ABMS Research and Education Foundation Announces Recipients of 2025 Research Grants

On July 14, 2025

Contact: Susan Morris
AVP, Communications
(312) 436-2624
smorris@abms.org

Research grants totaling $300,000 were awarded to independent investigators

CHICAGO – July 14, 2025 — The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Research and Education Foundation (REF) has announced the recipients of its 2025 research grants. In its second year, the program awarded two-year grants representing $300,000 in funding and is part of a continued commitment by the ABMS REF to support research into the process of achieving and maintaining high certification standards.

“The ABMS REF is excited to announce this year’s research grant recipients,” stated Martin Pusic, MD, PhD, ABMS REF Director. “This grant program represents our commitment to fund independent investigators looking at the effects of board certification on patient care and the specific role that continuing certification plays. The results of these investigators’ work will help inform further enhancements to the ABMS Member Boards’ programs and their efforts to improve the quality of health care through professional standards.”

Recipients of this year’s grants are:

  • Jenny X. Chen, MD, EdM, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine – Developing and Validating a Professionalism Instrument for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
  • Alison N. Huffstetler, MD, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University – Morbidity and Mortality for Birthing Individuals: Understanding the Impact of Family Medicine Perinatal and Obstetric Fellowships on Perinatal Care in the US (MUM)
  • Brenessa M. Lindeman, MD, MEHP, Associate Professor of Surgery and Medical Education, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham – Entrustable Professional Activities to Inform Competency-Based Board Admissibility in Surgery
  • Yoon Soo Park, PhD, Ilene Harris Professor and Department Head of Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine – Enhancing Residency-Fellowship Transition: Exploring the Role of Board Certification and Milestones Competency Ratings as Feedback for Learner Preparedness

Following formal notice of their submission selection, grant recipients’ projects will begin on September 1, 2025, and continue for a two-year project period. Results from these studies are expected to be presented at the ABMS Conference 2027. The grant program is anticipated to be hosted annually with the potential for a new cycle of requests for proposals released later this year.


About ABMS

Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is responsible for the creation of standards overseeing physician certification in the United States. Dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families, and communities they serve, the 24 ABMS Member Boards develop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physicians and medical specialists. More than 997,000 physicians and medical specialists are certified by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards in one or more of 38 specialties and 89 subspecialties. For more information about ABMS, visit abms.org or call (312) 436-2600.


Download this press release as a PDF: American Board of Medical Specialties Research and Education Foundation Announces Recipients of 2025 Research Grants [PDF]

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