ABFAS Newsletter - Fall 2016

ABFAS NEWSLETTER Fall 2016

What’s Inside IMPORTANT ABFAS DEADLINES: Page 9 NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS: Page 4 ADVERTISING POLICIES: Page 5

Changes to Case Review Requirements!

Contemplating the ABFAS Case Review but not sure if you’ll meet the requirements? The new changes, approved by the ABFAS board this year, may help. ABFAS has expanded the list of categories eligible for case review. This expansion will allow practitioners with an RRA focus to sit for the Foot Certification exam. DPMs who have a limb salvage specialty-type practice will also benefit as there are more types of procedures included in the foot surgery requirements.

ABFAS is committed to ensuring its certification process addresses changes in the field.

ABFAS is committed to ensuring its certification process addresses changes in the field. The expanded categories will provide increased diversity in assessing a candidate’s overall surgical skills. We believe that this change in the case review process assists those seeking certification. For more details, please see ABFAS Document 220, which you’ll find on the ABFAS website.

A Message from the President

Autumn is a time of transitions.

As the leaves start to change and as our children head back to school, I am honored to assume the role of President of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). I have been involved with ABFAS since 2000, where I began involvement in the organization’s work by serving on a task force and then as a member of the first-ever ABFAS In-training Exam Committee. I have been a member of ABFAS’ Cognitive Exam Committee and most recently chaired the Board Certification Content Development Committee, which spearheaded the new computer-based case review process. My tenure on the ABFAS Board of Directors began in 2010. I’ve witnessed some momentous and successful changes for ABFAS and the transitions have been very smooth, thanks to the hard work of the Board of Directors, staff, and thousands of volunteer podiatric providers.

ABFAS has successfully implemented a new Part II exam process, replacing the oral examinations with a combination of a Computer-based Patient Simulation Examination (CBPS) and an electronic case review process. We have adopted a new name, and hired a new executive director. All of this has occurred in the past two and half years. The next and on-going challenge for our organization is how to make a good exam even better. Strong organizations and winning teams scrutinize their work to determine what is working well and what processes can be improved.

Perhaps one of the most exciting changes for the 2016-17 certification cycle is the expansion of eligible cases for the case review portion of the certification process which better reflects the scope of current podiatric practices. As described previously by Dr. Chris Lotufo, (Immediate Past-President and super hard-working leader), ABFAS analyzed practice patterns and found that many candidates have a trauma-based, or mostly rearfoot-reconstructive and ankle (RRA) surgery type practice. These individuals may substitute RRA cases to satisfy the foot surgery case volume requirements. In addition, there are more types of procedures in the foot surgery volume requirements that recognize individuals who might have a limb salvage specialty-type practice. (See cover article and Document 220 for additional details.)

The ABFAS motto is “A credential you can trust.” There are hundreds of individuals who have dedicated countless hours to evaluate and continuously improve the processes that create that credential, and I am proud of this organization, and to be a part of the leadership that advances our profession. Our website (ABFAS.org) has links to all our documents as well as information about how to contact ABFAS. In addition, we will be conducting another membership survey in the spring of 2017. This is your organization; please let us know how we may assist you. We need your input!

Mindy Benton, DPM, FACFAS President

One of the ways we can improve is to actively seek feedback from our members and prospective members. What are we doing right? What do we need to work on? How can we assist our members more effectively?

One of the things we have heard from you is the need for improved communication with the ABFAS office (see “An Inside Look at ABFAS,” on page 10). Another item is to update the online study guide, including additional CBPS cases. An ad hoc committee has been working on this for the past year and have done some preliminary work for the 2017-18 certification cycle. Their goal is to have a new online study system in place by the end of 2017. The ABFAS board and executive director will present updated bylaws to the membership for approval this winter. The proposed changes to the bylaws reflect how our organization has developed over the past decade and simplifies them so that ABFAS policies are more clearly worded and allow the organization to operate more efficiently.

