A message from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM):
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is conducting online external blueprint reviews for gastroenterology and transplant hepatology. The content that appears on ABIM’s assessments is guided by feedback from physicians to ensure it reflects what is most relevant in that discipline.
ABIM sent a review invitation email to a representative sample of gastroenterologists and transplant hepatologists. To be eligible for this sample, physicians must have been certified in gastroenterology or transplant hepatology for at least two years. In addition, physicians must spend at least 50% of their time performing clinical activities. This ensures respondents have enough time in practice to accurately provide feedback on conditions noted in the blueprint.
If you received a review invitation email from ABIM on April 23, 2025 (gastroenterology) or April 30, 2025 (transplant hepatology), we hope you will consider participating. In the survey, you will rate the frequency and criticality of individual medical topics and related clinical tasks, one blueprint section at a time. Each section will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You can review one section, multiple sections, or the entire blueprint. For each completed section, you will earn 2 MOC points. The deadline for completing the review is 6/18/2025 (gastroenterology) and 6/25/2025 (transplant hepatology).
The ABIM Approval Committees and Specialty Board will review diplomate review results this fall and the updated blueprints will be available on ABIM’s website in January 2026. This blueprint would be used for the first time on Certification and Maintenance of Certification assessments administered in Fall 2026. The blueprint will be used for the first time on the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment in July 2026.
We understand your time is valuable. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help make ABIM’s assessment content more reflective of physician practice. If at any time you need assistance, please send an email to ABIMBlueprintReview@abim.org.
ABIM Blueprints and Review Process — FAQs
What is a blueprint?
- ABIM’s blueprint is the outline of content used to ensure an assessment appropriately covers the discipline.
- The blueprint is based on analyses of current practices and understanding of the relative importance of the clinical problems in the specialty area.
- Blueprints are published on ABIM’s website to help individuals prepare for the exam.
Why should diplomates participate in blueprint review?
- Ensure assessments better reflect their discipline
- Have a voice in assessment content
- Familiarize themselves with the assessment content
What can your diplomates expect?
- Physicians will be asked to rate the relative frequency and criticality of individual medical topics and related clinical tasks, one blueprint section at a time. Each section will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
- Physicians can review one section, multiple sections, or the entire blueprint, and can return to review additional content at any time during the review period.
- Physicians will have approximately eight weeks to complete their review.
What is the timeline for publishing the updated blueprints?
- The ABIM Approval Committee will review diplomate feedback and ratings in August – October 2025.
- The ABIM Approval Committee will propose an updated blueprint for ABIM Specialty Board in October – November 2025.
- The updated blueprint will be available on ABIM’s website in January 2026. This blueprint would be used for the first time on Certification and Maintenance of Certification assessments administered in Fall 2026.
- The blueprint will be used for the first time on the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessments in July 2026.