program I purchased from the Academy was informative and enjoyable.  With both the safety module and the self assessment I could do them at my own pace. The hospitals with which I am affiliated all require yearly CME hours so the MOC requirements for CME were what I had to do anyway.

I would recommend to anyone to give MOC a try.  I feel that it helps me keep current and distinguishes me from non dermatologists who offer skin care.  It is less onerous than it seems and is actually pleasurable.

Christopher G Rehme, MD