The ABFAS Board of Directors

From left to right: Matthew Williams, Will Adams, Michael VanPelt, Mindy Benton Keith Jacobson, Chris Lotufo, Danny Chuong, Marty Chaney Not pictured: Amberly Paradoa

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Advertising Policies

ABFAS Welcomes Newly Elected Officials ABFAS members elected two new directors and re-elected another during the recent Board of Directors elections. Congratulations and welcome to the two new members of the ABFAS Board of Directors, William R. Adams, DPM, and Amberly C. Paradoa, DPM. Congratulations also to Danny Choung, DPM, who was elected to another three-year term.

Three director positions were open for the 2016 election.

Dr. Choung was re-elected to a second three-year term, while Drs. Adams and Paradoa were each elected to new three-year terms. The terms became effective September 1, 2016 and end on August 31, 2019. Drs. Adams and Paradoa will then be eligible to be nominated for re-election.

At its July meeting, the Board of Directors elected Matthew Williams, DPM, President-Elect, and Danny Choung, DPM, Secretary/Treasurer. They assumed their new offices on September 1, 2016. Mindy Benton, DPM, assumed the role of President and Christopher Lotufo, DPM, became Immediate Past-president also on this date.

Many thanks and best wishes to Roya Mirmiran, DPM, for her hard work and dedication as a board member for the past three years.

ABFAS Bylaws Over the last few months, an ABFAS task force comprised of Martin Pressman, DPM, Michelle Butterworth, DPM, Roya Mirmiran, DPM, and Kathy Kreiter, ABFAS Executive Director, spent considerable time reviewing and revising the ABFAS bylaws. This is the first comprehensive review since ABFAS was founded in 1975. The ABFAS board approved the revisions at its September 2016 meeting, and in the next few months, you, the members, will vote on whether to accept them.

The task force’s goal was to make sure that the bylaws focused primarily on policy, not procedures, and reflected the current and strategic operations of the Board. The revisions also affirm policies such as having seven years from board qualification to become board certified.

You will receive a copy of the revised bylaws by the end of the year. Voting will be electronic for all ABFAS diplomates in good standing who are eligible to vote.

ABFAS maintains an advertising policy to help those who are board qualified and certified to appropriately promote their status. As a reminder, what follows is a brief excerpt of the ABFAS advertising policy document. The policy can be read in toto on our website at abfas.org/resources/documents.

It is important to note that you are responsible for advertising statements made on your behalf.

This means that you alone must know and follow the policies as outlined in the advertising policy document and understand that ABFAS will hold you responsible for any violations of the policy (see below for actions taken for misleading or deceptive advertising).

Advertising includes, but is not limited to the following means of communication:

1. Verbal statements made for the purpose of promoting your practice.

2. Any written statement used for promotional purposes.

3. Any electronic media such as television, radio, websites, email, social media, or the internet.

4. Ads may include your service on the Board of Directors, as a committee chair or member, or other official ABFAS committee assignment.

Advertising does not include:

1. Listing ABFAS Diplomate status on curricula vitae, peer-reviewed journal publications, academic textbooks, and applications for membership in healthcare organizations.

2. Listing ABFAS Board Qualified status on curricula vitae, peer-reviewed journal publications, academic textbooks, and applications for membership in healthcare organizations.

In order to maintain the integrity of the ABFAS brand, our advertising policy contains very specific actions for misleading or deceptive advertising. Actions for different statuses follows: ABFAS Diplomate An ABFAS Diplomate who advertises in a deceptive or misleading manner shall be notified by letter that the Board of Directors is evaluating her/his advertisement. The Board may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Issue a letter of warning that the Board will take further action against the member if the violation is not immediately halted.

2. Impose a fine of up to $5,000.

3. Revoke diplomate status. The Board of Directors will notify the member that her/his diplomate status is to be revoked and shall conduct a fair hearing as specified in the ABFAS Bylaws.

4. Notify the doctor’s state licensing board of any false or misleading advertisements pertaining to ABFAS status.

Board Qualified A Board Qualified podiatrist who advertises board status or who falsely represents diplomate status shall be notified by letter that the Board of Directors is evaluating her/his advertisement. The Board may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Issue a letter of warning that the Board may take further action if the advertisement is not corrected.

2. Prohibit the doctor from applying for ABFAS certified status for a period to be determined by the Board.

3. Notify the doctor’s state licensing board of any false or misleading advertisements pertaining to ABFAS status.

If you have questions about the advertising policy, please call.

