Thomas B. Ferguson, MD
19th ABMS President 1982-1983

Dr. Ferguson has been a leader in the broad field of specialty medicine and a special contributor to the profession of medical specialty certification. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University.

In addition to serving as ABMS President, Dr. Ferguson was also President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Chairman of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, President of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and President of the St. Louis Heart Association. He is listed in the Who’s Who in America, and has received the “Award for Inspirational Teaching” at Washington University.

Dr. Ferguson received his medical degree from Duke University. He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

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Renèe C. Fox, PhD
ABMS Public Member 1984-1990

Dr. Fox is Professor Emerita of the Social Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and an emerita senior fellow of the Center for Bioethics, and a member of the Affiliated Faculty of the Solomon Asch Center for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania.

Before joining the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in 1969, she was a member of the Columbia University Bureau of Applied Social Research, taught for twelve years at Barnard College, and then spent two years as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Social Relations at Harvard. At the University of Pennsylvania, she was a Professor in the Department of Sociology with joint and secondary appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Medicine, and in the School of Nursing.

Dr. Fox’s major teaching and research interests – sociology of medicine, medical research, medical education, ad medical ethics – have involved her in firsthand, participant observation based studies in Continental Europe (particularly in Belgium), in Central Africa (especially in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo), and in the People’s Republic of China, as well as in the United States. She has lectured in colleges, universities, and medical schools throughout the United States, and has taught in a number of universities abroad. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to medical sociology and several teaching awards.

She is the author of seven books and numerous articles. Her best known books are Experiment Perilous: Physicians and Patients Facing the Unknown; The Courage to Fail: A Social View of Organ Transplants and Dialysis, and Spare Parts: Organ Replacement in American Society (both of which were written with medical historian Judith P.Swazey); and In the Belgian Château: The Spirit and Culture of a European Society in an Age of Change.

Dr. Fox earned her PhD in Sociology from Harvard University where she studied in
the Department of Social Relations.

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Melvin A. Glasser (1915-1995)
ABMS Public Member, 1977-1984

Mr. Glasser was one of the first public members of ABMS. In 1983 he was a keynote speaker at the organization’s 50th anniversary.

Throughout his life Mr. Glasser was concerned with social issues related to the well-being of children, was an advocate for physician accountability to the public and was a leader in the continuing efforts to develop a national health care program.

Mr. Glasser was Director of the Health Security Action Council, (a Washington-based, consumer oriented health policy organization of national leaders forming a network of labor, business, youth, senior citizens, women, education, farm and related civic agencies). He came to this position in 1981 from the United Auto Workers (UAW) Union where for 18 years he served as Director of the Union's Professional Consulting Staff which advised the UAW on worker benefits and occupational health services.

His social work career started in the 1930’s at the Graduate School of Jewish Social Service and he received a certificate from the New York School of Social Work. He first worked in child welfare programs. In the 1940’s he worked with a number of American Red Cross programs before being appointed Director of the International Activities. President Harry S. Truman named him executive director of the Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth and subsequently associate chief of the U.S. Children's Bureau. During the 1950s he was Executive Vice President of the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis (which later became the March of Dimes) and served as Administrative Director of the largest medical field trials in history. He played a leading role in the eradication of polio both in the United States and in other countries. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed him to the National Committee and Chair of the Resolutions Committee for the 1960 White House Conference on Children and Youth.

In the late 1950’s, Mr. Glasser became Dean of Development of Brandeis University and was a Professor at the Heller Graduate School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare. For a number of years he held adjunct faculty appointments at the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan and in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health of Yale University School of Medicine. He was selected to be a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and has been involved with the Board of the Georgetown University Institute for Health Policy Analysis.

Mr. Glasser's professional activities in social work organizations have also been outstanding. He was a Vice President of the American Association of Social Workers and represented that organization on the Temporary Inter-Association Committee which founded the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) where he played a leading role in developing the basic plan for NASW. He was also President of the National Conference of Social Welfare in the 1970’s and was active in the International Federation of Social Workers. Mr. Glasser was a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and had always advocated quality standards in social work practice and in health care.

Mr. Glasser received his Bachelor’s degree from City College of New York and Master’s degree from the New York School of Social Work.

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William H. Hartmann, MD
ABMS Distinguished Service Award Recipient 2005

Dr. Hartmann is internationally recognized for his contributions in research, education and service in Pathology.

Hartmann has served as the President of the International Academy of Pathology’s US-Canadian division, President of the Tennessee Society of Pathologists and Director-at-Large for the American Cancer Society.

As editor-in-chief of the Atlas of Tumor Pathology from 1975 to 1987, he helped establish this series as the primary reference source throughout the world for the classification of tumors. Moreover, his own research, especially in thyroid and breast cancer, has had significant impact in the characterization of these tumors.

Dr. Hartmann served as Professor of Pathology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Chief of Anatomic Pathology at the Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco. As Chairman of the Pathology Department of Vanderbilt University from 1973 to 1987, he established the department as one of the leaders in the United States.

Dr. Hartmann received his medical degree from State University of New York Upstate Medical University. He is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology.

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William D. Holden, MD (1912-1995)
14th ABMS President 1972-1973
ABMS Distinguished Service Award Recipient 1988

Dr. Holden was instrumental in the establishment of ABMS and advocated tirelessly for the organization’s independence.

From 1950 to 1977, he was Director of Surgery at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Oliver H. Payne Professor of Surgery and Director of Department at the Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Dr. Holden was also a leader in many national and international organizations associated with specialty certification. He was became a Director of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) in 1962 as a Representative of the American Medical Association. He served as Chairman of ABS from 1967-1968. He was also Chair of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), a Member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons and President of the American Surgical Association.

