The Health Science Center’s Robert S. Schenken, M.D., professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology, has been elected to serve on the board of directors of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), the national organization that certifies physicians in obstetrics and gynecology, and related subspecialties.
The ABOG is one of 24 organizations that fall under the umbrella of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It arranges and conducts examinations to qualify physicians for board certification and recertification.
Dr. Schenken has been a member of the organization since 2002 when he was elected director of the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) for the ABOG. He was elected to the board of directors for a six-year term after completing his term as division director last June.
“While serving as director of the REI division, I was pleased to see the tremendous increase in the number of applicants for subspecialty training.” Dr. Schenken said. “I think this is a reflection of the ABOG’s efforts to assure that all training programs are of highest quality.”
After completing a minimum of four years of residency, obstetricians and gynecologists are eligible to become board certified. A written and oral examination is part of the certification process. Subspecialty certification in maternal–fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, or gynecologic oncology is also an option for physicians through the ABOG. It requires additional training and more written and oral exams.
“The ABOG faces many challenging issues,” Dr. Schenken said. “One of the most significant involves meeting new ABMS requirements for maintenance of board certification. It’s an honor for me to have been elected to this role that will influence the future of obstetrics and gynecology.”
Dr. Schenken holds the Humana Foundation Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Health Science Center. After completing his bachelor of science degree in chemistry at Stanford University, Dr. Schenken returned to Texas and studied at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, receiving his M.D. in 1977. He completed his residency in ob-gyn at the Health Science Center in San Antonio and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health.