Stakeholders
Patients and the public regard ABO certification as a valued credential verifying competence in ophthalmic care.
Candidates and diplomates regard ABO certification as a valued credential verifying competence in ophthalmic care.
The ABO collaborates with the AAO and other membership organizations; the ABMS and ABMS member boards; and the AUPO, ACGME, ACCME, and other relevant organizations.
Internal Processes
The ABO administers reliable and valid summative examinations that measure relevant patient-centered competencies.
ABO Directors demonstrate their commitment to the ABO mission by active and timely engagement.
ABO volunteers demonstrate their commitment to the ABO mission by active and timely engagement.
Learning and Growth
ABO Directors and Staff enhance their professional skills.
The ABO has a positive culture.
The ABO actively pursues fairness in its culture, people, processes, and programs.
Finance
The ABO meets annual budget goals and maintains adequate reserves.
Annual audits of the ABO are satisfactory.
The ABO maintains a GuideStar Platinum rating.
| By The Numbers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| ABO Diplomates | 22,379 | 22,795 | 23,135 | 23,529 | |
| Time-Limited Certificate Holders | 13,431 | 13,900 | 14,278 | 14,694 | |
| Lifetime Certificate Holders | 8,948 | 8,895 | 8,857 | 8,835 | |
| Written Qualifying Examination | |||||
| Passed | 511 | 479 | 504 | 488 | |
| Overall Pass % | 79.6% | 78.4% | 80.6% | 73.9% | |
| Examined | 642 | 611 | 625 | 660 | |
| Spring Oral Examination | |||||
| Passed | 309 | 255 | 264 | 237 | |
| Overall Pass % | 87.5% | 81.2% | 79.5% | 79.3% | |
| Examined | 353 | 314 | 332 | 299 | |
| Fall Oral Examination | |||||
| Passed | 267 | 239 | 237 | 264 | |
| Overall Pass % | 81.4% | 82.1% | 79.8% | 83.3% | |
| Examined | 328 | 291 | 297 | 317 | |
| Employees | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | |
| Volunteer Board Directors | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | |
| Active Volunteers | 560 | 658 | 679 | 730 | |
| Email Campaigns | 84 | 106 | 71 | 84 | |
| Calls Logged | 2,784 | 2,865 | 2,574 | 1,993 | |
| Stakeholders – Patients and Public | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Patients and the public regard ABO certification as a valued credential verifying competence in ophthalmic care. | |||||
| Use of public verification tool (number of times search page is accessed annually) | 38,826 | 48,893 | 86,114 | 170,828 | |
| Public phone inquiries to the ABO office | 142 (5.10%) | 144 (5.03%) | 126 (4.9%) | 163 (8.18%) | |
| Stakeholders – Candidates | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Candidates regard ABO certification as a valued credential verifying competence in ophthalmic care. | |||||
| Percentage of residency graduates who pursue certification over the past 10 years within 2 years of graduation. | 93.5% | 93.6% | 93.7% | 93.5% | |
| Candidates rate their ABO experience favorably; Rated the overall exam experience as good, very good, or excellent. | |||||
| Exam Experience – Written (Reported that exam experience met or exceeded expectations) | 90.0% | 90.0% | 92.0% | 71.0% | |
| Exam Experience – Oral (Rated exam experience as good, very good, or excellent) | 89.5% | 78.0% | 88.0% | 92.0% | |
| Stakeholders – Diplomates | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Diplomates regard ABO certification as a valued credential verifying competence in ophthalmic care. | |||||
| Percentage of diplomates who recertify | 97.0% | 92.0% | 93.0% | 90.0% | |
| Continuing Certification participation percent of Diplomates who are Current/Complete in Required Activities | |||||
| Professional Standing | 98.5% | 96.0% | 97.0% | 95.0% | |
| Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment | |||||
| • CME | 42.0% | 42.0% | 21.0% | 42.0% | |
| • Patient Safety | 53.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 59.0% | |
| Knowledge, Judgement, and Skills | 35.0% | 65.0% | 59.0% | 64.0% | |
| Improvement in Medical Practice | 42.0% | 46.0% | 52.0% | 58.0% | |
| Diplomates participating in ABO - offered CME | |||||
| • Claims | 6,249 | 5,483 | 4,974 | 4,537 | |
| • Claims % | 64.0% | 62.0% | 59.0% | 60.0% | |
| • Eligibile | 9,753 | 8,814 | 8,496 | 7,531 | |
| Diplomate web site profiles | 3,793 | 4,130 | 4,384 | 4,952 | |
| Stakeholders – Other | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| The ABO collaborates with the AAO and other membership organizations. | |||||
