Dear Colleague,
As the year draws to a close, I am reaching out to you with an opportunity to change medicine for the better. At the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), we are spearheading the movement to provide real and fair competition in a continuous certification market controlled by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
We believe that the power wielded by ABMS over physicians’ lives and livelihoods is unacceptable. ABMS decertifies physicians who refuse to participate in an ABMS MOC™ program and reports this “uncertified” status to hospitals, payors, state medical boards, and others nationwide. In close and exclusive collaborations with other arms of organized medicine, ABMS has created what amounts to a collective boycott, entangling physicians in a credentialing monopoly that stifles choice and burdens dedicated physicians everywhere. This exclusivity also stifles employment opportunities, imposes unnecessary barriers on highly qualified physicians, and worst of all - reduces access to medical care. The image below says it all - note how the arms of organized medicine work together, unmonitored, and with relationships that we believe are notable for serious conflicts of interest.
Here’s what is clear. After 20+ years of trying, there is still no high-quality evidence to suggest that MOC improves patient care or makes better doctors. Armed with this information, NBPAS is actively petitioning many of the above-listed organizations to recognize and include NBPAS physicians for the purpose of continuing certification. No single entity should be able to wield an expensive, arduous, and unproven process that taxes our medical system, adds to physician burnout, and further exacerbates the known and growing physician shortage.
We founded NBPAS with a mission to break this monopoly and offer a more relevant, flexible, and supportive certification pathway for physicians across the United States. We have made significant strides, certifying over 11,000 physicians, and gaining acceptance from hundreds of hospitals. However, our fight for fair competition is ongoing, and we need your support.
Please consider making a year-end tax-deductible donation to NBPAS. Your contribution will directly fund our efforts to challenge the status quo and offer a viable alternative for physicians seeking a more reasonable and relevant certification pathway.
I also want to thank our NBPAS diplomates for being an important part of our momentum for change. If you are not yet certified by NBPAS, please consider applying here.
Thank you for your unwavering support.
Warm regards,
Paul Teirstein, MD, DNBPAS
President, NBPAS