Expert Specialty Certification and Verification – Part IX

In 1933 the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) began certifying physicians to assure they were qualified to practice in their respective specialties and subspecialties.  The following is a list of the 24 ABMS Member Boards:

Allergy & Immunology                                             Otolaryngology

Anesthesiology                                                         Pathology

Colon & Rectal Surgery                                          Pediatrics

Emergency Medicine                                               Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Family Medicine                                                       Plastic Surgery

Internal Medicine                                                     Preventive Medicine

Medical Genetics                                                     Psychiatry & Neurology

Neurological Surgery                                               Radiology

Nuclear Medicine                                                     Surgery

Obstetrics & Gynecology                                        Thoracic Surgery

Ophthalmology                                                         Urology

Orthopaedic Surgery

 

The American Osteopathic Association was formed in 1897.  In 2015 it began creating a unified accreditation system.  Below is a list of 18 American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Certifying Boards:

 

Anesthesiology                                                         Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology

Dermatology                                                             Orthopedic Surgery

Emergency Medicine                                               Pathology

Family Physicians                                                    Pediatrics

Internal Medicine                                                     Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Neurology & Psychiatry                                          Preventive Medicine

Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine                           Proctology

Nuclear Medicine                                                     Radiology

Obstetrics & Gynecology                                        Surgery

 

The following is a list of 9 National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties (NCRDSCB) and Certifying Boards:

 

Dental Public Health                                                Orthodontics

Endodontics                                                              Pediatric Dentistry

Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology                               Periodontology

Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology                               Prosthodontics

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

 

There are other self-designated boards, outside the ABMS, AOA, and NCRDSCB.  Most self-designated boards are bona fide credentials that are only awarded to qualified specialists, but some can easily be obtained, without any special training.  A few are fictitious titles that can be bought; others are one-man organizations.  If the medical expert or dental expert lists a self-designated board that is questionable, the expert may be discredited by the opposing lawyer, or the judge may not let the expert testify as a medical expert or a dental expert.  Your lawyer should carefully check the expert’s credentials.

 

The Rule Is: Check the expert’s credentials and learn everything about the doctor before you entrust the expert with your case.

 

Contact us at 800-225-JDMD (5363) to have your medical or dental malpractice cases reviewed by JD.MD’s qualified expert witnesses.