| ABO Representation | ABO representation on AAO Council | ABO representation on AAO Council | ABO representation on AAO Council | ABO representation on AAO Council | |
| ABO liaison representatives of major subspecialty societies | ABO has a specified liaison with all major subspecialty societies | ABO has a specified liaison with all major subspecialty societies | ABO has a specified liaison with all major subspecialty societies | ABO has a specified liaison with all major subspecialty societies | |
| The ABO collaborates with the ABMS and ABMS member boards. | |||||
| ABO Representation | ABMS Board of Directors, ABMS 3C | ABMS Board of Directors, ABMS 3C | ABMS Board of Directors, ABMS 3C | ABMS Board of Directors, ABMS 3C, ABMS Member Board Connect Planning Committee, ABMS Holding Board of Managers | |
| The ABO collaborates with the ACGME, ACCME, and other relevant organizations. | |||||
| ABO Representation | American College of Surgeons, ACGME RRC | American College of Surgeons, ACGME RRC | ACGME RRC | ACGME RRC | |
| Internal Processes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Initial Certification - The ABO administers reliable and valid summative examinations that measure relevant, patient-centered competencies. | |||||
| Equitable scoring practices and validated standard setting methods | WQE Pass rate in 2021: 79.6%. The equating design and outcomes met testing standards. The last standard setting occurred in 2018 and all subsequent forms have used the 2018 form as the base form for linking. Oral pass rates in 2021: 2021 spring: 87.5% 2021 fall: 81.4% A new standard setting study was conducted for the 21ABC forms and approved by leadership. The 21DEF cut scores were established through the Tucker equating method and approved by leadership. |
WQE Pass rate in 2022: 78.4%. The equating design and outcomes met testing standards. The last standard setting occurred in 2018 and all subsequent forms have used the 2018 form as the base form for linking. Oral pass rate in 2022 spring: 81.2%. Oral pass rate in 2022 fall: 82.1% The Tucker equating model was used to maintain the oral exam passing standard set in 2021. |
WQE Pass rate in 2023: 80.6%. The equating design and outcomes met testing standards. The last standard setting occurred in 2018 and all subsequent forms have used the 2018 form as the base form for linking. Oral pass rate in 2023 spring: 79.5%. Oral pass rate in 2023 fall: 79.8% The Tucker equating model was used to maintain the oral exam passing standard set in 2021. |
WQE Pass rate in 2024: 73.9%. The equating design and outcomes met testing standards. The last standard setting occurred in 2018 and all subsequent forms have used the 2018 form as the base form for linking. Oral pass rate in 2024 spring: 79.3%. Oral pass rate in 2024 fall: 83.3% |
|
| Initial Certification - The ABO administers reliable and valid summative examinations that measure relevant, patient-centered competencies. | |||||
| Equitable scoring practices and validated standard setting methods | All standards are set using a group consensus method similar to the Hofstee method. No equating occurs as the items are unique year over year. | ||||
| QQ 2021 pass rate: 95.3% | QQ 2022 pass rate: 99.0% | QQ 2023 pass rate: 98.7% | QQ 2024 pass rate: 98.7% | ||
| ABO Directors demonstrate their commitment to the ABO mission by active and timely engagement. | |||||
| Meeting and conference call attendance | 2021 Interim meeting: 100% attendance
2021 June virtual meeting: 100% 2021 October meeting: 100% 2021 monthly conference calls: 97% |
2022 Interim meeting: 100% attendance
2022 August meeting: 95% 2022 monthly conference calls: 97% |
2023 Winter Planning Meeting: 94% (1 missing)
2023 Summer Meeting: 100% 2023 Monthly Meetings (4): 85% |
2024 Winter Planning Meeting: 94% (1 missing)
2024 Summer Meeting: 100% 2024 Monthly Meetings (5): 88% |
|
| Presentations on behalf of the ABO or contributions to Monday Minute | 81% of directors presented or contributed articles | 33% of directors presented or contributed content EB & SN presented multiple times | 38% of directors presented or contributed content | 72% of directors presented or contributed content | |
| ABO volunteers demonstrate their commitment to the ABO mission by active and timely engagement. | |||||
| Number of Active ABO Volunteers | 560 | 658 | 679 | 730 | |
| Approval of new volunteers | 81 | 78 | 50 | 89 | |
