American Board of Medical Specialties

American Board of Medical Specialties

Abbreviation	ABMS
Formation	1933
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Chicago, IL
Location	United States
Official language	English
Chair	Michael L. Carius
Chair-Elect	Rebecca L. Johnson
Secretary-Treasurer	Susan M. Ramin
President/CEO	Richard E. Hawkins
Website	www.abms.org

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a non-profit organization established in 1933 which represents 24 broad areas of specialty medicine. ABMS is the largest and most widely recognized physician-led specialty certification organization in the United States.^[1] The other certification organizations in the United States are the American Board of Physician Specialties (recognized in parts of the United States) and American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.

ABMS Member Boards have maintained a rigorous process for the evaluation and Board certification of medical specialists, though none of the processes have been confirmed by independent third-party review. They certify specialists in more than 150 medical specialties and subspecialties. More than 80 percent of practicing physicians in the United States have achieved Board Certification by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards. The Member Boards support lifelong learning by physicians through the ABMS Maintenance of Certification (ABMS MOC) program. ABMS also collaborates with other professional medical organizations and agencies^[vague] to set standards for graduate medical school education and accreditation of residency programs. ABMS makes information available to the public about the Board Certification of physicians and their participation in the ABMS MOC program.