Join Us
How to volunteer for the ABPMR
Read the volunteer descriptions and time commitments below
Ensure you meet minimum qualifications for the role(s) you’re interested in
Scroll down to contact us about volunteer opportunities, and we’ll be in touch!
Role descriptions
Volunteer Positions at the ABPMR
Oral Exam Track
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ABPMR Oral Board Examiner
Role description
Many ABPMR volunteers start their service to the board here, as an oral board examiner. In the weeks leading up to the exam administration, these volunteers complete several hours of self-paced training on exam logistics, scoring, unconscious bias, and other topics, as well as one-on-one tech training, examiner partner roleplay, and large group training. During the exam itself, oral board examiners commit to at least one full day and one half day of active examinations, examining a minimum of 12 candidates per administration; they receive detailed feedback on their performance from ABPMR Oral Board Evaluators’ observation during and after the exam.
Qualifications
- At least 5 years post-certification
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
- Must have PM&R certification for five years before being eligible for item writing for the Part I Exam
Time commitment
Up to 15 hours annually after training; choose to participate in one, two or three month-long content writing submission windows annually.
Advancement opportunity: ABPMR Oral Board Exam Content Expert
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ABPMR Oral Board Exam Content Expert
Role description
High performing ABPMR Oral Board Examiners may be asked to serve as Oral Board Content Experts. These volunteers create, write, review, and edit the patient vignettes that eventually are used in the ABPMR Part II (Oral) Examination. Oral Board Content Experts may be invited to in-person vignette writing meetings and asked to participate in discussions on innovations to the Part II Examination. In addition to their vignette writing and review responsibilities throughout the year, Oral Board Content Experts participate in the May Part II Examination as examiner observers and at times are asked to fill in as examiners in the case of illness or if a candidate is known to an examiner.
Qualifications
- Completed at least one three-year term as oral board examiner
- Performance statistics demonstrate strong consistency, quality, and reliability as an examiner
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
12-16 hours annually: Vignette development each summer with additional training, examiner observation and mentorship. Leadership role. Observations are two-fold: Examiner performance and vignette administration performance.
Term
Three-year term, may be renewed twice for a total of nine (9) years
Advancement opportunity: ABPMR Board Director
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ABPMR Board Director
Role description
ABPMR Board Directors are recognized physiatrist leaders at the forefront of the field. Serving on a board of 15 elected members, each director is expected to prioritize ABPMR responsibilities, serving as ambassadors and representatives of the board to their peers. Board directors are data-driven and deliberative, ensuring all board activities and initiatives align with the ABPMR mission, vision, and strategic plan. ABPMR board directors set the short- and long-term strategic direction of the ABPMR and direct tasks of committees and board staff.
Qualifications
- Consistent, long-term, high-quality contributions to ABPMR volunteer service, responsive to all board colleague and staff correspondence, strong advocates for ABPMR initiatives and policies
- Demonstrated leadership skills and business acumen
- Have held multiple volunteer positions with the ABPMR; nominated by peers
- Not currently serving in leadership for other PM&R-related organizations during board director term(s)
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
60-100 hours annually; multiple in-person and virtual meetings required including evenings and weekends; travel required
Term
Five-year term, may be renewed once for a total of ten (10) years
Computer Based Test Exam Track
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ABPMR Board Exam Content Writer
Role description
ABPMR Board Exam Content Writers create questions for ABPMR computer-based examinations, including:
- Part I Examination
- Brain Injury Medicine Examination
- Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Examination
- Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Examination
- Longitudinal Assessment for PM&R (LA-PM&R) (title: ABPMR LA-PM&R Content Writer)
Question writing cycles commence each fall, when content writers complete a set of training modules on the ABPMR’s evidence-based exam question writing norms, including how to write clinically relevant questions, the appropriate ABPMR item writing style and format for answer options, and finding/citing current references. Once the training modules are complete, content writers are given assignments based on their identified interest areas and the needs of the ABPMR item (question) banks. Following question submission to the ABPMR team, ABPMR Board Exam Content Experts review with an eye on content correctness, core knowledge, and appropriate level of difficulty. After several rounds of review and vetting, the questions are evaluated for inclusion in the ABPMR question bank. Content writers are provided feedback on their submissions and tips for improvement during and after the process.
