Hematology Board Meeting Summary | Fall 2025
The Hematology Board held its fall meeting on October 10, 2025. Representatives from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) joined for a portion of the meeting*.
The following is a summary of the fall 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:
- Enhancements to the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA®), such as the possibility of expanded eligibility, developing focused versions in some specialties that will launch in 2026 and exploring additional focused versions in other specialties for the future
- Advancing and expanding ABIM’s research strategy with the appointment of Eric J. Warm, MD, MACP, as the inaugural Vice President of Research Strategy
- Supporting early career physicians and international medical graduates (IMGs) with the needs-based certification exam fee assistance program and the competency-based medical education (CBME) special consideration pathway pilot for IMGs
- Recognizing board-certified physicians at key career milestones, such as attaining more than 30 years of certification, and an end-of-year wrap-up for LKA participants
- Advancing innovation in assessment through new technology and society collaboration
On the topic of the fee assistance program, Dr. McDonald added that eligibility determinations were grounded in comprehensive criteria validated through stakeholder feedback. More than 850 applicants received the fee assistance for the 2026 Internal Medicine Certification Exam.
Dr. McDonald also addressed questions about dual-certification challenges for physicians maintaining both hematology and medical oncology certifications, and the development of more assessments with focus areas in other disciplines. He noted ABIM’s intent to explore flexible options for the LKA that could help reduce burden on physicians maintaining multiple certifications. In 2026, Hematology LKAs with focus areas in malignant and classical (non-malignant) will become available as alternative options to the Hematology General LKA. Options for the Gastroenterology LKA and Medical Oncology LKA will also be launched later in the year, and ABIM is exploring viable focus areas in other specialties.
Diplomate Professional Profile*
The Hematology Board reviewed the status of ABIM’s Diplomate Professional Profile (DPP), a survey that ABIM Board Certified physicians are asked to complete every five years via the Physician Portal. Data gathered from the DPP will inform exam blueprint updates and help Specialty Boards understand what physicians are doing in practice.
Siddharta Reddy, MPH, Senior Research Associate, reviewed trends indicating that 51% of hematology physicians have completed the DPP, with higher participation among those enrolled in the LKA.
Specialty Board members discussed opportunities to collaborate with ASH to streamline surveys and reduce physician response fatigue. Members also proposed including longitudinal data on retirement trends and clinical focus areas in future reports.
Hematology and Innovation in Technology*
Staff discussed ABIM’s ongoing collaboration with ASH and the importance of maintaining public trust as technology is integrated into assessment. Members reflected on how AI-driven analytics and tailored assessments could enhance both physician learning and patient outcomes. Several members expressed support for the continued modernization of ABIM’s digital tools to ensure accessibility and adaptability for physicians across diverse practice environments.
Society representatives departed at this point in the meeting.
Candidates for the 2026 Hematology Board
ABIM issued a notice in June about openings for a physician member on the Hematology Board for a term beginning July 1, 2026. Specialty Board members review applications and interview candidates, and at the fall meeting, voted on two to recommend to the ABIM Council, which makes the final appointments. ABIM expects to announce the appointee in July 2026.
Standard-Setting for the Hematology LKA
Psychometrics staff presented the findings of the Hematology LKA Standard-Setting Report. They explained the Angoff Method used to determine the content-based passing score and reviewed policy considerations regarding stakeholder impact. Hematology Board members discussed maintaining fairness and ensuring the transparent implementation of any score adjustments with sufficient lead time for physicians. After deliberation, the Specialty Board voted to adopt the passing score for the Hematology LKA.
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*Indicates that society representatives were present for discussion on this agenda topic.
