ABMS Research and Education Foundation Grants

The ABMS Research and Education Foundation grants support innovative research aimed at enhancing healthcare quality through board certification. By encouraging collaborations among ABMS Member Boards, the program seeks original studies that inform improvements in certification processes. Proposals are reviewed based on relevance to the ABMS mission, research novelty, methods, team composition, and potential impact. Applications from diverse health organizations are welcomed, provided the principal investigator is unaffiliated with ABMS.

The American Board of Medical Specialties Research and Education Foundation (ABMS REF) grant program funds innovative research that explores the impact of board certification and aims to enhance health care quality and professional standards.
The ABMS REF is interested in original research that provides insight and informs improvements in the structures, processes, and outcomes of medical specialty certification.
Research projects may span the full range of the ABMS mission and are not limited to any one area or topic. Guidance for developing research topics (e.g., the impact of board certification on public health and health care disparities; assessing and improving equity in assessment) is included in the request for proposals.
The ABMS REF grant aims to stimulate research collaborations with and among the ABMS Member Boards. At the Letter of Intent (LOI) stage, the investigators should notify a representative from the most relevant ABMS Member Board(s) of their intended proposal. If needed, a list of primary contacts from each Member Board is included in the appendices of the request for proposals.
Projects that are relevant to more than one Member Board are encouraged. The optimal timing for the Member Board consultation is after the research team is assembled and draft research objectives are developed but before completing the LOI. At the full proposal stage, the Member Board may continue to play a consultative role. This arrangement allows full independence for the investigator to put forth novel and ground-breaking ideas while benefiting from the Member Board’s deep experience with certification.
The applications will be peer-reviewed by an advisory group of senior researchers drawn from the broader health profession education-research community and will have patient representation. Conflict of interest will be managed to ensure unbiased adjudication.
Applications will be reviewed and assessed according to the following areas:

• Relevance to the ABMS MissionNovelty and importance of the research conceptualization and questionResearch methodsResearch teamPotential significance
• Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

The ABMS REF welcomes applications from health systems, universities, or other organizations with missions that intersect meaningfully with the ABMS mission. The principal investigator’s primary position must be at a United States institution. Current and former ABMS Scholars are encouraged to apply.The principal investigator must not be affiliated with ABMS, which means they satisfy the following criteria:They or a family member do not receive compensation, benefits, or any form of renumeration from ABMS or an ABMS Member Board.They work for an organization that is not affiliated with ABMS or ABMS Member Boards, as grant funds are paid to the unaffiliated organization.ABMS Member Boards may apply for funding only in collaboration with a principal investigator who is not ABMS-affiliated.