The American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) is seeking diplomates who have item writing and exam development experience to apply to serve as the next ABOM Medical Director. Review the information below for detailed information about the position and to learn about next steps for qualified diplomates interested in applying.
Medical Director Position Purpose and Scope:
The ABOM Medical Director is expected to have expert clinical knowledge, skill and ability in the field of obesity medicine. They will provide strategic vision and leadership to the organization in partnership with the executive director, other ABOM staff, and board of directors with the potential to impact the field of obesity medicine broadly. The ABOM Medical Director will be responsible for the development of the Certification Examination in Obesity Medicine by leading the ABOM Item Writing Committee and partnering with test development and administration vendors. They will serve as an expert in obesity medicine for healthcare and lay audiences. Their responsibilities will also include oversight of examination preparation resources, external engagement, ABOM diplomate engagement, and operations. The ABOM Medical Director reports directly to the ABOM Executive Director.
Primary Responsibilities:
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the job requirements at this time. As with any position, the job requirements may change over time and include additional responsibilities not described below.
A. Certification Examination in Obesity Medicine (60‐70%)
- Act as a primary source of knowledge regarding best practices for item and exam development
- Attend all item writing meetings (e.g., Item Writing Summit, Item/Form Review meeting)
- Act as the primary point‐of‐contact with test development and administration vendors
- Partner with test development vendors on key training and development events (e.g., Item Writing Summit, Item/Form Review meeting)
- Ensure timely communication with test development and administration vendors
- Oversee and support members of the ABOM Item Writing Committee in item development, referencing and content defensibility
- Ensure materials that outline standard item writing practices for ABOM remain up‐to‐date (e.g., item writing guide, item quality checklist)
- Maintain a diverse team of item writers through strategic recruitment of new committee members; Intentionally develop technical talent and future leadership
- Nurture an environment that promotes high‐performing item writers through training, feedback, mentoring, and clear communication
- Provide coaching and support of item writers through item writing accountability groups
- Conduct performance review of items developed/reviewed through item quality checklist; Provide constructive feedback to individual item writers
- Lead work groups of item writers in activities, as needed, including item development and review
- Ensure materials provided to candidates during the exam are up‐to‐date and appropriate for each exam (e.g., ABOM Laboratory Reference Ranges document)
B. Examination Preparation Resources for Candidates (5‐10%)
- Ensure suggested resources for exam preparation include appropriate, evidence‐based high‐quality sources
- Establish and maintain relationships with key providers of obesity medicine education and training (e.g., Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council, Group One Continuing Medical Education Partners)
C. External Engagement (5‐10%)
- Monitor and remain up‐to‐date on advancements in the field of obesity medicine; Monitor changes in related fields (e.g., cardiometabolic health, lifestyle medicine)
- Raise awareness of obesity medicine and promote ABOM among practicing physicians in the U.S. and Canada; Contribute to the creation of ABOM marketing materials
- Represent ABOM with lay audiences through media engagement and other forums
- Develop and maintain relationships with key obesity medicine opinion leaders to promote ABOM
D. ABOM Diplomate Engagement (5‐10%)
- Address obesity medicine content‐related questions from diplomates
- Develop and maintain relationships with ABOM diplomates to identify gaps and needs that may be addressed by ABOM or other organizations
- Raise awareness of opportunities for ABOM service among diplomates
E. Operations (5‐10%)
- Attend all board of directors meetings
- Participate in weekly ABOM staff meetings (virtual, ~60 minutes)
- Ensure timely and transparent communication with other ABOM staff and the board of directors
- Participate in the development of ABOM policies or documents (e.g., honorarium policy, disclosure form)
F. Strategy Development and Execution (5%)
- Create, prioritize and execute work plans to implement ABOM strategic initiatives in a timely manner
- Act as a primary source of knowledge regarding history of board certification as well as recognized standards and best practices for credentialing and certification organizations
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- At least 12 months of experience in item writing and certification exam development
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), or equivalent
- Completion of residency training in internal medicine or family medicine in the U.S. or Canada
- Current Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine in good standing
- At least 5 years of clinical experience in the field of obesity medicine
- Expert knowledge, skills and abilities outlined in the ABOM Content Outline
- Have and maintain active board certification in an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board or osteopathic equivalent
- Have and maintain an active, unrestricted medical license in the U.S.
- Must work and reside in the United States
Additional Preferences:
- Affiliation with an academic medical center
- Previous leadership experience and demonstrated ability to build effective teams
- Problem‐solving abilities
- Strong communication and public speaking skills with both healthcare and lay audiences
- Ability to network effectively among peers
- Prior training in media relations and/or public speaking
- Experience as an educator, particularly in obesity medicine
- Experience in clinical research or evaluation, particularly survey development, implementation, oversight of statistical analysis, and peer‐reviewed publication
Other Information:
- Protected time must be allocated for ABOM activities (e.g., ABOM directly contributes salary support to the primary institution to ensure protected time)
- Part time role: 40‐60 hours per month or .20‐.30 FTE
- Some domestic travel will be required several times per year to ABOM meetings (e.g., Item Writing Summit, Item/Form Review meeting, Board of Directors meetings)
Application Process:
- Interested diplomates who meet the requirements listed above should submit the application survey and upload a CV by January 22, 2025. Click here to start the survey and upload your CV.
- After a review of applicants, those selected to move forward in the process will be notified by February 14, 2025.