Lewis R. First, M.D., M.S., University of Vermont professor and chair of pediatrics, was elected chair of the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) at the organization’s annual meeting on April 1, 2011. He will serve a two-year term effective immediately.
First, who joined UVM/Fletcher Allen Health Care in 1994, is also chief of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen and editor-in-chief of the journal Pediatrics. He served as the UVM College of Medicine’s senior associate dean for medical education and curricular affairs from 2003 to 2008, leading the full implementation of the UVM College of Medicine’s Vermont Integrated Curriculum starting in fall 2003. Serving in many different roles, First has been associated with the NBME since 1995, when he was appointed as a member of a test development committee. In 1998, he was appointed to the Membership of the NBME as a representative of the test committees. First was elected as an at-large member of the Executive Board in 2005 and served as treasurer of the NBME from 2009 to 2011. His other NBME roles have entailed active involvement in test development and program oversight for the USMLE, including service as Chair of the USMLE Step 2 Committee.
The recipient of numerous awards, First received the National Education Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2006 and the Miller-Sarkin National Mentoring Award from the Academic Pediatric Association in 2007. He is also co-editor of the recently-published Rudolph’s Pediatrics, 22nd Editiontextbook (McGraw-Hill Professional, March 2011).
The NBME is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides high-quality examinations for the health professions. Protection of the health of the public through state of the art assessment is the mission of the NBME. The NBME develops the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®), which provides a common evaluation system for applicants seeking initial licensure to practice medicine in the United States. The NBME’s examinations and services are also widely used by the medical education system, and the NBME provides testing, educational, consultative, and research services to a number of medical specialty boards and societies and healthcare organizations in the United States and internationally.
The Membership of the NBME endorses policy for the NBME and elects its board of directors, the Executive Board. The NBME membership is composed of approximately 80 individuals representing the academic community, national professional organizations, state licensing boards, students, residents, the federal government, and the public. It meets annually in March. The Executive Board, consisting of 12 individuals, meets regularly to consider questions of policy and to act for the NBME membership between annual meetings.