By: Lynn McCain 

The Department of Pathology offers its congratulations to Dr. May Chan, Professor of Dermatopathology, on her appointment to the American Board of Pathology's Test Development and Advisory Committee beginning in 2023. "As an established subject matter expert in dermatopathology, the contributions of Dr. Chan will be highly valued," commented Bonnie Woodworth, ABP Communications Director. Chan, who also serves as the Program Director for the Dermatopathology Fellowship Program, commented, "With this appointment, I’ll be joining seven esteemed dermatopathologists in designing and writing questions for the dermpath board exam and for the dermpath portion of the anatomic pathology board exam. What is unique this year is that we are also tasked with developing a detailed content outline for the exam, which will be made available to future test takers. Dermpath is such a vast field with over a thousand diagnostic entities and innumerable disease associations. Preparing for this exam may seem daunting, and a content outline can be very helpful in facilitating more directed study. I am excited and honored that I will get to be a part of this crucial development, and contribute to the ultimate mission of setting certification standards for our profession."

"I am excited and honored that I will get to be a part of this crucial development, and contribute to the ultimate mission of setting certification standards for our profession."

The press release is provided below:

TAMPA, Fla., (Jan 12, 2023)- The American Board of Pathology (ABPath) is pleased to announce the appointment of May Chan, MD to the ABPath’s Test Development and Advisory Committee (TDAC) for Dermatopathology beginning in 2023. The TDACs are responsible for developing and reviewing the ABPath certification exam questions that assess and certify a physician’s education, knowledge, experience, and skills in order to provide high-quality care in the pathology profession. 

To be appointed to a TDAC means a physician is an established subject matter expert in their subspecialty field and is current on the latest advances in the continually evolving field of pathology and patient care. TDAC committee members develop and review examination questions for statistical performance and relevance to current practice. They contribute to the validity of examinations by determining the content and distribution of items on examinations (exam blueprints). The TDACs also advise the ABPath on issues in their subspecialty area of expertise. 

“The members of our Test Development and Advisory committees are experts in their respective fields. These individuals are instrumental in assessment development, the setting of standards, and provide guidance regarding the current state of Pathology. The appointment of an individual to a test committee is a recognition of their expertise and their contributions ensures the integrity and relevance of board certification,” states Gary W. Procop, MD, CEO of the American Board of Pathology.

Since 1971, the ABPath has appointed test committees for each specialty area of pathology. The committee consists of ABPath trustees and other pathologists or specialty physicians who are recognized experts in their respective disciplines. There are presently 14 ABPath TDACs.  They are: Anatomic Pathology, Anatomic Pathology CertLink®, Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine, Chemical Pathology, Clinical Pathology CertLink®, Management and Informatics, Cytopathology, Dermatopathology (with appointees from the American Board of Dermatology), Forensic Pathology, Hematopathology, Medical Microbiology, Molecular Genetic Pathology (with appointees from the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics), Neuropathology, and Pediatric Pathology.

About the American Board of Pathology

The mission of the American Board of Pathology, as a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, is to serve the public and advance the profession of pathology by setting certification standards and promoting lifelong competency of pathologists. Founded in 1936, the ABPath accomplishes this mission by establishing certification and continuing certification standards and assessing the qualifications of those seeking to obtain voluntary certification in the specialty of pathology.  For more information on ABPath, visit abpath.org or call (813) 286-2444.