News

Charles S. Abrams, MD Elected to the American Board of Internal Medicine Board of Directors

Philadelphia, PA, July 1, 2008 – Charles S. Abrams, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and co-Director and Scientific Director of the Blood Center at University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has been elected to the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Board of Directors. 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.

The Board of Directors, composed of physicians board certified in internal medicine and 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 program, which promotes ongoing learning and in which doctors demonstrate their commitment to the Board's standards.

Dr. Abrams, a hematologist, renewed his certification in 2005. ABIM has certified more than 120,000 subspecialists, approximately 6,500 of which practice hematology.

"The growth of subspecialty medicine within the internal medicine landscape has been tremendous, and we are pleased to have someone with Charles's knowledge and expertise in hematology and oncology on our Board," said Christine Cassel, MD, ABIM's president and CEO.

Dr. Abrams is also Chair of the ABIM Subspecialty Board on Hematology, which is charged with developing the policies, standards and requirements for Certification and Maintenance of Certification in Hematology, with special focus on developing the cognitive exam physicians must take to certify or maintain their certification.

"My background in internal medicine enhances my skills as a hematologist, and has helped me to improve the care provided to my patients," said Dr. Abrams. "My work on the ABIM's Board gives me a valuable opportunity to affect the quality of our nation’s health care."

Dr. Abrams is a sought-after lecturer on topics related to hematology/oncology. His recent publications have appeared in Blood, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the Journal of Clinical Investigation, and the Archives of Internal Medicine. He is a member of many professional and scientific societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, and the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Abrams current serves as the co-Chair of the Hemostasis-Thrombosis Study Sections of the NIH Center for Scientific Review, and has formerly Chaired the Thrombosis Study Section of the National American Heart Association.

He received his medical degree from Yale University Medical School. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and oncology.

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.