AJ’s Dream Came True: Reflecting on My Career
Dr. Battaglia, a board certified internist, is Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He leads ABIM’s efforts to incorporate feedback from practicing physicians and key stakeholders into clinical aspects of all ABIM activities, including Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
My father inspired me to become a physician. Or should I say that, as a Sicilian immigrant with an elementary school education, he steered me toward a career in medicine as further evidence of achieving his American dream—coming to this country and providing opportunity for his family. In 1912, he came to the United States at the age of 10 with his mother and four of his older sisters after his father died in Valledolmo, Sicily, his birthplace. And here I am, 112 years after his arrival at Ellis Island as a young boy, writing about my decision to retire from medicine and my role as Chief Medical Officer at ABIM.
Over a year ago, soon after Rich Baron announced his intention to retire as ABIM’s President and CEO, I let him know that I intended to follow in his footsteps to retire once his successor was named and onboard. And right after Furman McDonald was announced as the next President and CEO, I also let him know of my plan. Through it all, my prevailing desire has been to ensure the ongoing success of ABIM, the new President and CEO, and my successor.
Having been at ABIM since 2015, it was not an easy decision to communicate to Rich, Furman and the rest of the team. I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy my work. I believe strongly in the mission we pursue and the value we add to the profession and for the public. I am proud to have been part of the incredible transformation of the organization and its program during the last decade under Rich Baron’s stewardship. And I know Furman McDonald well. I thoroughly enjoy working with him and know that he and the organization are poised for continued evolution and success. It is tempting (and would be fulfilling) to continue at ABIM, but it is time to step back and to spend more time with my wife, my four sons and their families—and, of course, our two rescue dogs, Rippin and Callie.
I’m not heading out of the door immediately. During the next number of months, I will be part of the team supporting Furman’s recruitment and selection of ABIM’s next Chief Medical Officer while continuing the current work I am engaged in until my successor is onboard.
I’ve been fortunate during my career, blessed with wonderful opportunities and incredible colleagues. Whether it was during my practice years with a staff model HMO in western New York, serving as Chair of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Review Oversight Committee, national and international healthcare consulting with PwC or the last nine years here at ABIM within the ABMS Member Boards community, I have been a lucky man. Along the way, I have had great mentors—most recently Rich Baron, but many others, including Daniel Wolfson, David Chin, Nancy Vesey, Edward J. Marine, Peggy O’Kane, John Andolina, Joe Stankaitis and a special shout out to Rudy Napodano.
A heartfelt thank you to them and all who have taught, supported and encouraged me along the way. Additionally, I want to express deep gratitude to the many diplomates and professional society leaders and staff I’ve connected with over my tenure at ABIM, all of whom provided honest feedback and thoughtful insights about what we do well and what we can still improve.
Before I end this note, I’d like to reflect on a conversation with my father, AJ (as my siblings and I affectionately referred to him after his death), on the day I graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He was 81 at the time. He asked what type of doctor I’d be. “A primary care internist, dad.” He then said, “An internist. So, you’ll do surgery?” “No, dad, I’ll take care of medical issues for adults.” “I see. And children, too?” You get the sense of the conversation. We had that same conversation at various points along the way until his death in 1991. He never fully understood what an internist is, but he was proud of me. And so was my mother. So, one last offer of thanks—to AJ and Mary K. Thanks for the opportunity you provided me to serve my patients and the profession.
