Leading the Way

While 12 years sounds like a long time, it truly flies by. Enjoy the privilege of this service; it is precious.

Thomas M. McLoughlin Jr., M.D., served as a Board Director since 2013, and currently volunteers as an APPLIED Examiner. Dr. McLoughlin is chair of the Department of Anesthesiology for Lehigh Valley Health Network and a professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Anesthesiology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

As you reflect on your time as a director, what stands out most?
The sense of warmth that you feel immediately as a volunteer. As an examiner, you experience not only the dedication of volunteers to the ABA’s mission and the high functionality of the staff, but also the depth of relationships that occur. I felt the warmth from the moment I set foot in the hotel lobby for my first meeting as director-elect; it has lasted for the duration of my service.

What ABA project or initiative was most memorable during your tenure as a board member?
The launch of MOCA Minute. I began my tenure in Fall 2013, and a year later, we started the MOCA Minute pilot project before officially launching in 2016.

It’s impossible to overstate the impact of MOCA Minute on us as a Board of Directors, our reputation with diplomates and the larger ABMS Member Board community. MOCA Minute was the first example of continuing certification using longitudinal assessment instead of intermittent, high-stakes examinations. Fast forward to 2025, as I complete my service as a Board Director, longitudinal assessment is now an ABMS standard for all Member Boards.

What ABA project are you looking forward to seeing the BOD accomplish?
I look forward to seeing continued assessment innovation as we bring our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan to life. We are looking to evolve our assessment products from single, best answer, multiple choice items, to continue providing increasing value for our diplomates.

Share a favorite memory from your time on the BOD.
Some of my best memories are of our walks and talks with other Board Directors during our Board Meetings, especially when we had time together to connect as individuals outside of the work we were doing. Those experiences nurtured the relationships and helped us function more effectively to solve complex problems.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your colleagues?
I will miss seeing all my fellow Board Directors as often as I’ve become so accustomed to experiencing over my 12 years of service. While 12 years sounds like a long time, it truly flies by. Enjoy the privilege of this service; it is precious.