Tampa, FL – The American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM®) is now accepting applications for qualified physicians interested in becoming certified in integrative medicine. ABOIM is a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the first multi-specialty certifying body to offer physician certification in integrative medicine.
The deadline for completed applications is December 1, 2013 for the initial exam in May 2014. Applications are available online and may be obtained by contacting the ABPS Certification Department at (813) 433-2277.
The formation of ABOIM marks an important milestone in the development in the field of integrative medicine. “Finally there’s a way for qualified physicians to present themselves as experts in offering competent integrative care to patient.” said Andrew Weil, MD, a visionary physician and author, who helped establish integrative medicine as a specialty. “I strongly support the American Board of Integrative Medicine,” Weil said.
ABOIM certification is available to both allopathic and osteopathic physicians in the United States and Canada who are currently practicing integrative medicine and have completed a residency training program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). As with all ABPS board certification examinations, the ABOIM exam is psychometrically valid. Complete eligibility requirements are available online.
Integrative medicine is defined by ABOIM and the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine in the following way: It is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.
ABOIM is one of 18 Member Boards of ABPS, the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (AAPS) with headquarters in Tampa, FL. ABPS is keenly aware of the changes in the practice of medicine. In addition to integrative medicine, ABPS has been innovative in responding to the industry trends in urgent care, disaster medicine, hospital medicine and family medicine obstetrics. Additional information is available online.