David Johnson, MD, Named Chair-Elect of the ABIM's Board of Directors

Philadelphia, PA, July 2, 2012 – David Johnson, MD, has been named Chair-Elect of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Board of Directors. Dr. Johnson is the Donald W. Seldin Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

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. From 2006-2010 Dr. Johnson served as chair of the ABIM Subspecialty Board on Medical Oncology.

The Board of Directors, comprised of physicians who are board certified in internal medicine or one of its subspecialties, guides ABIM's overall mission and direction as it works to improve health care quality. All ABIM Directors participate in ABIM's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. MOC recognizes that what was standard treatment a decade ago may have changed, and that the public needs a process to know if their physicians have kept up to date in their field. Dr. Johnson is certified in both internal medicine and medical oncology.

"It is a privilege and honor to serve on the Board of an organization that shares my passion for helping physicians develop the skills and knowledge they need for a rewarding career in medicine," said Dr. Johnson.

Dr. Johnson has a national reputation as an innovator in medicine. While serving as the President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), he helped advance ASCO's quality of care activity known as the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative or QOPI®. Dr. Johnson also led an effort to establish ASCO's Cancer Survivorship Program. He has served on the Food and Drug Administration's Oncology Drug Advisory Committee, as Chairman of the Thoracic Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and on the Board of Directors of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the LiveSTRONG Foundation.

"David is an accomplished leader in the field of medical education and in research and treatment in medical oncology. His ability to deal with challenging problems in innovative ways will be of the utmost value to ABIM," said Christine K. Cassel, MD, ABIM's President and CEO.

Dr. Johnson has authored more than 350 peer reviewed journal articles and 40 book chapters and edited four oncology textbooks.

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

About ABIM
For 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.