American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) Certifications

The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) was incorporated in 1948 and has gone through quite a few changes over the years. Instead of offering certification in a single medical specialty, it offers board certifications in several, including:

• Occupational medicine (1955)
• Aerospace medicine (1953, formerly called Aviation medicine, name changed in 1963)
• General preventive medicine (1963) - which is now called public health and general preventive medicine (1983)
• Undersea and hyperbaric medicine (1989)
• Medical toxicology (1992)

So, if you're considering a non-clinical career, you may wish to explore some options in the world of preventive medicine. The latest certification was added in 1992 and I won't be surprised if a few more get added over the next few decades.

The Board consists of members from the following organizations:

• Aerospace Medical Association
• American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• American College of Preventive Medicine
• American Medical Association
• Association of Schools of Public Health
• Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine
• Trustees of the American Board of Preventive Medicine

Have you ever considered being a NASA astronaut physician?