A Message from ABFAS President Amberly C. Paradoa, DPM

November 1, 2021

I am pleased to kick off my year as ABFAS President with several positive changes to help our future and current Diplomates achieve and maintain their Board Certification—a testament to the work of our ABFAS volunteers and staff. ABFAS has rolled out our new certification pathway, affording residents the opportunity to take their Final Year In-training Exam to serve as their Board Qualification, if passed. In addition, ABFAS has eliminated the Part II Computer-based Patient Simulation (CBPS) exam. These changes promise to save residents money—not to mention valuable time away from training— with the ability to take fewer examinations overall.

I am especially proud that ABFAS will launch the new program of Continuous Certification during my presidency year. I believe we must always lead by example in our communities, which is why I love the acronym of the new program: LEAD, which stands for Longitudinal Education and Assessment for Diplomates.

As a working mother, wife, and business owner, I am thrilled at what the new platform means for my own recertification, and excited to share it with Diplomates. The LEAD learning program will allow Diplomates the ability to answer a preset number of questions per quarter, anytime, from anywhere, on any device, making the recertification process convenient and stress-free…or, at least, “stress-reduced.”

ABFAS Diplomates worked closely with staff in a LEAD pilot program, sharing their feedback to thoroughly refine the process to ensure surgeons will have a simple and convenient online interface. In addition, ABFAS has maintained its usual high standard for surgical knowledge and practice one could find in the now-retired recertification exam, but with the added convenience of spreading questions out over the year.

One other important advantage: LEAD is not a traditional exam, but rather a process of continuous learning. Diplomates will receive instant online references and rationales explaining the questions they answered incorrectly, as well as the opportunity to recognize and learn from weaknesses with a chance to answer the same questions again in the future.

Of course, along with the changes we intended to make, no one could have anticipated the degree of unintended change thrust upon us by the pandemic. ABFAS has weathered the challenges by working tirelessly, making vast adjustments to accommodate the obstacles of this volatile era. It has been business—though not business as usual—and ABFAS has responded seamlessly, despite the difficulties faced in our new and evolving norm. I am especially proud of the tremendous work our staff, Board of Directors, and committee members have accomplished this past year. It has not been easy, but it demonstrates the resilience, creativity, and professionalism of our organization.

As a Diplomate of this prestigious board and having served the organization for the past ten years, I have come to admire ABFAS’ long tradition of excellence. I am especially humbled, honored, and privileged to be your President this year, and am deeply grateful to my predecessors for their leadership and outstanding contributions. I am inspired by their commitment to ABFAS and all their achievements. The growth of ABFAS has been propelled collectively by volunteers, and by all the Past Presidents and members of the Board of Directors.

As Andrew Carnegie said, “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.” I look forward to continuing the important work of fulfilling the ABFAS mission. For, in these challenging times, we find our strength where we always have—with one another.

Amberly C. Paradoa, DPM
President

An ABFAS volunteer since 2010, Amberly Paradoa, DPM, practices in Vero Beach, Florida with Advanced Foot & Ankle of Indian River.