This petition started by Heidi A Waldorf, MD is in support of an AAD resolution, titled Maintenance of Certification, introduced by Jeanine B Downie, MD to be presented at the AAD Advisory Board Reference Committee Hearing at the annual meeting on March 20, 2015 and the AAD General Business Meeting on March 22, 2015 in San Francisco.  

Dr Downie's proposed resolution is as follows:

WHEREAS, the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) has control of every board-certified dermatologist. The ABD aligned with the maintenance of certification (MOC) program last of all the medical specialties; and

WHEREAS, the MOC program and requirements are onerous and do not improve clinical care, public perception or improve perception from other medical specialties. The MOC program is expensive and requires unnecessary time and effort for the individual dermatologist with a time- limited certificate if they want to stay board-certified; and

WHEREAS, the MOC program – through its patient safety module, periodic self-assessment, patient and peer communication surveys and the practice assessment requires an unfair and unreasonable amount of time if we choose to continue our professional careers and make money to support our families. (Not-staying board-certified would be a financial hardship for over 90% of dermatologists that MOC affects). Lawyers do not have to take the bar exam every year but simply have to complete continuing legal education which can be accomplished with a few classes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the AAD work to be first medical specialty to pass a resolution to be voted on by the entire AAD membership to end all MOC requirements; and be it further

RESOLVED, the AAD should immediately change their recertification policy and remove all the MOC requirements, keeping only CME requirements in place.

REFERENCES:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/16/opinion/board-certification-has-gone-too-far.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/MedicalEducation/49369

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/837012

http://www.aapsonline.org/index.php/site/article/aaps_takes_moc_to_court/