The American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM) was the first conjoint board established under provisions of the “Essentials for Approval of Examining Boards in Medical Specialties” of the American Board of Medical Specialties. This was sponsored by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Pathology, the American Board of Radiology, and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and approved on June 19, 1971 based on the recommendation of the Liaison Committee for Specialty Boards, the American Board of Medical Specialties and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association. The ABNM was formally incorporated on July 28, 1971, and its first organizational meeting was held on October 23, 1971. In 1985, with the support of the original sponsors, ABNM became a primary certifying Board.
The ABNM was established to set educational standards and to evaluate the competence of physicians in nuclear medicine. This now includes fusion imaging (PET/CT-SPECT/CT), radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical therapy and molecular imaging. It has responsibility for establishing requirements for certification and Continuing Certification, for conducting exams leading to certification and Continuing Certification in nuclear medicine, and for issuing certificates to those who fulfill its requirements. The Board has certified 5,215 individuals during the period 1972 to 2009.
The ABNM is an independent, non-profit organization, one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the boards work together to establish common standards for physicians to achieve and maintain board certification. The boards were founded by their respective specialties to protect the public by assessing and certifying doctors who meet specific educational, training and professional requirements.
