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About
Setting standards and leading innovation for the practice of anesthesiology since 1938
Raleigh, N.C. (June 22, 2026) — The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing the certification of physicians and medical specialists in the United States, has announced the recipients of its 2026 service awards, including the Innovation Award for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and an individual award for former ABA Board of Director President Daniel J. Cole, M.D. All winners will be formally recognized at the September 2026 ABMS Conference.
ABMS Innovation Award: The American Board of Anesthesiology The ABMS Innovation Award was created to recognize individuals, teams or organizations that have demonstrated truly innovative advancements in a field of medical specialty education and/or the specialty certification process. Their innovations must demonstrate both impact and significance, have sustainability, offer potential for scalability and provide measurable outcomes.
The 2026 and first-ever recipient, the ABA, has advanced approaches to assessment within medical specialty certification through the development and implementation of the MOCA Minute®, which provides diplomates with a longitudinal assessment consisting of 120 multiple-choice assessment questions per year (30 per quarter), a defined period for response and immediate feedback. This approach represents a significant alternative to the traditional single, high‑stakes examination by offering a more continuous, educationally meaningful and diplomate‑centered method of assessment. Born out of this innovation and its demonstrated success, all 24 ABMS Member Boards have adopted some form of longitudinal assessment as part of their continuing certification programs, underscoring the ABA’s foundational role in shaping the evolution of certification assessment.
ABA Executive Director Michele Pore, MBA, CAE, and ABMS Member Board Empowered Representative Robert Gaiser, M.D., will accept the award on behalf of the board, joining the other four 2026 ABMS honorees receiving their awards at ABMS Conference 2026 this September.
ABMS Edward M. Jackson, M.D. – Derrick T. Vail, M.D. Award: Daniel J. Cole, M.D.
Named for Drs. Derrick T. Vail and Edward M. Jackson, two ophthalmologists credited with creating the concept of specialty board development in the 20th century, this award is presented to individuals or ABMS Member Boards for extraordinary national or international contributions to the broad field of medical specialty education, evaluation or certification, including continuing certification. This year’s recipient, Dr. Daniel Cole, demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity and service during a pivotal period in the evolution of continuing certification, supporting both the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) as its past president and ABMS as a member of the Board of Directors.
At a time when certification efforts faced intense national scrutiny and critical debate, he played an important role in advancing the longitudinal approach that later influenced certification practices across the Member Boards, helping develop the updated certification standards. President of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, Dr. Cole is a professor of clinical anesthesiology in the department of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine and vice chair for professional and business development at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. He is board certified by the ABA.
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About the American Board of Anesthesiology The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) has served as the certifying body for anesthesiologists since 1938, partnering with physicians to elevate the specialty. Our mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. We administer initial and subspecialty certification exams and the MOCA continuing certification program, which facilitates lifelong learning with a focus on quality and safety.
The ABA’s work extends far beyond assessment. We prioritize innovation, research, technology and programming that promote exceptional patient care and clinical outcomes. Our dedicated staff collaborates with more than 700 board-certified anesthesiologist volunteers who develop exam and MOCA content, inform policy, serve as examiners and provide critical feedback. Their contributions across numerous committees and task forces drive the ABA’s strategic progress and help shape the future of the specialty.
Based in Raleigh, N.C., we are a nonprofit organization and a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
