PAYING ATTENTION TO PEDS

Priscilla J. Garcia, MD, MHA
Pediatrics Editor
The specialty of pediatric anesthesia continues to evolve with several new initiatives including a new board certification in pediatric anesthesia, maturation of the pediatric anesthesia fellowship match process, and optional second year pediatric anesthesiology fellowships.

In 2010, after listening to constituent groups from within and outside anesthesiology, the American Board of Anesthesiology voted to support a board certification process for pediatric anesthesiology. The proposal was approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2011. The first exam will be administered on October 19, 2013.

In order to sit for the new pediatric anesthesia board exam, a physician must:

(1) Possess an unexpired, unrestricted state medical license;

(2) Be a Diplomate of the ABA;

(3) Participate in MOCA;

(4) Have satisfactorily completed an ACGME‐accredited fellowship training program in pediatric anesthesiology; or

(5) Qualify for the “grandfathering” criteria.

The “grandfathering” criteria applies to Diplomates who completed anesthesiology residency training before July 1, 2012 and whose clinical practice has been devoted primarily to pediatric anesthesiology for the last 2 years, OR at least 30% of an anesthesiologist’s clinical practice averaged over the last 5 years. Clinical practice of the physician must also include neonates and children under the age of 2 years and include procedures considered high‐risk. Attestations from both the applicant and the applicant’s Department Chair will be required.

Common questions about Pediatric Board Certification: What if I completed a pediatric anesthesia fellowship, but it was before ACGME‐accreditation? What if I never completed a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship but I devote a large percentage of my practice to pediatric patients? For both of these scenarios, you can still apply to take the exam if you meet the “grandfathering” criteria, but you must sit for the exam during the “grandfathering” period of 2013, 2014, and 2015. All new subspecialty certificates expire after 10 years. Physicians interested in taking the exam can apply from their ABA portal accounts. The application deadline for the 2013 exam is February 15, 2013. Additional information as well as an exam content outline can be found on the ABA website (www.theaba.org). In January 2013, the ABA released a comprehensive communication about the exam eligibility and exam sites.