Kim E. LeBlanc, MD, PhD, Honored with NBOME Clark Award for Patient Advocacy
December 18, 2019
PHILADELPHIA, PA. The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), an independent, nonprofit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related health care professions today announced Kim E. LeBlanc, MD, PhD, as the recipient of their 2019 Clark Award for Patient Advocacy. The award was created to recognize those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their advocacy for patient safety, patient protection and quality of care. It recognizes those who have worked to assure patients that DOs have qualified for licensure by virtue of having passed the licensure examinations (COMLEX-USA) that are designed for and have evidence for validity for the practice of osteopathic medicine. Dr. LeBlanc was presented with the award as part of NBOME’s Annual Board Meeting and Gala Dinner.
“The NBOME has been so important to my professional life, and I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen as their next Clark Award winner. I appreciate all of my colleagues at the NBOME and in the osteopathic medical profession. Nothing would be possible without all of your hard work,” said Kim E. LeBlanc, MD, PhD. “I have worked with colleagues at the NBOME and on the COMLEX-USA examinations since my tenure at the Louisiana State Board of Medicine and have been proud to endorse the use of COMLEX-USA for osteopathic medical licensure in Louisiana and across the nation.”
Dr. LeBlanc recently transitioned back to Louisiana from his position as Executive Director of the Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC), which creates and administers the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Skills examination. He was instrumental in advocating for equivalent licensure for DOs and acceptance of COMLEX-USA when he served as President of the Louisiana State Board of Medicine and on the Board of Directors of the Federation of State Medical Boards. Dr. LeBlanc was in the private practice of family medicine and sports medicine for nearly 20 years where he became involved in academic medicine. He also served as team physician for the University of Louisiana Lafayette, several US Olympic teams, and several professional baseball, soccer, ice hockey, and football teams.
“Dr. LeBlanc’s role in advocating for DOs and COMLEX-USA is a vital piece of NBOME’s exciting history, so it is fitting that he should be awarded the NBOME Clark Award for Patient Advocacy in this our 85th Anniversary year,” said NBOME President & CEO, John R. Gimpel, DO, MEd. “Dr. LeBlanc has made a major difference in health care and medical licensure.”
