AAMC president to step down in June 2006
The AAMC announced last week that Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., will step down as the association's president when his current term expires on June 30, 2006. Dr. Cohen has led the AAMC since March 1994 and is the association's third full-time president. A committee has been formed to launch a search for his successor, and a search firm will be engaged to assist in the process. For more information, please visit http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2005/050112.htm.

Specialty board recertification to become a continuous process
The 24 specialty boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties have agreed to participate in a new certification program that will change the specialty recertification process for physicians from periodic testing to a more continuous process. The Maintenance of Certification program aims to ensure that all board certified physicians meet the highest standards of patient care and accountability throughout their careers. Currently, recertification testing occurs every six, seven or 10 years. The new ABMS program will provide methods for assessing the ongoing competence of physician specialists. For more information, please visit http://www.abms.org.