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Thank You

How We Build a Didactic Exam

The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery depends upon numerous volunteers each year to plan, develop, and administer in-training, qualification, certification, recertification, and self-assessment examinations. In addition, the various committee work of the board would not be possible without the commitment of time and hard work of many more volunteers. Each year, ABFAS takes a moment to say “thank you” to all who helped make this past year a successful one, and who enable the board to continue to uphold the standards making ABFAS qualification and certification so widely recognized and valued.

Board of Directors

Mindy Benton, DPM, President Matthew Williams, DPM, President-Elect Danny Choung, DPM, Secretary/Treasurer Christopher Lotufo, DPM, Immediate Past President William Adams, DPM Dennis Chaney, DPM Keith Jacobson, DPM Amberly Paradoa, DPM Michael VanPelt, DPM

All Exam Committees Chair Samuel Mendicino, DPM

New Pathways/Case Review Committee

Daisy Sundstrom, DPM, Chair Charles Arena, DPM Mindy Benton, DPM John Cade, DPM Roya Mirmiran, DPM Madelin Ramil, DPM Matthew Williams, DPM

Case Reviewers

Daisy Sundstrom, DPM, Chair William Adams, DPM Charles Arena, DPM Mindy Benton, DPM Allan Boike, DPM David Buchan, DPM Albert Burns, DPM Michael D. Burns, DPM Michael J. Burns, DPM Michelle Butterworth, DPM John Cade, DPM Dennis Chaney, DPM Danny Choung, DPM Fredric Chussid, DPM Keith Cook, DPM Stephen Corey, DPM Michael Cornelison, DPM Randall Dei, DPM Anthony Domenigoni, DPM John Evans, DPM Michael Figura, DPM Timothy Ford, DPM Daniel Hatch, DPM Alberto Herrada, DPM Shane Hollawell, DPM Michael Isaac, DPM Keith Jacobson, DPM Craig Jex, DPM Ira Kraus, DPM Charles Lombardi, DPM

Michael Loshigian, DPM Christopher Lotufo, DPM John Marcoux, DPM Lauri McDaniel, DPM John McGarry, DPM Timothy Mineo, DPM Roya Mirmiran, DPM Gary Most, DPM Vincent Muscarella, DPM Alan Ng, DPM Aksone Nouvong, DPM James Nugent, DPM Robert Olson, DPM Amberly Paradoa, DPM Jesse Parks, DPM Oleg Petrov, DPM Martin Pressman, DPM Paul Quintavalle, DPM Roland Ramdass, DPM Madelin Ramil, DPM Ronald Ray, DPM Joshua Rhodenizer, DPM Barry Rosenblum, DPM Brett Sachs, DPM Richard Schachter, DPM Harry Schneider, DPM Desiree Scholl, DPM Vito Speciale, DPM Steven Spinner, DPM Katie Swanstrom, DPM Michael Theodoulou, DPM Michael Tran, DPM Joseph Treadwell, DPM Keith Tyson, DPM Michael VanPelt, DPM Eric Walter, DPM Gregory Webb, DPM Ralph Wentz, DPM Matthew Williams, DPM Randal Wraalstad, DPM

Online Study Guide Task Force

Cognitive Examinations Committee

Recertification RRA Task Force

Richard Schachter, DPM, Chair Albert Burns, DPM Michelle Butterworth, DPM Dennis Chaney, DPM Fredric Chussid, DPM Stephen Corey, DPM Thanh Dinh, DPM Alberto Herrada, DPM Dustin Kruse, DPM Christopher Lamy, DPM Charles Lombardi, DPM Christopher Lotufo, DPM John Marcoux, DPM John McGarry, DPM Timothy Mineo, DPM Alan Ng, DPM Aksone Nouvong, DPM James Nugent, DPM Amberly Paradoa, DPM Amy Pitzer, DPM Paul Quintavalle, DPM Roland Ramdass, DPM Stephen Silvani, DPM Vito Speciale, DPM Steven Spinner, DPM Alyssa Stephenson, DPM Katie Swanstrom, DPM Stuart Wertheimer, DPM

