The Monthly Dose: December 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of "The Monthly Dose"!

Let’s dig in!

A Year of Progress, Thanks to You

Dear Colleagues,

As we close out another year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of myself and our board of directors for your ongoing support of the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS). Together, we’ve made remarkable progress in advocating for a less burdensome, more clinically relevant pathway for continuous certification.

This year, your support has helped us:

• Increase the number of hospitals recognizing NBPAS certification.
• Grow the number of NBPAS-certified physicians.
• Strengthen outreach and advocacy efforts as we work with state and federal entities to ensure physicians’ voices are heard.
• Expand resources and tools to help diplomates engage with their Medical Executive Committees (MECs).
• Counter misinformation and bring financial and scientific transparency to physician certification.

There is still work to be done and we can not do it alone. We are grateful for your continued support in our David versus Goliath effort to challenge the status quo and achieve change that is meaningful (and universal) for all physicians.

On behalf of NBPAS and our board of directors, I would ask you to please consider making a year-end contribution to support our important mission. 

Your tax-deductible donation of any amount by December 31st will directly support:

• Expanding acceptance of NBPAS certification nationwide.
• Educating public leaders on the harmful effects of the ABMS monopoly and providing an achievable roadmap of solutions.
• Developing new resources and strategies to support physicians in advocating for choice in continuous certification.

Together, we can ensure physicians have both a voice and a choice in their continuous certification pathway.

We are confident that with your support, NBPAS will continue to grow into our 10th year, and effectively challenge the deeply entrenched certification monopoly. NBPAS was founded to give physicians a choice and we are honored to continue this work on behalf of all physicians.

Thank you for standing with NBPAS. I’m deeply grateful for your work as physicians, and your support for our efforts as we look ahead to another year of progress and meaningful change.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year.

Warm Regards,

Paul Teirstein, MD
President, NBPAS

NBPAS is excited to announce that it has been added to the HealthStream verification system, a platform used by over 80% of hospitals nationwide to verify physician credentials. This integration makes it easier for hospitals and healthcare organizations to confirm NBPAS certification, reinforcing our credibility and growing acceptance nationwide. By joining HealthStream, NBPAS-certified physicians gain increased visibility and streamlined credentialing, advancing our mission to support physicians and prioritize lifelong learning, high-quality standards, and improved patient care.

Adding NBPAS to the bylaws is straightforward after a vote from a hospital’s Medical Executive Committee (MEC). There are several variations to “acceptance” language. Here are a few recent examples to share with your MEC:

1. Each Physician Practitioner must be currently certified by the specialty board appropriate to the Clinical Privileges being requested, either by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS), or National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) and must maintain that Board certification during membership on the Medical Staff.
2. Each physician shall be initially certified by the specialty board appropriate to the clinical privileges being requested, either by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and shall maintain continuous certification during membership on the medical staff through the ABMS, AOA, or National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS).
3. "Board Certification" shall mean certification in one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) may be used for continuous certification if initial certification was granted by one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association.

Champions of Change

Thank you to all NBPAS physicians who go above and beyond to champion life-long learning while advocating for competition and choice in continuing certification.

Meet our December Champion of Change: Ellen McKnight, MD

NBPAS is grateful to Dr. McKnight for her tireless efforts in service of her patients, the public, future physicians in-training, and for her advocacy on behalf of NBPAS physicians in Florida. Thank you, Dr. McKnight for all you do!

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center - Karen also presented virtually to the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) of Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. NBPAS received a warm reception and is grateful to NBPAS diplomate, Vadim Finkielstein MD, who serves on the MEC and has been a wonderful advocate for bringing NBPAS to the hospital and health system.