Clarence S. Livingood

The American Board of Dermatology

AS MANY OF you know, the American Board of Dermatology was founded 34 years ago, and indeed, only three specialty boards have had a longer existence. The primary purpose of the board is to establish standards of competence for physicians who voluntarily seek recognition to specialize in dermatology. In 1955, the Board joined with the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association (AMA) in forming a Residency Review Committee to appraise and evaluate programs of instruction relative to the training of those who would be specialists in dermatology. This committee, which is typical of those which serve a similar purpose for all of the specialty boards, is composed of four representatives from the board and four from the AMA who are appointed by the Council on Medical Education and approved by the AMA Board of Trustees. The Residency Review Committee regularly assesses programs and assists in the establishment