All News & Insights
March 2025
The Phoenix is ABFM’s e-newsletter distributed to all Diplomates and residents to provide important updates, useful tips, and other resources related to certification and other ABFM initiatives.
President’s Message: ABFM’s Unwavering Commitment to Diplomates and to the Specialty
As we settle into the new year, I want to highlight ABFM’s new 2025-2029 strategic plan, which was approved by the ABFM Board of Directors in early February. Seven years ago, amid a dramatic transformation in health care, ABFM published a bold strategic plan, proposing change in almost every part of what we offer Diplomates and the public. We did what we promised. Those goals have largely been met, and now we move forward to 2025-2029.
I invite you to review our strategic plan and send me any comments or questions you may have. As all of us understand, the environment today is deeply partisan and conflictual – in health care, in society, and in politics. Given that context, ABFM’s commitment to the public, to Diplomates and the patients and communities they serve, remains the same. We believe family medicine is the optimal foundation of health and health care – and we will do everything in our power to support that goal.
In Case You Missed It: New 5-Year Cycle
You never have to take the one-day exam again to maintain your certification – unless you want to! Using the longitudinal assessment as a foundation, the new 5-Year Cycle promotes ongoing learning and knowledge retention and offers increased flexibility and convenience to customize your certification.
In the year your next exam is due, you will begin the new 5-Year Cycle to maintain your certification, which includes:
- Certification Exam: Answer 25 quarterly exam questions (longitudinal assessment) or opt to take the one-day exam in year 4.
- Certification Activities: Earn 60 certification points through Self-Assessment and Performance Improvement activities.
- Continuing Medical Education: Earn 200 CME credits.
- Professionalism and Licensure: Continuously comply with ABFM’s Guidelines for Professionalism, Licensure, and Personal Conduct, which includes maintaining an active, valid, and full license(s) to practice medicine in the United States or Canada.
- Annual Fee: Submit annual certification fee.
2025 Match Day – Congratulations
On March 21, over 4,500 medical students matched to family medicine. ABFM joins the specialty in welcoming this new cohort. We stand by to support your progress to become caring and competent family physicians!
Bhumika Patel, a 2024 Pisacano Scholar, shared her excitement about Match Day, “UConn is my dream program for so many reasons. From the values to the resident energy to the faculty, I felt right at home, not to mention that I’m so excited to be living so close to my family and partner. I was so excited at the opportunity to match at UConn that I pre-emptively brought a UConn sweater!”
Have You Listened to The ABFM Podcast?
ABFM is proud to announce that our first four episodes of The ABFM Podcast are now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the ABFM Website. Hosted by ABFM’s Editorial Content Manager Aaron Burch, these episodes highlight unique conversations on diverse topics affecting family medicine.
- Social Medicine Immersion in the Bronx with Dr. Oladimeji Oki
- FM-Aire and the Value of Time Variable Residency Training with Jay Fetter
- Measuring Performance Improvement with Dr. David Price and Ann Williamson
- The Patient Panel Size Dilemma with Dr. Andrew Bazemore and Dr. Kevin Grumbach
More episodes are currently in production, so subscribe to our channel for updates!
ABFM has also published several new articles highlighting the work of exceptional board-certified family physicians. Links to each of our latest publications are below.
Changes to the KSA, CKSA, and NJC Commenting Platform
ABFM self-assessment activities, including the Knowledge Self-Assessment (KSA), Continuous Knowledge Self-Assessment (CKSA), and the National Journal Club (NJC) allow physicians to provide feedback on their experiences inside each of these activity platforms. The commenting function that is integrated within these self-assessment platforms serves as a valuable tool for family physicians to directly contribute to the improvement of ABFM certification activities by sharing their insights and feedback.
As of January 2025, these comments will no longer be shared in a public forum but will be regularly reviewed by ABFM staff to improve activity content and to enhance the quality of certification activities developed by ABFM.
Read the Latest ABFM Research
Check out ABFM’s latest research below and in our research library, or follow us on LinkedIn where we regularly highlight research relevant to family medicine. ABFM conducts research devoted to creating, evaluating, and maintaining cutting edge certification methods and to advancing the scientific basis of family medicine.
The ABFM studies listed below offer important findings that can inform policy and practice for the betterment of family medicine, including increasing investments in primary care, improving EHR transformation, and how residency education affects future practice.
Upcoming Outreach Events
- West Virginia AFP 2025 Annual Meeting
- Ohio AFP Chief Resident Workshop
- Annual Chapter Leadership Forum
- Washington AFP 2025 Annual House of Delegates
- New Jersey AFP 2025 Annual Meeting
- Delaware AFP 2025 Annual Meeting
- Oregon AFP 2025 Annual Conference
