Medical Oncology Board Meeting Summary | Fall 2025
The Medical Oncology Board held its fall meeting on November 18, 2025. Representatives from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 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.
In a pre-recorded video message to the Medical Oncology Board, 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
Laura L. Sessums, JD, MD, ABIM’s Chief Medical Officer, led a discussion and addressed Specialty Board members’ questions. Members commented positively on ABIM’s engagement with physicians to create improvements. The Medical Oncology Board emphasized the importance of clear communication with physicians and the public regarding the value of certification.
Tonjeh Bah, MD, commented on the increasing demand driven by improved cancer screening and diagnosis, noting that using advanced practice providers to manage survivorship and stable patients has helped mitigate burnout. Elizabeth Ellent, MD, shared perspectives from early career physicians, observing positive sentiment toward ABIM on social media and strong appreciation for the LKA. Discussion also addressed the future of the traditional, 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam, with Dr. McDonald explaining that ABIM continues to offer the long-form assessment for physicians who prefer that option.
Diplomate Professional Profile*
The Medical Oncology 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.
Medical Oncology Board members discussed potential additions to discipline-specific questions, including the roles of advanced practice clinicians (APCs) and practice-setting variability. They noted the value of understanding community oncology practice patterns and noted that DPP data could inform policy decisions. Members agreed that additional analyses and reporting could strengthen Specialty Board decision-making. ABIM staff agreed to explore future analyses aligned with ABIM’s strategic priorities.
Issues in the Discipline: Workforce*
Medical Oncology Board members engaged in open discussion regarding workforce shortages in medical oncology. Society guests highlighted variability in APC integration and training across institutions. Dr. Nair emphasized collaboration with societies to address data gaps.
Desirée A. H. Walker, a public member of the Specialty Board, provided a brief recap of insights from the ABIM Foundation Forum, noting the value of transparency and engagement with professionalism issues. The Specialty Board discussed the CBME special consideration pathway for IMGs, including federal visa constraints and the importance of monitoring implementation outcomes. Members emphasized team-based care models, the need for a better understanding of clinical effort across roles and growing interest in the use of artificial intelligence in oncology education and practice.
Nutrition in Assessment*
The Medical Oncology Board discussed the role of nutrition in patient care and assessment, emphasizing the importance of basing decisions to expand nutrition content in ABIM exams on sound scientific principles. Currently, the nutrition content in assessments varies across specialties.
Dr. Bah shared that patients frequently seek guidance on dietary approaches to cancer prevention and survivorship, often requiring clinicians to address misinformation. Ms. Walker cautioned against framing nutrition in ways that imply patient blame and emphasized culturally sensitive, risk-reduction messaging. Specialty Board members discussed opportunities to integrate evidence-based nutrition concepts into assessments better while maintaining scientific rigor.
Society representatives departed at this point in the meeting.
Medical Oncology Blueprint Review
ABIM staff reviewed the results of the recent physician Medical Oncology Blueprint review survey and proposed updated content percentages. Medical Oncology Board members discussed alignment with contemporary oncology practice and the validity of assessments. No one raised significant concerns regarding the proposed blueprint. Specialty Board members acknowledged the importance of transparency and defensibility in the process before voting to approve the proposed Medical Oncology Blueprint percentages. The blueprints were published on ABIM’s website in January and apply to the 2026 exam administrations.
Standard Setting for the Medical Oncology LKA
Assessment staff presented the standard-setting methodology for the Medical Oncology LKA. Aaron Myers, Ph.D., Senior Measurement Scientist, and Jerome Clauser, Ed.D., Vice President, Assessment Research and Innovations, reviewed data supporting the recommended passing score. Medical Oncology Board members discussed implications for fairness, stakeholder trust and longitudinal performance trends. William J. Gradishar, MD, noted the importance of incremental adjustments, and the Specialty Board acknowledged the need to balance maintaining standards with minimizing unintended impact. The Medical Oncology Board voted to recommend a passing score for the Medical Oncology exam.
Candidates for the 2026 Medical Oncology Board
ABIM issued a notice in June about openings for a physician member on the Medical Oncology 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 appointees in July 2026.
Subscribe to the ABIM Blog to stay on top of the latest news.
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.
