Press Releases

The American Board of Pediatrics recently co-sponsored the Forum on Organizational Quality Improvement, along with The Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program and the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The event was held May 13, 2015, in Rosemont, IL, and showcased initiatives within the ABMS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program. This particular pathway allows physicians to submit QI projects through their institutions for MOC credit approval. Discussions centered around leadership concepts, best practices by Portfolio Program sponsors, and successes and obstacles faced by participants.

Although Dr. Calvin J. Sia earned a permanent certificate in 1960, he chose to maintain his certification throughout his clinical career. He last recertified in 1987 before transitioning into retirement.

Hawaii primary care pediatrician Calvin J. Sia, MD, FAAP, is considered “the grandfather” of medical home concept of care for children, which provides patients a personal general pediatrician who will monitor and coordinate care, even to outside subspecialists and other treatment facilities.

The patient in Dr. Shelly Voet’s examining room was at risk for diabetes: She was obese. Her grandfather had diabetes. Her blood sugar and insulin levels were elevated.  

“She was pre-diabetic,” Dr. Voet says. “And obesity is a hard topic to talk about.”

But Dr. Voet knew how to counsel this patient and her family. Her practice, Pediatric Associates in Crestview Hills, Ky., had developed plans for counseling overweight and obese patients as part of their process for earning recognition as an NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH).

Although Dr. Catherine D. DeAngelis has a permanent certificate in General Pediatrics, she chose to maintain her certification throughout her clinical career and beyond. She continued to recertify while serving as editor-in-chief of JAMA.