Why I Sought ABMM Certification
| "The American College of Microbiology uses the phrase “Certify your Worth ” to encourage certification. This phase captures what ABMM certification means to me. Certification implies that I have a specialized knowledge and expertise that qualifies me to independently direct a clinical or public health laboratory. It also means that I belong to a exceptional group of individuals who seek to bring excellence in practice and a spirit of collaboration to clinical and public health microbiology. This certification will now allow me to independently direct a clinical or public health laboratory. Most institutions require or highly desire certification for laboratory directors; thus certification opens many doors for employment opportunities." |
Cari Sloma, Ph.D., D(ABMM) Assistant Director Clinical Laboratory ViraCor Laboratories Lee’s Summit, MO |
"As an infectious diseases clinician who later went on to complete a medical microbiology fellowship, I felt it was important to seek ABMM certification to obtain tangible evidence of my expertise in medical microbiology. It certifies that I have the knowledge and experience to provide consultative and administrative oversight for a clinical microbiology laboratory." |
Daniel Diekema, M.D., D(ABMM) Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology Iowa City, IA
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"We live in a world where it is often easy to postpone that which we don’t perceive as being immediately necessary. Obtaining ABMM certification can initially seem like a daunting task and something to be postponed for a few years. However, I believe that “certifying your worth” should never be postponed. Demonstrating to others that you have been board certified and have met the rigorous standards required for that process is something worth pursuing at the first available opportunity. Why wouldn’t you want people to know how qualified you are to do your job?" |
Susan Butler-Wu, Ph.D., D(ABMM) Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Seattle, WA |
"I wanted to prove that I had the skills and knowledge in clinical microbiology and it is well-recognized internationally." |
Iqbal Ahmed Mahaboob, M.D., D(ABMM) |
"I sought ABMM certification because it is a measuring stick to which most Ph.D. clinical microbiologists are measured. It shows that I have been able to obtain a level of expertise that is very important to my employer, the clinicians and other health care professionals I interact with on a day-to-day basis, and ultimately the patients that are taken care of in our healthcare institution. Additionally, there is great pride I take in achieving ABMM certification, on both a personal and professional level. And with laboratory medicine becoming so specialized and more intricate and involved, people with this level of expertise are needed in all specialties of laboratory medicine." |
Clinical Scientist Microbiology/Molecular, Pathology Consultants of South Broward, LLP Memorial Healthcare System Hollywood, FL |
"To me, ABMM certification represents commitment and quality. The level of respect engendered by this achievement indicates that the medical community also recognizes this fact. While we all should be judged by the quality of the work that we do on a daily basis, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have D(ABMM) on your signature line." |
Laboratory Director Public Health Laboratory Minnesota Department of Health St. Paul |
"I sought ABMM board certification to validate an accumulation of knowledge and experience in infectious diseases microbiology over the course of my career and to enhance my chances of obtaining a laboratory director position under CLIA. The ABMM exam is the standard of excellence against which other certification exams are measured. Passing this exam is the hallmark of my career. Although military microbiologists are not currently required to be certified, I encourage all military microbiologists working in the medical arena to obtain certification." |
Laboratory Director Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories Tallahassee |
"It shows ambition to learn and progress in the field which should help in promotion/tenure negotiations.” |
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Assistant Medical Director ARUP Infectious Disease Laboratory University of Utah Salt Lake City |
"To me, ABMM certification was the exclamation mark after completing a CPEP-accredited postdoctoral fellowship. A Ph.D. is a well-known indication of independent thinking and investigation, and similarly, ABMM certification denotes expertise in clinical microbiology. Like the Ph.D., certification demonstrates more than just extra training--it represents peer-recognized accomplishment. In addition, my employer (like many) expects the highest level of certification for its employees. For a Ph.D. laboratory director like myself, ABMM certification is that mark of excellence." |
Assistant Laboratory Director Mayo Medical Laboratories Andover, MA |
"ABMM certification validates that I have the experience and knowledge to run a clinical and public health microbiology laboratory." |
Senior Consultant and Clinician Scientist Diagnostic Bacteriology Department of Pathology Singapore General Hospital |
"Certification by the ABMM implies competency in a range of skills relevant to directing a microbiology lab, but more importantly to me , it certifies one as a qualified consultant to other clinicians." |
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Director Microbiology Lab Intermountain Central Lab Murray, UT |
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Rodney Arcenas, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Joanne M. Bartkus, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
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Mark A. Fisher, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Thomas E. Grys, Ph.D., (D)ABMM
Tse Hsien Koh , M.D., D(ABMM)
David J. Pombo, M.D., D(ABMM)