Eric S. Holmboe Selected as Recipient of 2016 John P. Hubbard Award
The National Board of Medical Examiners is pleased to announce that Eric Holmboe, MD was selected as the recipient of the 2016 John P. Hubbard Award. The award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the pursuit of excellence in the field of evaluation in medicine. Joseph P. Grande, MD, PhD, member of the 2016 Hubbard Award Committee, announced Dr. Holmboe’s selection at the Annual Meeting of the NBME Membership on March 31, 2016
In presenting the award, Dr. Grande stated: “In recognition of outstanding contributions to evaluation in medicine, I am pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2016 Hubbard Award is one of our own NBME members, Eric Holmboe. Eric is internationally recognized for the consistent quality and significance of his decades of scholarship, teaching, leadership, and service as they relate to the assessment of clinical competence and the development and evaluation of expertise in medicine. Eric has devoted his entire career to the scientific advancement of residency education and standards for accreditation, methods of evaluation for board certification, and perhaps most importantly in the reliable assessment of clinical competence. Eric has the rare ability to convey complex information about the assessment of clinical competence to the least experienced and to the most advanced evaluation professionals equally well.
“Among his many contributions, Eric has contributed greatly in the field of workplace assessment and programmatic assessment. In pursuit of the goal of more reliable clinical evaluation, Eric and his colleagues have developed an outstanding faculty development program that focuses on the scientific application of new and improved evaluation methods. As the lead author of a definitive text on assessment in medicine, his countless scholarly contributions have all had a profound impact on assessment practice. His textbook, A Practical Approach to the Evaluation of Clinical Competence, has sold over 4000 copies, and at the request of the publisher, he and his co-editor are working on the second edition. Considered one of the three most-recognized leaders in workplace assessment in the world, Eric’s learned support has led to great strides in the field, ultimately laying the foundation for innovations in the field of medical education and engaging a wide variety of stakeholders in a collaborative pursuit of excellence in physician training and assessment. As a colleague and peer I can personally attest to the importance of Eric’s significant contributions and leadership.
“In addition to his scholarly contributions, Dr. Holmboe is also widely known as a being a mentor and teacher of other assessment leaders. Providing leadership and mentorship in the pursuit of excellence in physician training resonates strongly throughout all aspects of Eric’s career.
“A fellow Hubbard Award Committee member who is also a past Hubbard Award recipient stated that Dr. Holmboe’s achievements match all four of the Hubbard Award criteria more strongly than anyone else whose achievements this individual has reviewed.
“Eric Holmboe, more than any other person I can think of, has been a strong advocate for considering the outcomes of care in the assessment of clinical performance, a much needed perspective, and his seminal work in this field relates strongly to NBME’s mission to protect the health of the public. His contributions to medical evaluation exemplify the criteria for this award, and he is a most deserving candidate. His leadership and contributions towards the pursuit of excellence in the field of evaluation in medicine and assessment systems have been translated into remarkable achievements. I as well as others on the Hubbard Award Committee have no doubt that he will continue to shape the assessment of professional competency into the future.”
Dr. Holmboe is senior vice president, milestones development and evaluation, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The NBME established the Hubbard Award in 1983 in special tribute to the late John P. Hubbard, MD. Honoring Dr. Hubbard as a principal, guiding force of the NBME, this award acknowledges his creative and inspired leadership of the organization during his 25- year tenure as its chief executive. Dr. Holmboe deservedly joins the ranks of the distinguished individuals whom the NBME has honored over the years with this prestigious award. His selection as the recipient followed a call for nominations published widely in the spring of 2016. The 2016 Hubbard Award Committee, chaired by Graham T. McMahon, MD, MMSc, included as members Peter G. Anderson, DVM, PhD, Kevin W. Eva, PhD, Joseph P. Grande, MD, PhD, Brian D. Hodges, MD, PhD, and Miguel A. Paniagua, MD.