Page 4 - NBOME 2016 Annual Report

RECOGNIZING 2016 marked a truly unprecedented year of volatility standard assessment for licensure for osteopathic
and change for our world and certainly within medical
physicians, the recognition of the importance of the
education, training, assessment and practice. For the catalytic effect of testing has accelerated in recent
THE National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners years and received lots of attention in 2016. The
(NBOME), the year is perhaps best captured by the
responsibility entrusted to the NBOME and its
CATALYTIC theme Catalyst. In the world of high-stakes esteemed National Faculty related to the catalytic
assessment, particularly in the health professions,
effect of testing is one that is taken very seriously. It
there is an increased recognition of the important
is one that acknowledges the importance of what is
EFFECT catalytic effect of testing. 1, 2 being assessed at multiple developmental stages for
Certainly for formative testing, such as that in
the developing DO in osteopathic medical school and
graduate medical education in preparation for
undergraduate medical education and residency
OF TESTING training, assessments that place particular emphasis licensure. It also recognizes that testing influences
learning, teaching, training, resource allocation, and
on the catalytic effect of testing have been valued.
These assessments generally provide results and
lifelong patient care in practice.
feedback to examinees and their mentors in a fashion Continuing enhancements to the COMLEX-USA
Message from Gary L. Slick, DO, MA, that creates, enhances, and supports the education examination in 2016-2017 and the new enhanced
Board Chair and John R. Gimpel, DO, and development of the physician in training. COMLEX-USA blueprint and test specifications
MEd, President and CEO NBOME’s COMSAE self-assessment and COMAT targeted for implementation in 2018-2019, all
subject examination programs as well as our consider the important catalytic effect of testing.
numerous partner client examinations for resident in- Certainly 2016 was a landmark year for the COMLEX-
training examinations help to focus and drive USA examination program, with peer reviewed
continuous learning.
In continuous professional development for
maintenance of certification and osteopathic
We endeavor to continue our
continuous certification (OCC) and related continuous
commitment to conscientiously
professional development purposes, many practicing
physicians and stakeholder groups have advocated exceed ordinary expectations in all
strongly that recertification testing be shifted from the that we do and to remain
traditional summative, high-stakes, episodic point-in- committed to the enormous
time, proctored examination experience to one that is
responsibility and mission we have
more continuous, formative, and assists the physician
to protect the public by providing
with practice enhancement in the care of his or her
patients. NBOME’s OPAIM program and new the means to assess competencies
CATALYST platform have particular relevance here. of osteopathic medicine and related
But even for summative, high-stakes assessments health care professions.
such as the COMLEX-USA examination program,
designed and universally recognized as the gold