Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Board Meeting Summary | Spring 2026
The Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Board held its spring meeting on April 7, 2026. Representatives from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (APDEM) and the Endocrine Society joined for a portion of the meeting*.
ABIM and the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Board gratefully acknowledge the service of Shehzad Basaria, MD, and Jawairia Shakil, MBBS, FACP, FACE, FEAA, Dipl. ABOM, whose terms on the Specialty Board end June 30, 2026. Dr. Basaria joined the Specialty Board in 2020 following service on the former Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Board Exam Committee (2015 – 2020). He simultaneously served as chair of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Traditional, 10-Year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Exam Approval Committee starting in 2022. Dr. Shakil joined the Specialty Board in 2023 and served on the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Item-Writing Task Force in 2024.
The following is a summary of the spring meeting. Visit the ABIM Blog for reports of prior meetings.
ABIM Leadership Update*
Furman S. McDonald, MD, MPH, President and CEO of ABIM and the ABIM Foundation, discussed progress on ABIM’s strategic initiatives, including:
- Customized learning plans via collaboration with the American College of Physicians (ACP) that launched in February. A new feature in ACP’s Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP) allows subscribers to import their most recent ABIM internal medicine assessment results directly into their accounts, which will suggest learning tools to build a tailored plan.
- Enhancing early career physician engagement through an interactive online community platform, tailored resources for residency programs and the creation of an Early Career Committee, which will begin meeting in July.
- Progress of the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Special Consideration Pathway pilot for International Medical Graduates (IMGs), which has received more than 160 applicants to date. ABIM is using the pilot to test a model for board eligibility using a CBME framework, while removing barriers for physicians who meet the same standards as peers who completed accredited internal medicine training.
- The recently expanded blueprint review process, which involves a schedule for updating blueprints in every specialty over the next several years. Practicing physicians in each specialty will continue to be invited to participate in updating each blueprint to reflect current practice.
- Recent communications about the importance of exam integrity and, in particular, the appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA®).
In further discussion on the use of AI tools, Dr. McDonald emphasized that the vast majority of diplomates participating in the LKA are using resources appropriately to answer questions. The greatest concern for the integrity of the exam comes from participants sharing content, knowingly or otherwise. Discussion also covered the future of individualized learning plans, which Dr. McDonald noted had seen a strong uptake among early career physicians.
Developing a Quality Agenda in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism*
As a next step in the development of a discipline-specific Quality Agenda, Specialty Board members engaged in breakout discussions to further refine the aims, drivers and relevant society strategies agreed upon by the Specialty Board and specialty society colleagues. The Quality Agenda is one of the standards for continuing certification issued by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) for all Member Boards in 2021. This standard requires that Member Boards “facilitate the process for developing an agenda for improving the quality of care in their specialties.” (ABMS Standards for Continuing Certification, p. 15: Requirements for Member Boards, 18. Quality Agenda.)
The discussion emphasized ABIM’s role as a convener, noting opportunities to leverage telehealth and coordinate national and local interventions for areas identified in the Quality Agenda. Laura Sessums, JD, MD, Chief Medical Officer, clarified that while ABIM cannot directly engage in legislative advocacy or lobbying, it can facilitate stakeholder alignment and identify systemic gaps.
Representatives from AACE highlighted workforce challenges, including reimbursement concerns and the need to increase interest in endocrinology among trainees. Members of the Specialty Board added their concerns about disparities in access to care in rural settings, the importance of multilingual patient resources and declining interest in research careers, suggesting that strategies should also promote investigative pathways to learn more about these declines, though this was not identified as a leading aim.
See the full Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Quality Agenda.
Physicians Engaging in Improving Health and Health Care*
ABMS Standard 19 (ABMS Standards for Continuing Certification, p. 16) focuses on increasing the proportion of physicians engaged in improving health and health care, including quality improvement and patient safety. It requires ongoing reporting, increased participation and collaboration to ease engagement and reporting burdens. ABIM is not reintroducing a requirement for individual diplomates to participate in quality improvement activities. Instead, ABIM will look to increase engagement in and recognition of quality improvement activities through existing pathways. In addition, ABIM will develop and implement new opportunities to recognize and reward diplomate engagement in quality improvement under the expanded definition.
Specialty Board members provided feedback and guidance, agreeing that clearer definitions and streamlined reporting mechanisms would support broader participation in the standard. Their feedback included the importance of incorporating the concept of continuous improvement into any formal definition and the need for simplicity in participation and reporting requirements. Dr. Twining reinforced the importance of aligning measurement approaches with real-world clinical workflows, particularly for employed physicians.
