A Word from Our Chair

February 12, 2020
Paul Hodge, OD, FAAO

The first year of the American Board of Optometry Continuous Assessment Program (CAP) is officially in the history books for our first cycle of Diplomates. We appreciate the feedback that we are receiving from those who were enrolled in CAP for 2019. We listen carefully to your insight, suggestions and opinions to improve this important tool. The next cycle of Diplomates are beginning CAP in 2020 with the Posterior Segment assessment that is currently available on the ABO website. I can honestly say that I look forward to each assessment and I find CAP to be enlightening and a great help to me professionally.

ABO Board Certification is challenging to achieve and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) should be educational and challenging to help us improve our knowledge base and clinical decision-making skills. ABO’s MOC program offers resources including studies, research, and the latest clinical practice guidelines, allowing you to more easily keep up with changes in the profession. Diplomates can receive up to 51 hours of continuing education credit over their three-year cycle through the CAP program and by completing the four annual webinars, either live or through the ABO website, offered each year as a value-added benefit.

The ABO is in the process of naming state Ambassadors to serve as state liaisons and I wish them well as they take on this two-year commitment. I would like to thank the ABO Board of Trustees for their dedication to the ABO mission and our profession. The CAP program has been developed and implemented almost exclusively through the tireless efforts of Dr. Catherine Hines who serves as our Director of Education and Assessment. Thank you, Dr. Hines, for your continued work on behalf of the ABO. I also want to thank the certification test item writers and CAP item writers, item reviewers and standard setting committee members for their time and efforts developing these platforms.

Finally, I would like to recognize and thank the ABO Executive Director, April Wilhelm. Our organization is very fortunate to have April as our ED and I strongly believe that we would not be where we are today without her. She works very closely with Dr. Hines to maintain our national certifications and with the ABO Board to maintain and improve our certification and CAP programs. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your chair. I firmly believe that ABO Board Certification and Maintenance of Certification are crucial to the future of optometry

Paul Hodge, OD
Chair, American Board of Optometry

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