American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine Chair Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, issued the following statement in response to the American Board of Medical Specialties denial of an independent board for cardiology:
“We are deeply disappointed with the American Board of Medical Specialties’ decision not to approve the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine as a new, independent board for cardiology.
The decision ignores the evolution of cardiovascular medicine into its own distinct medical specialty, separate from the field of internal medicine, requiring its own set of knowledge, skills, and competencies to sustain professional excellence and effectively care for cardiovascular patients. In addition, the decision does not acknowledge fundamental change in how clinicians learn information and demonstrate skills throughout their careers.
We feel strongly that the ABCVM met all the criteria required for a new Board, including aligning with the rigorous, recently updated ABMS “Standards for Continuing Certification,” which promote integrated, specialty-specific programs that further a diplomate’s continuous professional development and emphasize improvements in health care quality, safety, value, and competency, rather than a focus on punitive examinations. In addition, the ABCVM application met the expected financial metrics for establishing a new, independent Board with tremendous professional support within the “house of cardiology”, and beyond.
The ABCVM Board of Directors is reviewing options for next steps. In the meantime, we expect that ABMS will listen to the feedback and comments from the cardiovascular community.
We are overdue on rethinking the current approach to assessment and maintenance of competency and look forward to continuing to find new ways to ensure continuous cardiovascular clinical competence in a manner that meets the best interests of cardiovascular physicians and patients, alike.”
About the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine
As the field of cardiology has evolved into its own distinct specialty, separate from internal medicine, the House of Cardiology felt strongly that having a separate and distinct certifying Board was necessary for sustaining professional excellence and effectively caring for cardiovascular patients. In 2024, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, the Heart Rhythm Society and The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions submitted a formal application to create the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM) under the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). For more information about ABCVM, visit: https://CVBoard.org.
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