ABIM Foundation and Society Updates*
The ABIM Foundation recently updated its mission. Randl Dent, Ph.D., Program Officer for the Foundation, provided an overview of the full mission review process, shared findings from professionalism exploration, highlighted themes emerging from the 2025 ABIM Foundation Forum and discussed the Foundation’s new mission statement and its newest grant program focused on professionalism in action.
Society representatives from AACE, APDEM and the Endocrine Society provided updates on educational initiatives, including new learning modules and efforts to support trainees and early-career physicians.
Oversight of Training in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism*
Participants reviewed current workforce and training data in the discipline, including match outcomes and board eligibility rates. The discussion emphasized the need to monitor workforce trends and ensure that training pathways remain aligned with evolving clinical demands. Specialty Board members noted the importance of supporting IMGs and maintaining flexibility in certification pathways.
Oversight of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Assessments*
A large part of the Specialty Board’s purview is oversight of assessments. Each year, they examine data from assessments in each discipline. Members received population-level information, assessment participation updates and performance data to support informed decision-making and future assessment strategies.
The group discussed initial certification pass rates in the discipline, particularly potential causes and comparisons with other specialties, and the importance of continuedcontinuing analysis to better understand the trend. Staff confirmed that the examination standard has remained unchanged since 2018.
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Blueprint Review*
ABIM blueprints outline the content that will appear on the assessment and the percentage of the assessment covered by each topic area. ABIM is conducting diplomate blueprint reviews across all disciplines on a new schedule that initiated in 2025, wherein each blueprint will be up for review on a seven-year cycle. These reviews involve surveying practicing physicians in the specialty about the importance and frequency of tasks that may be performed in their practice. This process supports content validity and legal defensibility by providing a clear connection between assessment content and physician practice.
The Specialty Board discussed proposed changes to the content outline for the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Certification Exam Blueprint and the MOC Exam and LKA Blueprint. The changes reflected general alignment with society feedback and current clinical practice. Society representatives indicated that the revisions addressed prior concerns and improved clarity.
Society representatives departed at this point in the meeting.
The Specialty Board unanimously approved the proposed changes to the blueprint content outline as presented. The next step is for ABIM to issue a survey to endocrinology diplomates in the fall asking for feedback on the proposed changes. Following final review by the Specialty Board in 2027, the new blueprints will be published in January 2028. Changes will go into effect for the fall 2028 certification and MOC exam administrations.
Candidates for the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Approval Committees
Specialty Boards are responsible for selecting incoming members and chairs of the Approval Committees in advance of new terms that begin in July each year and as seats become vacant for other reasons. Following a review of the candidate materials and a candidate interview, the Specialty Board appointed Cyrus V. DeSouza, MD, as the new chair of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Traditional, 10-Year MOC Exam Approval Committee.
Read about all new governance appointments as of July 1, 2026.
ABIM Approved Quality Improvement (AQI)
The AQI Program is the process by which ABIM recognizes externally developed quality improvement activities that physicians undertake in practice. It also allows physicians to earn up to 20 MOC points for meaningfully participating in activities that support their local improvement priorities. Mara Schwartz, RN, CDCES, BSN, interprofessional member on the Specialty Board, reviewed a proposal from Shasta Community Health Center, which focused on improving diabetes self-management education and referral processes.
After a brief discussion, the Specialty Board voted to approve the AQI proposal for MOC credit. Any ABIM Board Certified physician who is a participant will be eligible to receive credit for this activity.
ABIM welcomes proposals from sponsors, including medical specialty societies, hospitals or hospital departments, medical groups, clinics, or other health-related organizations, which wish to sponsor a single activity. Organizations with a quality improvement activity to submit to ABIM for MOC credit recognition are encouraged to take the following steps:
- Download the ABIM AQI Program Guide (PDF).
- Download and complete the AQI Application (PDF).
- Email completed applications to mocprograms@abim.org.
Learn More
Subscribe to the ABIM Blog to stay on top of the latest news.
Get Involved
Apply to openings on ABIM Governance and the Item-Writing Task Forces and be part of shaping the future of ABIM’s assessments.
Join the Community Insights Network to share feedback with ABIM through focus groups, surveys, user testing and more as we develop and refine our programs together.
*Indicates that society representatives were present for discussion of this agenda topic.
