April 04, 2016

ABA and ABEM Announce Combined Residency Training

Raleigh, N.C., and East Lansing, Mich. (April 4, 2016)  The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) today announced the launch of a combined training option in emergency medicine and anesthesiology for residency programs. The combined program will require at least five years of residency training and will prepare residents for certification in both specialties.

Residency programs seeking to offer this combined training must be approved by both ABEM and the ABA before residents are recruited. To be eligible for dual certification, residents must satisfactorily complete 60 months of combined education, which must be verified by both programs. The duration of training will increase to 72 months if the combined program involves a four-year emergency medicine residency. Physicians may take the initial certifying examinations for either board once they successfully complete all five (or six) years of training.

“This ABEM and ABA collaboration provides opportunities for training programs to enhance the depth and breadth of multidisciplinary residency training, which can enhance patient care in systems-based medical practice,” said James P. Rathmell, M.D., ABA Secretary. “It also addresses a demand from residents interested in both emergency medicine and anesthesiology.”

 “The combined training programs in emergency medicine and anesthesiology will reduce redundancies and increase efficiency in the education and training of these residents,” stated Barry N. Heller, M.D., ABEM President. “Furthermore, graduates will be prepared to serve as leaders in either specialty with access to a broader array of career opportunities.”

The combined training program requirements and application are available on the ABA and ABEM websites (www.theABA.org and www.ABEM.org). Both boards are currently accepting applications from programs interested in offering this training.

ABA Media Contact
Michelle Taylor
Director of Marketing and Communications
919-745-2281
michelle.taylor@theaba.org

ABEM Media Contact
Frances M. Spring
Director of Marketing and Communications
517-332-4800 ext. 345
fspring@abem.org

About the American Board of Anesthesiology
The mission of the American Board of Anesthesiology® (ABA) is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. As the certifying body for anesthesiologists since 1938, the ABA is committed to partnering with physicians to advance lifelong learning and exceptional patient care. The Board administers primary and subspecialty certification exams as well as the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), which is designed to promote lifelong learning, a commitment to quality clinical outcomes and patient safety. Based in Raleigh, N.C., the ABA is a nonprofit organization and a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Subspecialties (ABMS).

About the American Board of Emergency Medicine   
Founded in 1976, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) certifies physicians in  Emergency Medicine who have met the ABEM credentialing requirements. ABEM has over 33,500 currently certified emergency physicians. ABEM is not a membership organization, but a non-profit, independent physician evaluation organization whose mission is to ensure the highest stands in the specialty of Emergency Medicine. ABEM is one of 24 Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.