Qualifications
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Subspecialty Board Exam Content Writers must be board certified in the subspecialty they are writing for (BIM, PRM, SCIM) with no failing scores on those examinations
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
Five to 10 hours annually after initial training; two one-month content writing submission windows annually
Term
Three-year term, may be renewed twice for a total of nine (9) years
Advancement opportunity: ABPMR Board Exam Content Expert
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ABPMR Board Exam Content Expert
Role description
ABPMR Board Exam Senior Content Experts have demonstrated strong item writing skills and are well-versed in ABPMR’s exam question writing norms. These volunteers have advanced to reviewing Board Exam Content Writers’ submissions, determining whether the content is correct and core to the field or subspecialty exam and at appropriate level of difficulty. They work with ABPMR Associate Directors and Board Directors to further refine submitted questions, including several stages of review and vetting to ensure strong performing items on the ABPMR examinations.
Qualifications
- Completed at least one 3-year term as Board Exam Content Writer
- Meets deadlines, incorporates constructive feedback, is responsive to reviewer and staff emails
- Demonstrates strong item writing skills, items perform well on exams
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Subspecialty Exam Content Experts must be board certified in the corresponding subspecialty (BIM, PRM, SCIM) with no failing scores on those examinations
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
10-12 hours annually, content reviewing cycle occurs in two-month-long review windows bi-annually. Opportunity to participate with committee in final item review meeting to accept/reject items for item bank inclusion. Questions accepted into bank for possible future use on exams or assessments.
Term
Three-year term, may be renewed twice for a total of nine (9) years
Advancement opportunity: ABPMR Associate Director
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ABPMR Associate Director
Role description
ABPMR Associate Directors sit on ABPMR examination/assessment committees, including:
- Part I Examination Committee
- Brain Injury Medicine Examination Committee
- Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Examination Committee
- Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Examination Committee
- Longitudinal Assessment for PM&R (LA-PM&R) Committee
As full voting members of their committee, ABPMR Associate Directors participate in all committee meetings (virtual and in-person), contributing to discussions and decisions on exam and assessment performance, scoring, question review, exam assembly, exam report review, standard-setting studies, and innovations to exam and assessment processes. Associate Directors are often called upon to participate fully in review work for exam content, including revising and refining questions and updating aging questions.
Qualifications
- Completed at least one 3-year term as Board Exam Content Writer
- Demonstrates leadership and mentoring skills, recognized expert in the field/their practice focus
- Demonstrates strong item writing skills, items perform well on exams
- Assignments are completed on time and volunteer is responsive to instructions and reminders from board colleagues and staff
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Subspecialty Exam Content Experts must be board certified in the corresponding subspecialty (BIM, PRM, SCIM) with no failing scores on those examinations
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
16-20 hours annually, multiple commitments virtually (synchronous and asynchronous) throughout the year; one in-person meeting with travel required
Term
Four-year term; may be renewed once for a total of eight (8) years
Advancement opportunity: ABPMR Board Director
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ABPMR Board Director
Role description
ABPMR Board Directors are recognized physiatrist leaders at the forefront of the field. Serving on a board of 15 elected members, each director is expected to prioritize ABPMR responsibilities, serving as ambassadors and representatives of the board to their peers. Board directors are data-driven and deliberative, ensuring all board activities and initiatives align with the ABPMR mission, vision, and strategic plan. ABPMR board directors set the short- and long-term strategic direction of the ABPMR and direct tasks of committees and board staff.
Qualifications
- Consistent, long-term, high-quality contributions to ABPMR volunteer service, responsive to all board colleague and staff correspondence, strong advocates for ABPMR initiatives and policies
- Demonstrated leadership skills and business acumen
- Have held multiple volunteer positions with the ABPMR; nominated by peers
- Not currently serving in leadership for other PM&R-related organizations during board director term(s)
- No failing scores on primary certification exams
- Participating and Meeting Requirements in the ABPMR Continuing Certification Program
- Must abide by ABPMR Confidentiality, Assignment, and Conflict of Interest Policy for volunteers, including no participation in board preparation or review activities
Time commitment
60-100 hours annually; multiple in-person and virtual meetings required including evenings and weekends; travel required
Term
Five-year term, may be renewed once for a total of ten (10) years
Apply Today
Become an ABPMR Volunteer
Please review all qualifications above, then email Kara at kgunderson@abpmr.org with the following information:
- Name, location, and certifications
- Who referred you to us (if applicable)
- Which volunteer role(s) you’re interested in
- If you’re interested in content writing, please list your areas of expertise as specifically as possible