Communications Committee

Computer-Based Patient Simulation (CBPS) Committees

Exam Oversight Committee

Martin Pressman, DPM, Chair

CBPS Foot Surgery Committee Keith Jacobson, DPM, Co-Chair William Adams, III, DPM Nicole Bauerly, DPM Michael Dujela, DPM Jeffery Giesking, DPM Scott Nelson, DPM Christopher Reeves, DPM Brett Sachs, DPM

CBPS RRA Surgery Committee Ronald Ray, DPM, Co-Chair Eric Barp, DPM

Danny Choung, DPM Eric Evans, DPM Robert Olson, DPM Joseph Treadwell, DPM Michael VanPelt, DPM Gregory Webb, DPM

Allan Boike, DPM, Chair Randall Dei, DPM John Evans, DPM Desiree Scholl, DPM Amber Shane-Reeves, DPM

Time to unravel the mystery behind the ABFAS exam building process. Here is how ABFAS builds a didactic or multiple-choice exam. In the next newsletter, we will discuss our computer-based patient simulation (CBPS) exam.

Mindy Benton, DPM Albert Burns, DPM Charles Lombardi, DPM Christopher Lotufo, DPM John McGarry, DPM Samuel Mendicino, DPM James Nugent, DPM Martin Pressman, DPM Paul Quintavalle, DPM Ronald Ray, DPM Richard Schachter, DPM Stephen Silvani, DPM Steven Spinner, DPM

Danny Choung, DPM, Chair Michael Dujela, DPM Amberly Paradoa, DPM Stephen Silvani, DPM Steven Spinner, DPM

Christopher Lotufo, DPM, Chair Alan Ng, DPM James Nugent, DPM Roland Ramdass, DPM Steven Spinner, DPM Katie Swanstrom, DPM

Nominating Committee

Christopher Lotufo, DPM, Chair Ronald Ray, DPM Richard Schachter, DPM

Representatives to Other Organizations

Collaborative Residency Evaluator Committee Randall Dei, DPM Charles Lombardi, DPM

Council on Podiatric Medical Education Charles Lombardi, DPM

Council on Teaching Hospitals Charles Lombardi, DPM

Joint Committee on Recognition of Specialty Boards Stuart Wertheimer, DPM

Podiatry Residency Resource Randall Dei, DPM Kathleen Pyatak-Hugar, DPM Michael Vaardahl, DPM

ABFAS uses didactic exams for the In-training, Part I, Recertification, and the Self-assessment examinations. The Cognitive Exams Committee (CEC), which has between 20 and 30 members depending on the workload, builds the exam under the direction of an independent psychometrician.

The exam building process begins immediately after the previous examination is administered. Field tested items or questions (recently written items in the last exam but not scored), are reviewed for statistical quality and keys checked by at least three senior diplomates. Items which “pass” this review “graduate” from field test status and will become part of the next year’s examination. Working with ABFAS exam staff, the psychometrician then reviews all the questions in the “item bank” of previously administered questions to assess their performance in previous exams (statistical quality and test taking time; whether it’s time to revise content; and what new content needs development). CEC members receive homework assignments to write new items in areas important to the practice of foot and ankle surgery. The goal is to have 10% new content each year. Each member develops their item, citing specific published references that support the item and its response. They then upload their question including visuals to an item writing portal in ABFAS’ exam building software system.

The CEC meets twice a year with the goal of ensuring the exams have quality items. It reviews item structure, relevance, and the answers so that the options are clear. Two separate groups of three item writers review each item, and ensure correct content assignment. Finally, five trained diplomates independently review each newly written item and only those items which typically receive a vote of at least 80% approval are field tested. Prior to field testing, at least two CEC members compare each item to all other items in the item bank to identify potential item “enemies”; items which should not appear on the same examination because they may cover similar concepts, or use common visuals. At least 14 CEC members review each item prior to that item being field tested on the following year’s examination; the entire item bank is reviewed for “currency” every five years. These currency checks ensure that previously developed item content is still currently relevant to the practice of foot and ankle surgery.

