ABIM Elects Michael E. Williams, MD, Chair of its Subspecialty Board on Hematology

Philadelphia, PA, July 2, 2012 – Michael E. Williams, MD, has been named Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Subspecialty Board on Hematology. Currently serving as Chief of the Hematologic Malignancies Section and Director of the Hematology Malignancy Program at the University of Virginia Cancer Center, Dr. Williams has been a member of the Subspecialty Board on Hematology since 2006. ABIM sets the standards and certifies physicians practicing in internal medicine and its subspecialties who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide high quality care.

"Membership on the ABIM Hematology Board has been among the great privileges of my academic career. The high level of expertise and professionalism of the Board members, and the entire ABIM staff, make it a true pleasure to serve in this important role," said Dr. Williams.

ABIM's Subspecialty Board, composed of physicians who are board certified in hematology, guides ABIM's overall mission and direction as it works to improve health care quality. The components of the ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program reflect the guidelines of the American Board of Medical Specialties and encompass the six general competencies established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Members of the subspecialty boards are experts in both academic medicine and practice, all of whom must be ABIM certified in their particular subspecialty. Participants of these boards apply their individual and collective knowledge toward the development of the policies, standards and requirements for certification and MOC in their subspecialty, with special focus on developing the cognitive exam that physicians must take to certify or maintain their certification in that field. The exam assesses essential diagnostic reasoning skills, evaluating how well a doctor can put together the patient's story and symptoms, make the right diagnosis and provide the appropriate care. Dr. Williams is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.

"Throughout his career Dr. Williams has been an advocate for his patients and for our profession. As chair of the hematology committee, he will help shape how we assess and evaluate hematology physicians in the future," said Christine K. Cassel, MD, ABIM's President and CEO.

Dr. Williams serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network and as Vice Chair of the Lymphoma Core Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. He chaired the Lymphoma and Myeloma Track for the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2012 Scientific Program.

Dr. Williams has been named for many years to Top Doctors in America, America's Best Doctors and America's Top Doctors for Cancer. He participates regularly in national and international programs devoted to education and research in lymphoma and hematologic malignancies.

For media inquiries contact Lorie Slass at 215-399-4005.

About ABIM

For more than 75 years, certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has stood for the highest standard in internal medicine and its 19 subspecialties and has meant that internists have demonstrated – to their peers and to the public – that they have the clinical judgment, skills and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care. ABIM is not a membership society, but a non-profit, independent evaluation organization. Our accountability is both to the profession of medicine and to the public. ABIM is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. For additional updates, follow ABIM on Facebook and Twitter.