AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL GENETICS



UNSCRAMBLING ALPHABET SOUP

Information to assist in understanding the administrative jargon and how these terms and abbreviations relate. This list is growing and will be updated as necessary.

AAP American Academy of Pediatrics

ABGC American Board of Genetic Counseling – Primary responsibility for the accreditation of training programs and certification of individuals in the field of genetic counseling. (Master's level degrees).

The ABGC is an agency that helps provide quality assurance among individuals who provide genetic counseling services. Their exams are also given every three years. Individuals who pass are considered certified by the ABGC and may use the designation CGC (Certified Genetic Counselor) after their names. The ABGC also accredits master’s degree training programs in genetic counseling.

ABMGG American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics – Primary responsibility for the accreditation of training programs and certification of individuals in the field of human genetics. (MD's and PhD's). The ABMGG is an agency that helps provide quality assurance among individuals who offer genetic services. Every three years, the ABMGG gives examinations to PhD and/or MD level candidates who have been judged qualified by training to sit for the exams. Individual who pass are considered certified by the ABMGG and are then called Diplomates of the ABMGG. Diplomates may be certified in one or more of five areas of genetics: Clinical Genetics (MD’s only); PhD Medical Genetics (PhD’s only); Clinical Biochemical Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics, and Clinical Molecular Genetics (MD’s and/or PhD’s).

The ABMGG also accredits doctoral level training programs in the areas of Ph.D. Medical Genetics, and three laboratory specialties – Clinical Biochemical Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics.

ABMS American Board of Medical Specialties - is an organization of 24 approved medical specialty boards - the ABMG is the 24th member board. Their committees include:

BSC - Board Staff Committee (administrative staff of the 24 member boards)

COBEX - Committee of Board Executives; has been replaced by COBRE

COBRE - Committee of Board Executives and Representatives

COCERT - Committee on Certification and Subcertification and Recertification

COSEP - Committee on Study of Evaluation Procedures

DAC – Database Advisory Committee

DUG – Database Users Group

FINCO - Finance Committee



ABPATH American Board of Pathology

ACA American Counseling Association – the ABGC approves Continuing Education

Units (CEUs) for their recertification process through the ACA.

ACCME Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education - Council that approves programs that offer continuing medical education credits.

ACGME Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education - The RRC for clinical genetics is under this organization.

ACMG American College of Medical Genetics - Professional society of human geneticists with particular interest in clinical practice issues. The ACMG is a membership organization to which qualified individuals may apply. Diplomates of the ABMG may become Fellows of the College and may use the designation FACMG (Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics) after their names. Diplomates certified by the ABGC may become Associate Members of the College. There are, as well, 8 other categories of membership. The purpose of the college is to give national representation to providers of genetic services and their patients with genetic disorders, and to represent their needs in private and governmental organizations whose decisions impact on this medical specialty.

ACP American College of Physicians

ACT Association of Cytogenetic Technologists

AMA American Medical Association

SSS - Specialty Services Society

APHM Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics

ASHG American Society of Human Genetics - Society of human genetics professionals dedicated to research.

BIO Biotechnology Industry Organization - umbrella organization of biotech for-profit companies.

CAP College of American Pathologists - has joint committees with the ACMG in laboratory proficiency testing

CCMG Canadian College of Medical Genetics - Professional organization of human or medical geneticists in Canada.

CGC Certified Genetic Counselor

CLIA'88 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988

CLIAC Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee

CMSS Council of Medical Specialty Societies - Membership organization comprised of professional societies (Colleges and Academies) of the 24 recognized medical specialties.

COGME Council on Graduate Medical Education produces recommendations on the implementation of federal rules for graduate medical education.

COMGO Council of Medical Genetics Organizations headed by a steering committee composed of ABMG, ABGC, ACMG, ASHG, and NSGC. Member organizations include Association of Cytogenetic Technologists, Association of Professors of Medical and Human Genetics Biotechnology Industry Organization, Canadian Association of Genetic Counselors, Canadian College of Medical Genetics, Council of Regional Networks in Genetics, Ibero-American Society of Human Genetics, International Society of Nurses in Genetics, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Society of Craniofacial Genetics, and Teratology Society ( as of November 3, 1995). – COMGO defunct 2004.

CORN Council of Regional Networks for Genetics Services - Public health, government supported national network to support genetic services delivery.

ECFMG Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates - Through its program of certification, the ECFMG® assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to enter residency or fellowship programs in the United States that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

EMOC Expanded Maintenance of Certification Process – this is the full process as

outlined by the ABMS. It includes the collection of CMEs and practice-based

competencies.

FACMG Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics - doctoral level diplomates certified by the ABMG.

FASEB Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology - ABMG, ABGC, ACMG, and ASHG reside in their building at 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998.

ISONG International Society of Nurses in Genetics

MGP Molecular Genetic Pathology – a joint subspecialty of the ABPath and ABMG.

MOC Maintenance of Certification, new name for the recertification process.

NBME National Board of Medical Examiners - Contractors for the ABMG/ABGC certification examinations.

NCCLS National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards

NCHGR National Center for Human Genome Research - Part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NCQA National Committee for Quality Assurance

NIGMS National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Funds genetics grants

NSGC National Society of Genetic Counselors - Professional society of genetic counselors.

PPRC Physician Payment Review Commission advises the Health Care Financing Administration on rules relating to reimbursement policy for hospital, physician and health care systems. In addition, produces recommended reimbursement policy for graduate medical education.

RCPS Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons - Canadian professional organization

RRC Residency Review Committee of the ACGME - Organization responsible for the accreditation of Clinical Genetics training programs for MD's.

STS Special Testing Site is a location for the Maintenance of Certification exam other

than at the ASHG and ACMG annual meeting. This site is set up by and for the

examinee.

ABMGG Website:

ABGC Website:

Create date November 3, 1995

Revised 08/14/01, 10/5/05, 7/23/2014

compiled by Sharon Robinson

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