Communication from the American Board of Otolaryngology.

Editor:

The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) wishes to point out some factual inaccuracies in a recent editorial (Ear Nose Throat J 2003;82:237). "Added qualifications" is terminology no longer used by certifying boards. The term now employed by the American Board of Medical Specialties ([ABMS] ABOto is one of its 24-member boards) is "subspecialty certification." The ABOto has been granted permission by the ARMS to confer subspecialty certification in Neurotology, not Otology and Neurotology.

The proper name of the Board was not used in the editorial. The certifying board in our specialty is the American Board of Otolaryngology, not the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Healy was quoted as saying that the Board had not been notified of opposition to a subcertification process in Neurotology. In fact, the opposite is true. The only official notification to ABOto was a request to proceed with a subcertification process by the specialty organizations in the early 1990s. Although the American Neurotology Society (ANS) reported a verbal accounting of a survey of its members at the Washington meeting, as mentioned by Dr. Pulec, neither the ANS nor the American Otological Society (AOS) has officially communicated anything to ABOto that deviates from its request of the early 1990s.

Dr. Pulec states that Dr. Michael Johns opposes this process in a 2001 JAMA article (JAMA 2001;286:1075-6). This is untrue. Dr. Johns does not make any statement of opposition to this process in that article.

The ABOto is and must remain a public trust. It is not a socioeconomic organization. It should deliberate and seek input from all interested parties, and it has carefully done that in the issue of subspecialty certification in Neurotology. However its final decision must be made in the best interest of the public it serves. At the same time, the Board will defend its primary certificate and the Diplomates that hold it. The primary certificate clearly defines Otology and its content. A subspecialty certificate in Neurotology will not subvert that content area. The Board will clearly define the subspecialty of Neurotology so there is no misunderstanding by the public, organized medicine, or its Diplomates as to its content.

David Schuller, MD, President

Gerald Healy, MD, Executive Vice-President

American Board of Otolaryngology

Response:

Dear Drs. Schuller and Healy:

Thank you very much for your response to my editorial on behalf of the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto). Thank you for pointing out the inaccuracies and for clarifying the position of the Board. As an owner of a certificate from the ABOto, I appreciate the good work done through the years by the organization. I will comment on two points of your letter.

First, you state that the only official notification of the ABOto was a request to proceed with a subcertification process by the specialty organizations in the early 1990s. In light of the current events and the present policy of the ANS, which is in opposition to subspecialty certification, it would seem that the ABOto is acting on obsolete information. I am pleased that you state that the ABOto should seek input from all interested parties. I hope that you will do this in a timely manner.

Second, you state that the ABOto is not a socioeconomic organization. I would agree that that is the case; however, the actions of the ABOto do have major socioeconomic effects on all otolaryngologists. I hope that the ABOto will act on conditions as they are in the 21st century and not as they were in the distant past.

Sincerely,

Jack L. Pulec, MD