For the seventh consecutive year, residents of UNMC’s Department of Internal Medicine have recorded a 100 percent pass rate on their certification examinations.
James O’Dell, M.D., director of the internal medicine residency program, said that no other program in the region has numbers comparable to UNMC.
“This is an extremely rare feat, and it puts our program among the very top echelon of internal medicine residency sites throughout the country,” said Dr. O’Dell, professor and chief of rheumatology and immunology and vice chairman for education in internal medicine.
In 2004, 7,056 physicians took the ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination. Of those, 92 percent passed on their first attempt.
A closer look at the numbers shows just how special UNMC’s seven-year streak is. For instance, in New York, only two of the state’s 60 residency sites had 100 percent pass rates for the three-year period between 2001 and 2003. Those three years mark the most recent online data released by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the national accreditation body. To view the residency program pass rates by state, visit the ABIM Web site at http://www.abim.org/home.htm#.
“It’s not simply that our residents are passing the exam, but they’re also outstanding internists and wonderful people,” said Dr. O’Dell. “The program’s success is a testament to them and to our terrific faculty and support staff.”
Members of UNMC’s 2004 class, listed with their hometowns, include: Sarah Konigsberg, Cozad; Nicole Anderson, Hubbard; Kelly Caverzagie, Plattsmouth; Kimberly Harmon, Lexington; Joseph Auxier, Lincoln; Marylee Villanueva, Wynot; Susan Ohnoutha, Lincoln; Sarah Swarts, Omaha; Bonnie Nowak, Vermillion, S.D.; Kara Petersen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Brett Doxey, West Valley, Utah; Kelly Airey, Omaha; Amy Garwood, Lawrence, Kan.; and Jennifer Elliott, Columbus.