Take a Minute - March 13, 2008

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American Board of Medical Genetics

Business & Program Directors Meeting

March 13, 2008

PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Cynthia A. Moore

Cynthia Moore welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the ABMG Board of Directors:

ABMG launched its new website, which incorporates a new look that configures its various components in a more intuitive and user-friendly manner, while providing current information.

ACGME UPDATE – There are currently 48 ABMG-accredited Medical Genetics residency programs.

Number of Medical Genetics Residents in Accredited & Combined Programs:

Future ABMG business meetings will be held at ACMG annual meetings only. However, ABMG will continue to hold Open Forums at both the ACMG and ASHG annual meetings.
 

SECRETARY’S REPORT - Tina M. Cowan

Notes from the Combined Business and Program Directors Meeting will be posted on the ABMG website under Resources & Services/ Business Meeting Minutes.
 

TREASURER’S REPORT - Cynthia M. Powell

2006-2007 Actuals:

Balance in Citibank/Smith Barney account as of 12/31/2007: $1,111,561


COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Accreditation Committee - Jean Amos Wilson
Program directors now have online access to the annual reports and accreditation documents. The Committee is reviewing accreditation applications and anticipates that decision letters will be mailed out the week of April 14th.

The combined accredited programs are listed on the ABMG website. Below are the numbers and types of combined programs currently accredited by ABMG:

Combined Pediatrics/Genetics - 17
Combined maternal Fetal Medicine/Genetics -8
Combined Internal Medicine/Genetics - 6
Combined OBGY/Genetics - None

Credentials Committee - Margretta R. Seashore
The Bulletin of Information is now available online on the ABMG website under Training & Certification. The application deadline for the 2009 certification examination is November 30, 2008. Exact examination dates are not yet confirmed but will most likely be held August 17-21, 2009.

Laboratory/Training Directors and Program Directors must sign off on logbooks. Logbook approvals must be received in the ABMG Administrative Office by December 31, 2008 for applicants who have completed training by December 31, 2008 and by March 1, 2009 for applicants who will complete training by July 31, 2009. Logbooks will be reviewed on a continuous basis.

A new rule has gone into effect for the 2011 examination cycle: Applicants must apply for certification within 5 years of completing their training.

 

MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION – Karla J. Matteson

EMOC Participation as of March 4, 2008:

* Counted in terms of certificates, not individuals, since some diplomates hold multiple certifications.

Program Directors and Laboratory Training Program Directors, regardless of year certified, must participate in EMOC; they were reminded by various means to register for EMOC by logging into the ABMG portal and fulfilling the Part I requirements under My Profile and paying the annual fee online.

Applications are now being accepted for the Part III comprehensive, computer-based examination. The examination will be held the week of December 1-5, 2008 and offered again in 2009.

Development of Part IV modules is currently in development with ACMG.


OTHER BUSINESS – Karla J. Matteson
Medical Biochemical Genetics Subspecialty - Logbook requirements for this subspecialty have been posted on the ABMG website under Training & Certification/Subspecialties.

1. There are two pathways for getting certified in this subspecialty:

    

   1. via an ACGME accredited program [ACGME has already begun offering accreditation in this area], and

   2. by experience, in which there must be a minimum of 25% of time spent in the treatment and management of metabolic disorders.

       

      Note: The “By experience” pathway will be available for only three examination cycles, beginning in 2009.

       

2. Qualifications: Applicants must be board certified in Clinical Genetics or they must hold certification with one of the other ABMS boards. Deadline for submission for the first examination cycle is November 30, 2008.

NEW BUSINESS

Seeking New Board Members:

• The terms of Arthur Ayslworth, MD, and Jacquie Hecht, PhD, will end on December 31, 2008.

• The call for nominations deadline to replace the two outgoing Board members is March 21, 2008.

• The ABMG Bylaws have changed to increase the number of laboratory representatives [2 for each specialty] by eliminating one PhD Medical Geneticist slot on the Board.

New breakdown of Board positions:

Members of the 2008 Nominating Committee:

Daynna J. Wolff, PhD, Chair
Lynne M. Bird, MD
H. Eugene Hoyme, MD
Maren T. Scheuner, MD, MPH, Board Representative
Stuart Schwartz, PhD

Position Description for new Board Members:
Seeking: One clinical geneticist and one clinical cytogeneticist
Term: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2014
Eligibility requirements:

• Diplomate of ABMG

• Active in EMOC or willing to become active in EMOC

• Certified in either Clinical Genetics or Clinical Cytogenetics

• Has not served on ABMG Board of Directors for at least six or more years

• At least 5 years’ experience in the field

• Leadership experience with other volunteer genetics organizations

• Experience with item writing for examinations

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Attendance at 2 or 3 Board meetings per year, usually held at the ACMG and ASHG annual meetings

• Participation on conference calls every other month

• Participation on one of the primary committees [Accreditation or Certification]

• Participation as either a book chief or co-book chief for the primary examination or EMOC examination

Diplomates who currently serve on the ASHG or ACMG Board of Directors or are chairs of their primary committees are not eligible to apply by agreement with these other organizations.

Interested parties should send their CV and a letter of interest to abmg@abmg.org.  The deadline for submission of the CV and letter of interest is March 21, 2008.
 

Seeking new Executive Director:

• Search Committee has been appointed to seek a new Executive Director.

• Karla J. Matteson will retire at the end of 2009.

• The job posting for this position will be placed on the ABMG website sometime during the summer of 2008.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 8 pm.

The Open Forum will immediately follow the Business Meeting in the same location.