What is the American Board of Otolaryngology?

The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto), founded in 1924, is the second oldest of the twenty-four recognized medical certifying organizations in the United States.

Founding members of the ABOto included representatives from various specialty societies. The ABOto currently has fourteen sponsoring specialty organizations.

The purpose of the ABOto is to assure that diplomates certified by the ABOto have met professional standards of training, knowledge and performance in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

The ABOto is a non-profit corporation, and the directors and examiners, with the exception of the Executive Vice President and the Examination Chairman, receive no compensation.

The ABOto office is located in Houston, Texas.

What Does an Otolaryngologist Do?

A board certified otolaryngologist has been trained in medical and surgical skills to treat these areas of the head and neck:

Skin & Face
Including cancer, cosmetic surgery (face lift, skin resurfacing, eyelid surgery), and rehabilitation of facial paralysis.

Nose & Sinuses
Including allergy, sinus infection, breathing, tumors, cosmetic surgery and reconstruction, and disorders of taste and smell.

Ears
Including balance disorders, infections, tumors, repair of external ear deformities, and hearing testing and treatment by surgery or with hearing aids.

Mouth
Including fractures of the jaw and other facial bones, diseases of the mouth and repair of birth defects.

Throat & Voice Box
Including swallowing and breathing problems, infections, tumors, birth defects, speech and voice diagnostics and therapy.

Neck
Including tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, saliva-producing glands, and other neck tumors/cancer.

How Did My Doctor Obtain Board Certification?

To become board certified, your doctor met the education and practice requirements listed below, and passed two examinations.

Education:

• Your doctor holds an MD or DO degree from an approved medical school.
• Your doctor completed 4-5 years of residency training after medical school in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or its equivalent.

Practice:

• Your doctor demonstrated high moral, ethical and professional qualifications and holds a valid license to practice medicine.

Examinations:

• Your doctor passed a one-day written exam which tested knowledge and skill in identifying and treating hearing and balance problems, birth defects, infections, glandular disorders, tumors, allergies, accidental injuries, and cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the face, head and neck.
• Your doctor also passed an extensive oral exam which focused on diagnosis, treatment, emergencies and complications of the ear and hearing, the head and neck, facial plastic and reconstructive operations, endoseopy, nasal and sinus disease, and allergy.

What is the Value of Board Certification?

You can be assured that your board certified otolaryngologist has been trained and tested in the medical knowledge and surgical skills needed to diagnose and American Board of Internal Medicine treat diseases of the head and neck in patients of all ages.

American Board of Otolaryngology
3050 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77056-6579 Serving the Public Since 1924
713-850-0399
713-850-1104 FAX
URL: http://www.aboto.org