Announcing the New SSO CGSO Board Review Course
Increase your level of Board exam readiness by attending SSO’s CGSO Board Review Course on January 26, 2019 in Chicago. This course has been developed by the SSO Training Committee and CGSO Program Directors to support recently graduated and second-year CGSO fellows. CGSO Certifying Examination is the last step toward board certification in complex general surgical oncology. Sarah McLaughlin, MD, Chair, SSO Training Committee, “The SSO CGSO board review course provides a simulated environment for examinees to learn and verbally organize critical surgical oncology facts and practice test taking strategies as they prepare for the certifying exam. Recently certified surgical oncologists will facilitate the course providing contemporary insight into the examination process.”
The SSO CGSO Board Review Course is an interactive one-day course designed to provide updated information pertinent to surgical oncology including core knowledge presentations, oral board examination advice, review of test taking strategies, practical advice with feedback and a mock oral session.
The course is available to first-year CGSO fellows, breast surgical oncology fellows, and surgical residents, as well as practicing surgical oncologists who wish to undergo a refresher or update.
Look for more information in the upcoming months.
ABS Continuous Certification
The American Board of Surgery Maintenance of Certification Program, now referred to as the Continuous Certification Program, has recently undergone many changes. Although the purpose of the program has remained as a process to document a surgeon’s ongoing commitment to professionalism, lifelong learning, and practice improvement following initial board certification, the new ABS Continuous Certification Program has changed the recertification process to provide flexible, high-quality, practice-related learning and assessment to support busy surgeons in their practice. Russell S. Berman, MD, ABS Board of Directors member and Chair of the SSO SCORE Committee said, “The new Continuous Certification Program was developed through a rigorous, data-driven process, taking into account the preferences of the thousands of diplomates who responded to the recent ABS survey. The goal was to develop a learning tool that educates, as it examines, and better reflects the practice patterns of individual surgeons.” The new recertification process is available to diplomates board certified in general surgery, and focuses on the latest and most important developments in practice to assist diplomates in staying up to date.
The new recertification process consists of an online, open book exam, that includes 40 questions total: 20 core surgery, 20 practice-related. Once started, diplomates are given two weeks to complete the exam and can save and continue their work when convenient. In addition, the online exam offers immediate feedback and results and two chances to answer a question (80% correct required for passing). The exam will be required every other year and can be retaken the following year without affecting certification status.
It is important to note that while the traditional General Surgery Recertification Exam will be offered in 2018, diplomates who pass the 2018 exam will still be required to begin the new assessment process by 2020.
Those diplomates participating in and passing the new recertification exam will be required to obtain 125 credits of Category 1 CME relevant to their practice over five years, but no self-assessment will be required; the ABS will also waive 60 credits of CME with self-assessment for passing a certifying or secure recertification exam. Diplomates who choose not to participate in the new certification exam will be required to obtain 150 credits of Category 1 CME relevant to their practice over five years, of which at least 50 must include self-assessment. ABS Executive Director, Jo Buyske, MD stated, “All surgeons recertifying in general surgery and all newly certified surgeons will enter the Continuous Certification program. The traditional recertification examination, although still offered this year, will not confer a 10-year certificate.”
Registration for the general surgery assessment opened on August 1 and is available until October 15, 2018. The assessment will be available from September 7 to November 5, 2018. Visit The American Board of Surgery to learn more.
Looking for more educational opportunities or CME credit? Visit ExpertED@SSO for continuing education programs developed and facilitated by preeminent surgical oncology leaders from around the world. Focused on the needs of cancer surgeons in all types of multidisciplinary environments, ExpertEd@SSO provides easy access to education on solid-tumor topics. Visit the ExpertEd@SSO course catalog for a complete listing of available educational opportunities.