Collaborations

Advancing Excellence in Ophthalmology, Together

Active collaboration within the ophthalmic community and medicine as a whole is part our enduring commitment to uphold the public trust and support ophthalmologists in our shared pursuit of clinical excellence. As the nation's first medical specialty certifying board, we recognize that the challenges and opportunities facing health care today demand not only individual accountability but collective responsibility. That's why the ABO actively engages with a range of respected organizations to strengthen the integrity, relevance, and value of board certification.

Our Commitments

✧ Protecting the Public Trust

Every ABO partnership begins with a guiding question: "How does this serve patients?" We collaborate to ensure that certification remains a trusted symbol of physician competence and professionalism. Collaborations help protect the public by promoting:

• Evidence-based medicine
• Transparent expectations of ophthalmologists' knowledge, judgment, and skill
• Patient access to qualified eye physicians and surgeons

✧ Supporting the Profession

We recognize that certification must reflect the realities of ophthalmic practice and support physicians in their pursuit of meaningful improvement. Through thoughtful dialogue with organizations that represent and educate ophthalmologists, we work to:

• Celebrate subject matter expertise
• Minimize administrative burden
• Encourage career-long learning and innovation

✧ Strengthening Board Certification

As a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the ABO contributes to the evolution of board certification across all specialties. We join national conversations about:

• Physician competencies and standards
• Summative and formative assessment strategies
• Patient safety and quality improvement

Our Collaborators

Collaborating with recognized, trusted organizations in the medical and ophthalmic community helps the ABO maintain transparency in how standards are developed and maintained, authenticity in listening to stakeholder voices, and accountability in our mission to serve the public. While not exhaustive, our partners include:

National Medical Organizations

American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
As one of 24 ABMS Member Boards, the ABO upholds unified standards for initial and continuing certification. We partner directly with ABMS on initiatives such as the Visiting Scholars Program, which creates research opportunities for early career ophthalmologists. We also share insights and coordinate with other ABMS-recognized specialty boards about cross-specialty initiatives.

Ophthalmic Organizations

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
The mission of the Academy is to educate and advocate on behalf of the profession while the ABO's mission is to verify knowledge, judgment, and skills. Although the two organizations work independently, we also collaborate to support various mentoring programs and the development of the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP). ABO Director Pratap Challa, MD, is the ABO's representative to the Academy Council.

Subspecialty Societies
Currently, 12 organizations representing various subspecialty practice areas or affinity groups participate in the ABO Liaison Program, which designates a representative society member to supply critical perspective and expertise to help shape assessment content and program innovations.

Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO)
The ABO works closely with program directors, department chairs, and other academic leaders in ophthalmology to ensure the continued advancement of standards for ophthalmologists-in-training as they prepare for board certification.

American Ophthalmological Society (AOS)
The American Ophthalmological Society is a medical society of ophthalmologists. Membership in the society is via nomination from current members and the submission of a scholarly thesis. For several years, the AOS and ABO have co-hosted a symposium at the AAO Annual Meeting.

Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC)
The ABO partners with the AAO and OMIC on a live annual webinar series focused on quality improvement strategies and diagnostic accuracy. OMIC awards a discount to insureds for their participation in this webinar, the AAO provides CME credit, and participation counts toward ABO Continuing Certification requirements.

ACGME Residency Committee in Ophthalmology
The ACGME's Review Committee monitors and accredits ophthalmology residency training programs in the United States. The ABO CEO is an ad hoc member and the ABO nominates at-large members to the committee.

EyeSustain
The ABO is part of a global coalition of organizations committed to promoting the sustainability in eye care. Currently, optional readings on the Quarterly Questions® article menu focus on reducing surgical waste. Drs. Cynthia Beauchamp, Board Director, and George Bartley, CEO serve as ABO Liaisons to EyeSustain.

National Medical Association–Section on Ophthalmology
The American Board of Ophthalmology contributes annually to the Rabb-Venable Research Program, which supports medical students, residents, and fellows in ophthalmology who are underrepresented in medicine or who desire to work in underserved communities.

Ophthalmic Journals
More than 35 peer-reviewed journals support the ABO's Quarterly Questions® program by providing full-text access to article content featured on the reading menu.

Health Systems & Credentialing Bodies

Although the ABO does not set requirements for licensure or membership to hospital staffs, many academic institutions, hospitals, insurance companies, and credentialing organizations use ABO certification data to support informed hiring, privileging, and oversight.