Dr. Holden completed his undergraduate and medical school studies at Cornell University, and his residency at the University Hospitals of Cleveland. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery.

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John P. Hubbard, MD (1903-1990)
13th ABMS President 1970-1971

Dr. Hubbard served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) for 25 years until his retirement in 1974. He was nationally as well as internationally recognized for his leadership in developing more reliable and objective testing methods for medical education and medical licensure.

Dr. Hubbard was recognized as the voice of the NBME in its unending quest for measuring “ever more precisely” the qualifications for medical practice in the United States. He had an equally distinguished career in other fields of medicine including major contributions to pediatric practice, medical research, teaching, and public health services.

His early career in pediatrics was marked by his 1939 pioneering surgery with Dr. Robert E. Gross in the first successful ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus at Children's Medical Center in Boston. On the occasion of receiving the American Heart Association’s Award of Merit in 1966, John Hubbard was credited with finding "the key which unlocked the door to cardiac surgery."

In the United States Army Air Force, Colonel Hubbard served from 1942-1945 receiving the distinguished decoration of the Order of Dannebrog from the Danish government for his role as Chief of the Public Health section of the military mission in Denmark.

Following the war, Dr. Hubbard directed a notable nationwide study of child health services and pediatric education that was conducted by the Academy of Pediatrics with support by the United States Public Health Service and the United States Children's Bureau. In recognition of this work, the Lasker Group Award was presented to the Academy of Pediatrics in 1949.

From 1950 to 1966 Dr. Hubbard held the position of George S. Pepper Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Chairman of the Department at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and was then named Emeritus Professor.

In 1950, Dr. Hubbard became the Chief Executive of the NBME. As Executive Director and President of the NBME, he made extraordinary contributions to assuring the professional competence of doctors seeking initial medical licensure in the United States. Under his leadership the NBME combined the sciences of testing and medicine with the adaptation of objective testing methods to medical education. Dr. Hubbard’s strong personal commitment over a 20-year period to the attainment of a cooperative relationship between the state medical licensing boards and the NBME led to the development of the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX). With practically all state boards accepting both the NBME and the FLEX examinations, the United States achieved the foundation of a uniform standard of qualification for medical practice.

In special tribute, on the occasion of his retirement, Dr. Hubbard was elected President Emeritus by the membership of the NBME. Upon retirement from the NBME in 1974, Dr. Hubbard was elected President of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia for two consecutive terms. While he was President, a new Division for the History of Medicine was established as a center for teaching and research in the history of medical sciences in relation to current issues.

Dr. Hubbard's service to the public and to his profession was unstinting. From 1952 to 1964 he served on the Board of Health of the City of Philadelphia and in 1959 he was elected President of The Heart Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

International recognition of his distinguished service to medical education is evident in the action of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada when it conferred upon him the first Duncan Graham Award in 1969 for "distinguished service and contribution in the field of medical education” and in 1977 when he received an honorary degree from Uppsala University in Sweden for his major contributions worldwide to the field of evaluation in medicine. In 1971 the American College of Physicians bestowed upon him the title of Master of the American College of Physicians and in 1976 he was chosen as the recipient of the Pennsylvania Medical Society Distinguished Service Award for “his service to the science and art of medicine and for his life and activity which reflect great credit on the profession."

In 1983, the NBME recognized Dr. Hubbard's visionary leadership, which consistently enhanced the quality of NBME programs and services and led to its position of national prominence, by establishing in perpetuity the John P. Hubbard Award to be given annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the pursuit of excellence in the field of evaluation in medicine.

Dr. Hubbard received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He was board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

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B. Leslie Huffman Jr, MD (1929-2001)
21st ABMS President 1986-1988

Dr. Huffman served ABMS with distinction, culminating with his presidency. He was a charter diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice (now American Board of Family Medicine) and charter member of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He served as the board’s Chairman of In-Training Assessment, Treasurer, Director and, in 1982-1983, board President.

A firm believer in the importance of continuing education for physicians in helping to maintain
quality care, Dr. Huffman worked with physicians from Connecticut and Ohio to develop “Core Content Review of Family Medicine,” a widely-used home study continuing medical education  program.

His many roles included leadership positions and committee involvement with the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, the Family Health Foundation of America, Academy of Medicine of Toledo/Lucas county, Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Huffman served as Chairman of the Family Practice Departments at The Toledo Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital, and was Associate Director of the Family Practice Residency Program at Toledo Hospital from 1974-1975. He was preceptor, faculty member and clinical professor of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, where he served as acting Chairman of the new Department of Family Medicine from 1974-1976.

Dr. Huffman published many articles and gave many presentations to students and professionals alike. Upon his retirement from active medical practice in 1990, he was honored by the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians for his dedication as a family physician and for his contributions to and accomplishments in the Ohio Academy.

Dr. Huffman received his medical degree from Vanderbilt  University School of Medicine. He was certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

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Harry J. Hurley Jr., MD
ABMS Distinguished Service Award Recipient 2004

Professor Emeritus of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Hurley has been, throughout his career, a distinguished clinician.

Dr. Hurley served the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) for more than 25 years. He served three terms as an elected director and, in 1984, was appointed Associate Executive director and held the position until his retirement in December 2000. He served as Executive consultant to the ABD from 2001 to 2007. Dr. Hurley was also an active participant in ABMS activities as a voting representative from the ABD and served with distinction on the ABMS Task Force on Competence.

As an author, Dr. Hurley co-wrote four books in Dermatology, one of which is a standard, well recognized text in Dermatology. He also wrote more than 100 papers on dermatologic subjects. He’s been a major contributor to the Dermatology Residency Review Committee and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Dr. Hurley is certified by the American Board of Dermatology.

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