About AOBOS
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INTRODUCTION
The American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery recognizes that you are completing your training in Orthopedic Surgery. The information in the enclosed booklet will assist you in proceeding through the Board certification process. Board certification in Orthopedic Surgery is administered by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery for the American Osteopathic Association. It requires completion of a written examination, an oral examination, and a clinical review. The clinical review consists of a chart audit and observation of surgical cases. The documents in this booklet include instructions and applications for completion of the Board certification process.
The American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery was established in 1979 and exists primarily for the purpose of assisting newly trained orthopedic surgeons in the certification process.
Starting in 1994, you will be granted a 10 year certification and be required to complete a recertification examination every 10 years. This examination will be administered by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
All the information necessary to complete the board certification process is included in this handbook. Please read it carefully and do not lose or misplace it. There is a charge for a replacement handbook.
THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC BOARD OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Certification for Osteopathic Orthopedic Surgeons was originally under the jurisdiction of the
American Osteopathic Board of Surgery until the mid 1970's. The American Osteopathic Board of
Surgery had one Orthopedist Member, Dr. Donald Siehl. The Orthopedic Examination for
Certification (written, oral, and clinical) was given by Orthopedic Surgeons. Due to the increasing
number of Residency Programs in the Osteopathic Profession in Orthopedic Surgery, and therefore
the increase in number of graduates, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics began to
lobby the American Osteopathic Association in the mid 1970's to form a Certifying Board for
Orthopedic Surgeons.
A Committee was selected by the AOAO consisting of Peter Johnston from Columbus, OH; Dean
Olson from Lansing, MI; Seymour Kaufman from Cherry Hill, NJ; William Monaghan from Kansas
City, MO; and Bill Smith from Phoenix, AZ. This Committee began to develop the bylaws,
regulations, and Manual of Procedures for the new Board, the American Osteopathic Board of
Orthopedic Surgery. The AOA approved formation of the AOBOS in mid 1978. The members of
the Committee then became the founding members of the American Osteopathic Board of
Orthopedic Surgery. The first certification examination under their jurisdiction was given in 1979.
The first Chairman of the Board was Dr. Peter Johnston. The first Secretary-Treasurer was Dr.
Dean Olson who served in this capacity until 1988. Membership on the Board attempted to
represent the geographical areas reflecting larger concentrations of Orthopedic Surgeons. Some of
the other Orthopedists who contributed by serving on the Board in its early days were Dr. William
Luebbert, Dr. Bernard Zeliger, Dr. Gordon Thorn, Dr. Peter Ajluni, and Dr. Roger Grimes. Dr.
Robert Kaneda began service on the Board in 1984 and developed the ties between the AOBOS
and the National Board of Examiners. The NBME developed with Dr. Kaneda the AOBOS Test
Committee to update the written and oral examinations.
The initial members of this Committee, besides Dr. Kaneda as its Chairman, were Dr. Mark
Stabile, Dr. Thomas McCarthy, Dr. Keith Harvie, Dr. Roger Cameron, Dr. Mark Stover, Dr. Roy
Gorin, Dr. Steven Habusta, Dr. Terry Weis, Dr. Michael Mitrick, and Dr. Ronald Zipper.
The present members of the Board are appointed for a three year term and an optional two term
renewal for a total of nine years. Members of the Test Committee and Standard Setting Committee
are appointed by the Board based on their performance both the written and oral examinations and
a recommendation from their senior clinical examiner. They serve for a five year term. The Board
continues to work closely with the National Board of Medical Examiners as its consultant.
REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD CERTIFICATION
To be eligible for certification in Orthopedic Surgery by the American Osteopathic Association and upon recommendation by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
| A. | The applicant must be a graduate of an AOA accredited college of osteopathic
medicine.
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| B. | The applicant must be licensed to practice in the state or territory where his/her
practice is conducted.
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| C. | The applicant must be able to show evidence of conformity to the standards set in the
Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association.
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| D. | The applicant must have been a member in good standing of the American Osteopathic
Association for a period of at least two (2) years immediately prior to the date of
certification.
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| E. | The applicant must,have satisfactorily completed an AOA-approved internship.
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| F. | All formal training programs beginning before July 1, 1979, and which would have been
acceptable to the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, as outlined in the American
Osteopathic Board of Surgery Booklet of Information (1975) shall be acceptable for
examination by this Board.
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| G. | For training programs commencing after July 1, 1979, a period of four (4) years of
AOA approved training in orthopedic surgery shall be required. During the period of
formal training, the applicant shall have been the first assistant in performance of not
less than 750 major operative procedures, 500 of which must be of a major orthopedic
nature. The formal training must conform to the Program Requirements of the Basic
Standards of Residency Training in Orthopedic Surgery of the AOA.
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| H. | The applicant must provide documentary evidence that he/she has performed a
minimum of 200 major orthopedic procedures upon his/her own responsibility for over
a period of more than one calendar year (Jan. I - Dec. 3 1).
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| I. | The applicant must practice within the specialty of orthopedics for a period of more
than one calendar year (Jan. I - Dec. 3 1) subsequent to the required four years of approved training. Practice within orthopedics shall be defined as: The practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery in orthopedics as defined in the Bylaws of the Board seventy-five percent (75%) of the time and submit an affidavit attesting to the nature of his/her practice.
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| J. | Following satisfactory compliance with the prescribed requirements for the
examination, the applicant shall be required to pass appropriate examinations to
evaluate familiarity with the current advances in orthopedics, possession of sound
judgment and a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
involved in the practice of orthopedic surgery.
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| K. | Examination shall be conducted and required in the case of each applicant as follows:
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| L. | The official date of certification will be when the American Osteopathic Board of
Orthopedic Surgery notifies the candidate that he/she has successfully passed all
examinations and is being recommended to the American Osteopathic Association for
certification. Formal action by the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American
Osteopathic Association is required to complete the process and the candidate may not
claim certification until notified of this action in an official letter from the AOA.
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| M. | Certification is valid for a ten-year period of time beginning with certificates issued on or after January 1, 1994. |
BOARD ELIGIBILITY
You may be registered as Board Eligible for a period of 6 years after the completion of your residency. Please complete the enclosed form to register.
| Send enclosed application to: | Kay I. Rittenhouse |
| Executive Secretary | |
| AOBOS | |
| 450 Powers Ave., Suite 105 | |
| Harrisburg, PA 17109 |