Residency Review Committee Paolo DiLiddo, DPM Larry Menacker, DPM

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2015-16 Exam Passing Rates and Results

2018 Deadline Important deadlines are in effect for candidates who completed a Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME)-approved residency of less than three years* but are not yet ABFAS certified.

Less Than Three-Year Residency Programs Candidates Needing Board Qualification and Certification

An excerpt from ABFAS Document 110, states: Candidates without Board Qualified status who completed a CPME-approved residency of less than three years have until December 31, 2018 to complete the ABFAS board certification process.

Beginning January 1, 2019, such candidates are ineligible for ABFAS certification. Candidates with Board Qualified status who completed a CPME approved residency of less than three years may pursue board certification until expiration of Board Qualified status. Candidates may apply for requalification; however, any requalification may not extend beyond December 31, 2018.

There are a number of steps candidates will need to take in order to complete the process by the December 2018 deadline. Intermediary steps include acquiring Board Qualification, applying for case review, and finally, taking the certifying exam. There are limited opportunities for each step. To help candidates better understand the intermediary steps to attain Board Certification, we have designed a timeline for candidates’ reference, at right.

Already Board Qualified and Needing Certification

2016 NOV

Apply for Case Review first chance

Apply for Case Review first chance

Register Part I last chance

Register CBPS Part II Exam

2017 MAR

Take BQ Part 1

APR

Case Review takes place

Case Review takes place

MAY

Take CBPS Part II Exam first chance

Take CBPS Part II Exam second chance

NOV

Apply for Case Review last chance

Apply for Case Review last chance

Register Part II Exam last chance

Register Part II Exam last chance

While there is more than one opportunity to complete a step, ABFAS recommends that candidates not wait until near the deadline(s) to take an exam or apply for case review. Test locations fill up quickly and a candidate’s first choice or closest location may not be available. Rushing the case review process leaves candidates open to errors and omissions.

2018

*Less than three-year residency programs include:

APR

Case Review takes place

Case Review takes place

MAY

Take CBPS Part II Exam last chance

Take CBPS Part II Exam last chance

DEC

Must complete ABFAS Board Certification

Must complete ABFAS Board Certification

•

RPR/PPMR/POR 12 months of which must be in a podiatric surgical residency (PSR)

•

PM&S-24

•

PSR-24

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Case Management For those who intend to register for the Spring 2017 Case Review, a few reminders.

Logging Cases Please make sure to log your procedures correctly on the Podiatry Logging Service (PLS) website. Case reviewers evaluate and score based on the category under which a procedure is categorized. For example, if excision of a fracture fragment is logged as open reduction and internal fixation of a fracture, the candidate will receive a low or failing score for that case. Open management of fracture or dislocation cases must include internal or external fixation. Foot surgery cases logged as reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery cases will not be scored and no credit will be given for that case. Procedures are evaluated based on surgical decision-making, preoperative clinical assessment, preoperative radiographic assessment, technical skills assessment, and outcomes analysis.

Inside Look at ABFAS Welcome to the world of ABFAS. We thought you might be interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how we develop examinations and the operations at our San Francisco office. Please read page 7 on how we develop our exams. This article focuses on operations.

The ABFAS San Francisco office is located in the lower Haight district in a unique 1920’s era building that previously housed various automobile businesses. There, the 17 ABFAS team members work together to support four exam committees, the exams oversight committee, the ABFAS board, and the communications committee; develop and maintain the software that makes the exams work and online registration possible; maintain the website; produce newsletters; handle our finances; answer your phone calls, emails and letters; provide verification services (33,433 in 2015-16), process exam reschedules and withdrawals and most importantly, administer the exams.

ABFAS currently has 16 different exams that cover in-training didactic and CBPS, board qualification didactic and CBPS, board certification CBPS and case review, recertification didactic, and self-assessment didactic. In 2015-16, ABFAS administered more than 6,000 individual exams. To prepare for this, each year approximately 60 ABFAS board certified members volunteer more than two weeks of their time to meet and review the current exams’ performance, develop new items for future exams, and strategize new exam processes. In addition, for case review, more than 90 ABFAS board certified members volunteer for three days (four to five if you include travel time) to review more than 4,400 procedures submitted for those seeking board certification. During the time all of the committees meet, the volunteers are not seeing patients or performing surgery, which means that they are giving up not only their time but their income to make sure that ABFAS exams are of the highest quality. We are extremely grateful and appreciative of the time and commitment of our volunteers. Our volunteers are extraordinary and we could not maintain operations without them.

