A Word from Our Chair

As 2024 is nearing an end, as in our personal lives, ABO is looking back at this year’s accomplishments, the things that still need to be done, and with anticipation, the things yet to come.  Time has many facets and on occasion, we have plenty of it, and on other occasions, we do not have enough of it.  We all strive to use time in the best, most efficient way possible, to achieve our goals. 

ABO too appreciates the effort and time commitment needed to obtain and maintain board certification.  The Maintenance of Certification Program, with its Continuous Assessment Program, provides its Diplomates with an efficient and effective way to maintain and improve their clinical knowledge.  As the year draws closer to an end, completion of the final 2024 CAP assessment, along with entering  CE points into Learning Builder is a task that many still need to complete.   The good news is—ABO is here to help! No matter how far off the MOC track you have fallen, the ABO staff are experts at finding a path to help you maintain your board certification. From retaking missed or failed CAP assessments, to answering questions about CE and point requirements or annual MOC payments, we can help relieve any stress or concern over MOC completion. Reach out to us at [email protected] or 314-983-4226.

We invite our Diplomates to assist us with another end-of-year task, which is nominating a new public member to the ABO Board of Directors. Our current public member, Russell Newman, has served on the ABO board for six years and will complete his term in June 2025. Russell is the CEO of Essential Anesthesia Management in Austin, Texas, and has provided key insight from the public’s perspective as well as valuable contributions from a financial and management perspective. As we search for a new public member, we invite Diplomates to forward the names of potential candidates for consideration to [email protected]. For more information on the qualifications for a public member, click here.

As we look back on this past year, many Diplomates have begun the process for a Certificate of Added Qualification. This, in either glaucoma or cornea/contact lenses, provides our Diplomates an opportunity to pursue a credential in a focused area demonstrating advanced knowledge. This is an accomplishment well worth noting.

As we look forward to 2025, our new Student Candidate program is expected to launch in January. We are excited about introducing future optometrists to the importance of lifelong learning and assessment. We hope our Diplomates, educators, and colleagues will share the news and encourage students to participate in this valuable program!

No matter how exciting or overwhelming end-of-year tasks and commitments may seem, having support to help check those to-dos off your list is invaluable. We offer our support and guidance by helping Diplomates and Candidates meet all board certification and maintenance of certification requirements so they can get the most out of their lifelong learning experience. We sincerely appreciate the support of our Diplomates in helping ABO achieve our goals for growing and expanding board certification and ultimately elevating the profession and the care provided to our patients. 

With much appreciation for all of you and all you do!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Diane Adamczyk, OD, FAAO
Chair, American Board of Optometry