Philadelphia, PA, July 1, 2010 – David Hoadley Ellison, MD, Head of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and a Professor of Medicine and Physiology & Pharmacology at Oregon Health & Science University, has been named Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Subspecialty Board on Nephrology. As such, he becomes the subspecialty board's representative to ABIM's Board of Directors. Dr. Ellison has been a member of the Subspecialty Board on Nephrology since 2000. ABIM sets the standards and certifies physicians practicing in internal medicine and its subspecialties who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide high quality care.
The Board of Directors, composed of physicians who are board certified in internal medicine or one of its subspecialties, guides ABIM's overall mission and direction as it works to improve health care quality. All ABIM Directors participate in ABIM's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. MOC recognizes that what was standard treatment a decade ago may have changed and that the public needs a process to know if their physicians have kept up-to-date in their field.
ABIM's Subspecialty Boards are composed of experts in both academic medicine and practice, all of whom must be ABIM certified in their particular subspecialty. Members of these boards apply their individual and collective knowledge toward the development of the policies, standards and requirements for certification and Maintenance of Certification in their subspecialty, with special focus on developing the cognitive exam that physicians must take to certify or maintain their certification in that field. The exam assesses essential diagnostic reasoning skills, evaluating whether a doctor can put together the patient's story and symptoms, make the right diagnosis and provide the appropriate care. Dr. Ellison is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology.
“David juggles the roles of teacher, innovator and clinician capably, balancing the demands of each while utilizing his myriad roles to inform all of his work. As a member of the subspecialty board he will now chair, he has continually brought his experience in nephrology in creating certification and Maintenance of Certification programs that are current and relevant to what physicians are doing in practice,” said Christine K. Cassel, MD, ABIM's President and CEO.
Dr. Ellison, a sought-after lecturer, has been honored for his teaching and integrates an active clinical practice with teaching and research. Dr. Ellison's primary area of study is the genetic basis of human blood pressure variation on diuretic treatment of heart failure and hypertension. He is Chair of the Program Committee and former Chair of the Scientific Sessions Program Committee for the American Heart Association Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease. Portland Monthly Magazine named him one of Portland's Best Nephrologists three years in a row.
Dr. Ellison graduated with honors and distinction from Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biology. He earned his medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago. He did his residency at the Oregon Health and Science University. He then completed fellowship training in nephrology at Yale University School of Medicine.
ABIM Board Certified Doctors Make a Difference
Internists and subspecialists who earn and maintain board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) differentiate themselves every day through their specialized knowledge and commitment to continual learning in service of their patients. Established as an independent nonprofit more than 80 years ago, ABIM continues to be driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. Visit ABIM's blog to learn more and follow ABIM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ABIM is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.