EVANSTON, Ill. - Jan. 24, 2007 - Stephen H. Miller, MD, MPH, president and chief executive officer of  American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) today announced the appointment of Sheldon D. Horowitz, MD to the new role of Special Advisor to the President.
Dr. Horowitz will be a leading contributor in the execution of several key ABMS strategic initiatives involving ABMS Member Board programs for physician certification and maintenance of certification and the development of programs to improve patient safety and practice performance. He will also serve as the primary advisor to Dr. Miller on ABMS Research and Education Foundation programs and activities.

Most recently, Dr. Horowitz served as Senior Vice President of ABMS and Executive Director of the ABMS Research and Education Foundation where he championed the efforts to secure two grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for funding Improving Performance in Practice (IPIP), a pilot program giving doctors the tools, systems and support needed to improve physician performance and patient health. IPIP has created a collaborative structure for specialty societies, boards, other state and national organizations and quality improvement experts to work together, learn from one another, avoid duplication of efforts and better support primary care physicians in their commitment to delivering high-quality care.
“Sheldon Horowitz has done a tremendous job in leading the ABMS Research and Education Foundation. His dedication, intelligence and vision are all qualities that make him an extraordinary leader,” said Dr. Miller. “He has been one of my most valued advisors, and I will continue to rely on his experience and perspective.”

Dr. Horowitz received his MD from UCLA School of Medicine, then did his pediatric training at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in immunology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. During the course of his career, he has authored or co-authored numerous articles, book chapters and books with relation to his specific interests in immunology and pediatrics. He has received various honors and awards for his many years in education as a professor in pediatrics and as associate dean for medical education at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

About ABMS
The American Board of Medical Specialties is the preeminent medical organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. It assists its 24 Member Boards in their efforts to develop and implement educational and professional standards for the evaluation and certification of physician specialists. ABMS Member Boards provide physician certification information to ABMS for its certification verification service programs. ABMS is recognized by the key healthcare credentialing accreditation entities as a primary equivalent source of board certification data for medical specialists. Visit www.abms.org or call (847) 491-9091.