| Likelihood to recommend | 100% strongly agree or agree responses to questions related to willingness to volunteer again. | 100% strongly agree or agree responses to questions related to willingness to volunteer again. | 100% of responders to the volunteer experience survey agree to recommend volunteering to other colleagues. | 100% of responders to the volunteer experience survey agree to recommend volunteering to other colleagues. | |
| Learning and Growth | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| ABO Directors and staff enhance their professional skills. - ALL | |||||
| Self-assessment exercises: Annually for Directors and bi-annually for Staff | Conducted | Conducted | Conducted | Conducted | |
| The ABO has a positive culture. | |||||
| Staff satisfaction and alignment with personal goals | Not conducted | At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day: 36% strongly agree, 64% agree, 0% disagree
This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow: 36% strongly agree, 54% agree, 9% disagree |
At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day: 50% strongly agree, 30% agree, 20% disagree
This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow: 50% strongly agree, 40% agree, 10% disagree |
At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day: 67% strongly agree, 33% agree.
This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow: 100% strongly agree. |
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Competitive compensation and benefits |
Meeting Target | Meeting Target | Meeting Target | Meeting Target | |
| Staff retention | Three employees have left the ABO voluntarily during the past 20 years | Three employees have left the ABO voluntarily during the past 20 years | One employee left the ABO voluntarily in 2023 | One employee left the ABO voluntarily in 2024 | |
| The ABO is committed to fairness in its organization and programs. | |||||
| Mitigating Bias | Conducted during exam development premeeting training 2021
Mitigating Bias training session was developed and required for fall ABO examiners. Bias Awareness and Disruption Training provided for Board and staff |
Mitigating Bias training session was developed and required for spring and fall 2022 ABO examiners.
Conducted during written exam development premeeting training 2022 |
Mitigating Bias training session was developed and required for spring and fall 2023 ABO examiners. | Mitigating Bias training session was developed and required for spring and fall ABO examiners. | |
| Evaluate ABO Assessments to Ensure Fairness | Quality review of all existing QQ as well as ½ of WQE item bank for quality and fairness conducted as part of written exam development in 2021. 2021 educational learning series developed for Initial Certification Committee to assess the validity of the oral examination. Was rolled out in Q1 and Q2 2021. | Quality review of all existing retina QQ items for surgical, medical, or both purposes, as well as ½ of WQE item bank for quality and fairness conducted as part of written exam development in 2022. Post 2022 Fall oral administration | All ABO examination content undergoes content reviews by volunteer ophthalmologists who have had training in mitigating bias and the principles of fairness in testing. | All ABO examination content undergoes content reviews by volunteer ophthalmologists who have had training in mitigating bias and the principles of fairness in testing. | |
| Continue and increase support for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Association of University Professors VISION Mentoring program | Doubled financial support and actively encouraged Board Directors to participate and support program; Invited Dr. Carter to provide further information to the board on the program in June | The ABO provides financial support for the VISION Mentoring Program: $10,000 over two years (2019-2020); $30,000 over three years (2021-2023). The ABO encouraged Board Directors to serve as VISION Mentors, if possible. The ABO provided a $10,000 grant to the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program to be distributed over two years. |
The ABO provides financial support for VISION Mentoring Program: $30,000 over three years (2021-2023). The ABO encouraged Board Directors to serve as VISION Mentors, if possible. The ABO provided a $10,000 grant to the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program to be distributed over two years. |
