Ep 38: Maintenance of certification with Furman S. McDonald, MD, incoming president of ABIM

Medical Economics Editorial Director Chris Mazzolini sits down with Furman S. McDonald, MD, incoming president of ABIM, to talk about maintenance of medical certifications.

Check out our previous episodes featuring interviews with Steven P. Furr, MD, president of AAFP; Alex Ashbrook of FRAC; and Joseph Betancourt, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund.

Music Credit: Acute Imagination by Angus & Friends - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

The Future of Internal Medicine (00:00:00)
Discussion on the bright future for internal medicine and its appeal to medical students.

Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:20)
Host Keith Reynolds introduces the podcast and the guest, Dr. Furman S. McDonald.

McDonald's Background (00:01:00)
McDonald shares his professional background in science and medical education.

ABIM's Mission and Goals (00:01:55)
McDonald discusses the mission of the ABIM and its focus on demonstrating knowledge for patient care.

Importance of Maintenance of Certification (00:03:15)
The significance of MOC for physicians and its impact on patient outcomes.

Evolution of MOC (00:04:32)
Overview of recent changes in the MOC process and future expectations.

Trust in Healthcare (00:05:53)
Discussion on declining trust in institutions and the role of ABIM in maintaining trust in physicians.

Diversity in Medicine (00:07:43)
The importance of increasing diversity among physicians and ABIM's commitments to equity.

Addressing Clinician Burnout (00:09:10)
Exploration of clinician burnout, its causes, and ABIM's potential role in solutions.

AI in Medicine (00:12:06)
McDonald shares insights on the role of AI in healthcare and its potential benefits.

Closing Remarks (00:15:55)
Final thoughts on ABIM's role and the future of internal medicine, emphasizing the importance of listening to physicians.