Editors' Note: The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certification deadline date may explain why some neurology residents opt not to take the board examination directly after graduation, according to Tian and Gilbert. As a solution, they suggest more family-friendly ABPN policies. In response to Meng and Zhang, Schoenen et al. explain that transcutaneous supraorbital stimulation with the Cefaly device is not invasive. They add that patients can rent the device and test it for efficacy before deciding to buy it. Chafic Karam, MD, and Robert C. Griggs, MD
The correlation of the scores from Resident In-service Training Examination (RITE) and ABPN board-certifying examinations by Juul et al.1 was reassuring. However, there is a large drop off from the seniors who took RITE to graduates who took the ABPN certification examination.
Approximately 50%–63% of the seniors who took RITE prior to graduation took the ABPN certification examination the same year. The authors speculate that “reasons for delaying certification may include failure to successfully complete the residency on time; participation in fellowship training, relocation, financial, or other personal hardship; lack of confidence; or simply choosing not to become board certified.” It is possible that “failure to successfully complete the residency on time” could mean maternity, medical, or family-related leave.
We speculate that the ABPN's July 31 deadline plays a large role. This ABPN requirement may disproportionately affect residents who start a family during training and may also influence the decision of women in neurology residency to take shorter maternity leave. If the ABPN were to evolve toward more family-friendly policies like our colleagues in pediatrics,2 family medicine,3 and pathology,4 this might have positive results for our trainees and our workforce.
- © 2013 American Academy of Neurology
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