The ABO provides financial support for the VISION Mentoring Program: $10,000 per year. The ABO encouraged Board Directors to serve as VISION Mentors, if possible. The ABO provides $5,000 per year to the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program. |
|
| Support Understanding Social Determinants of Health | New | The ABO hosted Dr. Eve Higginbotham to speak to the Board of Directors, Exam Development Volunteers, and staff on August 12, 2022 about this topic. | The ABO welcomed Mary I. O’Connor, Co-founder, and Chief Medical Officer of Vori Health, who spoke to the Board about her efforts to enhance faireness within the orthopedic surgery community, specifically related to understanding social determinants of health on health care processes and outcomes. | Items related to the Social Determinants of Health are included in all ABO assessments. | |
| Increase Diversity of ABO Volunteer Pool. | ||||||||
| Gender | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | Difference | Count | Difference | Count | Difference | Count | Difference | |
| Gender fluid | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | -100.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Man | 318 | -13.1% | 355 | 11.6% | 358 | 0.8% | 357 | -0.3% |
| Prefer not to answer | 1 | -50.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | 100.0% | 1 | -50.0% |
| Woman | 240 | 13.7% | 301 | 25.4% | 319 | 6.0% | 372 | 16.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||||||||
| African American or Black | 20 | 0.0% | 29 | 45.0% | 31 | 6.9% | 31 | 0.0% |
| Asian or Asian American | 96 | 7.9% | 104 | 8.3% | 109 | 4.8% | 121 | 11.0% |
| Asian or Asian American Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% |
| Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin | 15 | 7.1% | 16 | 6.7% | 15 | -6.3% | 16 | 6.7% |
| Middle Eastern or North African | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | 100.0% |
| Not listed here or prefer to self-describe | 4 | -20.0% | 9 | 125.0% | 9 | 0.0% | 10 | 11.1% |
| Prefer not to answer | 7 | -22.2% | 8 | 14.3% | 7 | -12.5% | 10 | 42.9% |
| Unknown | 208 | -8.0% | 256 | 23.1% | 267 | 4.3% | 295 | 10.5% |
| White | 200 | -5.2% | 227 | 13.5% | 232 | 2.2% | 237 | 2.2% |
| White Asian or Asian American | 4 | 33.3% | 4 | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% |
| White Asian or Asian American Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | -100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| White Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish Origin | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% |
| White Middle Eastern or North African | 2 | 100.0% | 2 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.0% |
| Practice Type | ||||||||
| Academic institution | 254 | 3.3% | 306 | 20.5% | 320 | 4.6% | 343 | 7.2% |
| Administration | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | -100.0% | 1 | 100.0% | 1 | 0.0% |
| Government (includes Military) | 23 | 9.5% | 28 | 21.7% | 28 | 0.0% | 31 | 10.7% |
| Hospital/Healthcare system (includes HMOs) | 18 | -5.3% | 19 | 5.6% | 18 | -5.3% | 23 | 27.8% |
| Medical Missionary/Humanitarian | 4 | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% | 3 | -25.0% | 2 | -33.3% |
| Multispecialty group practice | 46 | 2.2% | 53 | 15.2% | 53 | 0.0% | 58 | 9.4% |
| Ophthalmology group practice | 147 | -10.4% | 179 | 21.8% | 183 | 2.2% | 198 | 8.2% |
| Research | 3 | 50.0% | 2 | -33.3% | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | -50.0% |
| Solo practice | 45 | 2.3% | 49 | 8.9% | 50 | 2.0% | 56 | 12.0% |
| Unknown | 19 | -44.1% | 18 | -5.3% | 21 | 16.7% | 17 | -19.0% |
| Finance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objectives | Measures | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| The ABO meets annual budget goals and maintains adequate reserves. | |||||
| Net operating income | $1.3M (descreased expenses by 12% over last five years) | $555K | ($20K) 0% operating margin | $409,983 | |
| Financial Oversight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Reserve balance (Goal is one-three year’s operating expenses.) |
$10.4M (2X) | $9.1M (>1X) | $10.5M (2X) | $12M (2.5X) | |
| Annual audits of the ABO are satisfactory. | |||||
| Audit results | Achieved | Achieved | Achieved | Achieved | |
| The ABO maintains Candid/GuideStar Platinum rating. | |||||
| Rating status | Achieved | Achieved | Achieved | Achieved | |