American Board Of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is a non-profit, independent medical association in the United States. It is one of the 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABFM was founded in 1969 to encourage the study, improve the practice, and elevate the standards of family medicine.

History[edit | edit source]

The ABFM was established in 1969 by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) to become the third member board of the ABMS. The ABFM has its headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.

Certification[edit | edit source]

The ABFM offers certification to physicians who have completed a family medicine residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The certification process involves a written examination and a requirement for the physician to show evidence of continuing medical education. The certification is valid for seven years.

Maintenance of Certification[edit | edit source]

The ABFM's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, also known as Family Medicine Certification, is a continuous professional development program. The MOC program is designed to assess the ongoing competence of certified family physicians, promote lifelong learning, and improve patient care.

Research[edit | edit source]

The ABFM Foundation supports research that contributes to the knowledge and understanding of family medicine. The foundation funds research projects that are relevant to the specialty of family medicine.