The American Board of Surgery was founded in 1937 for the purpose of certifying those found to be qualified after meeting specific requirements and completing an examination process. A major reason for establishing the specialty board was to identify the surgeon who has met a certain standard of excellence.

The American Board of Surgery is an independent, non-profit organization with worldwide recognition. It is one of the 24 certifying boards that are members of the American Board of Medical Specialties. The Directors of the American Board of Surgery are distinguished surgeons in education, research, and practice in the United States.

What is Board Certification?

The Board Certification process includes the following components:

1.  EDUCATIONAL

Must have graduated from an accredited medical school.

Must have satisfactorily completed five years of graduate school education in an accredited surgery residency program in the United States or Canada. During this period the surgeon must have experience in the management of a broad spectrum of patients with surgical problems including operative experience of such breadth and depth deemed adequate by the board.

2.  REVIEW OF CREDENTIALS

Upon satisfactory completion of their graduate education, surgeons may apply for Certification if they wish. Upon satisfying all of the Board's requirements they are admitted to examination.

3.  EXAMINATIONS

Applicants for Certification must first pass a daylong written Qualifying examination as a means of assessing their knowledge base. After successful completion of the Qualifying examination, Candidates for Certification are admissible to the oral Certifying examination. During this examination Candidates are interviewed by three teams of prominent surgeons who evaluate the Candidate's capability to manage ordinary and complex surgical problems and determine if the Candidates should be granted certification.

Certified by the American Board of Surgery

The surgeon who has attained Certification by the American Board of Surgery has specialized knowledge and skill relating to the diagnosis, pre-operative, operative, and postoperative management of surgical problems in the following areas of primary responsibility:

Alimentary tract  esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel.
Abdomen and its contents  diaphragm, biliary tract, liver, pancreas, spleen
Breast, skin and soft tissue  benign and malignant disease
Endocrine  thyroid and parathyroid glands, the pancreas and adrenal glands
Surgical Oncology  including coordinated management of cancer patient
Comprehensive management of trauma  the responsibility for all phases of care of the patient.
Complete care of Critically ill patients  with underlying surgical conditions.

The surgeon also has knowledge of pediatric, plastic, general thoracic and transplant surgery. The surgeon is also capable of employing various endoscopic techniques (viewing or performing operations through tubes with lighted ends.)