M. Safwan Badr, M.D., M.B.A., professor and chair of the Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, will join the Board of Directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Badr, of West Bloomfield, Mich., is also a professor of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, and a staff physician at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center.

His three-year term begins July 1, 2018.

“My goal is to enhance opportunities for lifelong learning to ensure that we provide the highest quality, patient-centered care,” said Badr, an internationally renowned expert on sleep disorders research.

Board membership varies from 12 to 15 members. The board membership is comprised of leaders in quality improvement, health delivery systems, medical education and other important aspects of internal medicine. A majority of directors must have current clinical practice experience and at least 30 percent have experience with ABIM exam development.

Among other duties, board members set policies and standards for internist and subspecialists, determine and advance the organization’s mission and strategic policies, and ensure the relevance and value of ABIM certification.

The ABIM certifies approximately one out of every four physicians in the United States, with more than 200,000 currently certified.