Begin Certification
Earn your certification through a series of exams: BASIC, ADVANCED and APPLIED.
Continue Certification
Sharpen your knowledge and advance your practice through MOCA.
Training Programs
Prepare for certification exams through a variety of training options.
About
Setting standards and leading innovation for the practice of anesthesiology since 1938
Morgan Graves, M.D. will explore failed same-day discharge findings as a framework to inform perioperative assessment
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has selected Morgan Graves, M.D., an anesthesiologist at Mayo Clinic, to participate in its 2026-2027 Scholars Program™.
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) began sponsoring the ABMS Scholars Program for the 2026-2027 cycle. The ABMS Scholars Program supports scholarship and leadership development focused on initial and continuing certification for early-career physicians. In addition to receiving a $15,000 award, ABMS Scholars learn from subject matter experts in certification, research, data science, medical education and health policy.
Dr. Graves will use the grant to study failed same-day discharges (SDD) after outpatient surgery by analyzing data from electronic health records (EHRs). This study advances ABA research priorities around next-generation assessment formats and holistic skills assessment in anesthesiology certification.
His project seeks to identify factors associated with failed SDD and examine how these perioperative events can be incorporated into competency-based assessment and learning activities that extend beyond traditional knowledge testing. Over time, findings from the study may support the use of clinical outcomes captured in EHRs to inform physician assessment, continuing professional development and quality improvement initiatives.
“Assessments should reflect the decisions anesthesiologists have to make every day,” said ABA Secretary John E. Fiadjoe, M.D., MBA. “This research will use preoperative cases to explore better ways to assess clinical judgement and guide learning, with the goal of improving patient care.”
As an ABMS Scholar, Dr. Graves will work with research mentors, experts and peers over the course of his project. Scholars remain at their home institutions and engage with educational programming, professional forums and opportunities to disseminate their findings.
“The increasing number of applicants and grant recipients are clear indicators of the growing significance of research that addresses issues in board certification and physician assessment,” said Greg Ogrinc, M.D., M.S., senior vice president of certification standards and programs at ABMS. “The work of these talented Scholars will generate new insights that will advance certification programs and improve patient care.”
Following the program’s completion, Dr. Graves will present his findings at the annual ABMS Conference in 2027.
About the American Board of Anesthesiology: Our mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. As the certifying body for anesthesiologists since 1938, we work with physicians to elevate practice standards and foster exceptional patient care. We administer primary and subspecialty certification exams as well as the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program, which is designed to promote lifelong learning, a commitment to quality clinical outcomes and patient safety. Based in Raleigh, N.C., we are a nonprofit organization and a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
About ABMS: Established in 1933, ABMS is responsible for the creation of standards overseeing physician certification in the United States. Dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families and communities they serve, the 24 ABMS Member Boards develop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physicians and medical specialists. More than one million physicians and medical specialists are certified by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards in one or more of 38 specialties and 89 subspecialties. For more information about ABMS, abms.org or call (312) 436-2600.