ABFAS volunteers, staff, and part of your annual fee also support the Podiatry Residency Resource (PRR) program, and the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) through the Residency Review Committee (RRC) and its residency program evaluation process (CREC) and the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards (JCRSB). And by the way, the two PRR staff work out of the ABFAS facilities.

In recognition of your hard earned dollars, ABFAS has not increased its annual fees since 2006 nor its exam registration fees since 2013, and is concentrating on implementing administrative efficiencies so that it does not have to in the future.

ABFAS also does not charge an annual fee the first year for those who are newly board qualified, certified, or those who successfully took their recertification or self-assessment exam. As ABFAS is an independent organization that does not take industry sponsorship or funding like other associations, we appreciate all of your support and the value that you put on the podiatric foot and ankle surgery profession and becoming ABFAS certified.

Falsified Records If the review of a case causes any suspicion or uncovers evidence of falsified records, the reviewer will document the findings in detail. This may result in disqualification of the candidate for board qualification or certification. The candidate forfeits, at minimum, the right to sit for the examination and all fees paid.

All the details about case review can be found in Document 220 under the Resources section of the ABFAS website: ABFAS.org

ABFAS Privacy Statement As a valued member of the community, we wanted to share important information about our website: abfas.org We want to draw your attention to our Privacy Statement (the “Statement”) for our website, abfas.org, and other websites controlled and operated by ABFAS (the “Sites”). The Statement includes information about how we collect, manage, and share information we collect about you. By using our Sites, you agree to be bound by the Statement, and we strongly encourage you to review it before you continue using our Sites so that you have a complete understanding of our data practices described therein.

We wanted to draw your attention to one data practice in particular. Notably, for your contact information, we want to ensure that you understand that ABFAS will provide your name, address, phone, email information, and board status to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Podiatric Medical Association, and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons, which will issue invitations to apply for membership in their organizations. If you do not want your contact information sent to the aforementioned organizations, please log onto your profile page on the ABFAS website and check the box that states that you do not want us to share your information in this manner.

We encourage you to review the complete statement of our information practices by reading our Privacy Statement, which has been posted on our website. By maintaining your account on our website you provide consent to these updates. That said, if you have concerns, we encourage you to contact us.

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Presorted FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S.Postage Paid San Francisco, CA Permit No. 1734

445 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA 94117

Need Assistance?

Call 415.553.7800 Fax 415.553.7801 info@ABFAS.org ABFAS.org

2016-17 Exam Dates Exam Name

Registration Opens

Registration Closes

Exam Date

Recertification – Foot

11/1/16

1/20/17

2/3/17-2/18/17

Recertification – RRA Surgery

11/1/16

1/20/17

2/3/17-2/4/17

Self-assessment

11/1/16

1/20/17

2/3/17-2/18/17

Part I Foot – Didactic

11/1/16

2/24/17

3/10/17

Part I Foot – CBPS

11/1/16

2/24/17

3/10/17

Part I RRA – Didactic

11/1/16

2/24/17

3/10/17

Part I RRA – CBPS

11/1/16

2/24/17

3/10/17

Part II Case Review

11/1/16

12/9/16

4/17*

Part II Foot – CBPS

11/1/16

5/4/17

5/18/17

Part II RRA – CBPS

11/1/16

5/4/17

5/18/17

In-training

8/1/17

8/28/17

9/11/17-9/16/17

Part I Foot – Didactic

8/15/17

10/3/17

10/17/17

Part I Foot – CBPS

8/15/17

10/3/17

10/17/17

Part I RRA – Didactic

8/15/17

10/3/17

10/17/17

Part I RRA – CBPS

8/15/17

10/3/17

10/17/17

* Candidate does not attend review

Communications Committee Allan M. Boike, DPM Chair Randall l. Dei, DPM John N. Evans, DPM Desiree Scholl, DPM Amber Shane-Reeves, DPM Kathy Kreiter Executive Director