ABIM Elects Bruce D. Lindsay, MD, Chair of its Subspecialty Board on Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

Philadelphia, PA, July 2, 2012 – Bruce D. Lindsay, MD, has been named Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Subspecialty Board on Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Currently serving as Section Head, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology & Pacing, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Lindsay has been a member of the Subspecialty Board on Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology 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.

"The goal of the examination committee is to develop questions that distinguish candidates with a strong body of knowledge and the judgment required to manage patients with complex heart rhythm abnormalities," says Dr. Lindsay. "It is a demanding examination, but each question is reviewed extensively in order to be fair and reflect a consensus among experts in the field."

ABIM's Subspecialty Board, composed of physicians who are board certified in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, guides ABIM's overall mission and direction as it works to improve health care quality. The components of the ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programreflect 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. Lindsay is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

"The experience and skill Bruce brings as chair of the clinical cardiac electrophysiology committee is impressive, and will be extremely valuable to the Board as we work to determine the requirements and qualifications of candidates applying for certification in this important subspecialty," said Christine K. Cassel, MD, ABIM's President and CEO.

Dr. Lindsay has written and published more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles and invited publications. He has served on the faculty at several international meetings. Dr. Lindsay is Past President of the Heart Rhythm Society, recently served as Chair of the Heart Rhythm Society's Publications Committee, and is currently Chair of the Ethics Committee. He also has served as Chair of the Board of Governors for the American College of Cardiology and was a member of the Board of Trustees.

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.