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The American Board of Ophthalmology Tie
The American Board of Ophthalmology Tie Martin Wand, MD This article discusses the efforts of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) to recognize and celebrate the contributions of its volunteers to certification programs and processes. In recognition of service to the ABO, all directors and examiners received ties for men and scarves for women bearing the ABO logo and colors. This article briefly describes the rationale and the importance of these articles for those who receive them. Ophthalmology 2016;123:S34-S35 ª 2016 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
All American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) directors know that our examiners are an integral and critical part of the ABO and that we could not function without this group of bright and dedicated ophthalmologists. Having been examiners ourselves, we directors appreciate that examiners have to pay for their own travel expense to the examination cities, must take precious time away from their families and work, and have to make up their own beds at the examination hotels at 6AM so their rooms can be used for the actual examinations. In addition, many examiners further donate their time and expertise to serve on numerous ABO committees. It has long been a desire of mine, and I am sure for most directors, to somehow acknowledge and thank the examiners for all they do for the ABO. When I became chair of the ABO in 2010, I proposed to the ABO that we give each examiner an ABO tie to thank them for their contribution. My thoughts were not only that it would be a tangible token of our appreciation, but also that it could serve the dual purpose of promoting the ABO. I thought that the examiners would be proud to wear these ties at other medical meetings, and if anyone asked about the tie, that might
Figure 1. The American Board of Ophthalmology tie (left) and scarf (right).
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2016 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology Published by Elsevier Inc.
Figure 2. Emeritus Director Martin Wand, MD (left) wearing the nonofficial American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) bowtie, and Executive Director John G. Clarkson, MD, with the only official ABO bowtie.
stimulate a dialog about the ABO and possibly encourage interest in becoming an examiner. Initially, there were a number of objections by ABO members to this proposal. As might be expected, cost was a consideration, but it did not turn out to be prohibitive. Of course, we already have the beautiful rosette lapel pins that Bill Tasman introduced many years ago. But since only directors get these rosettes, they did not address the issue of acknowledging and thanking the examiners. And the question was raised about how to acknowledge the women examiners and directors? That objection was resolved easily with an ABO scarf for the women. Suggestions for other items, such as paper weights or pens, were soon ruled out. Eventually, all directors agreed to proceed with giving an ABO tie or scarf. In the design, it was unanimous that the ABO logo would be used and that ABO name should be at the bottom of the logo; in the initial samples, the logos were deemed too small and duly changed. The colors of the tie were determined by consensus. The final ties and scarves were ordered and received, and all agreed that they were quite attractive Statement of Potential Conflict of Interest and Funding/Support: See page S35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.06.017 ISSN 0161-6420/16
Wand
The ABO Tie
(Fig 1). It was decided henceforth that all examiners would receive a one-time tie or scarf; that all past, current, and future directors would receive a tie or scarf; and that all ABO staff would receive a tie or scarf for the dedicated work they do for the ABO. We know that the directors proudly wear their ties and scarves at our meetings and during examination periods, and most importantly, there has been feedback that these ties and scarves have been greatly appreciated by the examiners as well. I have seen these ties worn by examiners at other eye meetings. I presume that they are proud to be examiners and, if asked about the ties or scarves, rhapsodize about the ABO.
An unplanned benefit was that in the course of designing the ties, we received samples of regular ties and bowties. Ultimately, it was decided that we would not give out bowties because of logistics. But we did not need to send the sample ties back. Thus, John Clarkson, our executive director and a bow tie aficionado, became the only person who has an official ABO bow tie! But, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that the original samples sent to us with the smaller rejected logos included a bowtie as well. Having always been frugal, I could not bear throwing it away. So, I confess that I have the only nonofficial ABO bow tie (Fig 2).
Footnotes and Financial Disclosures Originally received: April 18, 2016. Final revision: June 3, 2016. Accepted: June 3, 2016.
Analysis and interpretation: Wand Data collection: Wand Manuscript no. 2016-793.
American Board of Ophthalmology, Bala Cynywd, Pennsylvania. Presented at: American Board of Ophthalmology 100th Anniversary Symposium, March 2016, San Francisco, California. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. Author Contributions: Conception and design: Wand
Obtained funding: none Overall responsibility: Wand Abbreviations and Acronyms: ABO ¼ American Board of Ophthalmology. Correspondence: Martin Wand, MD, American Board of Ophthalmology, 111 Presidential Boulevard, Suite 241, Bala Cynywd, PA 19004. E-mail: martin.wand@ comcast.net.
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All American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) directors know that our examiners are an integral and critical part of the ABO and that we could not function without this group of bright and dedicated ophthalmologists. Having been examiners ourselves, we directors appreciate that examiners have to pay for their own travel expense to the examination cities, must take precious time away from their families and work, and have to make up their own beds at the examination hotels at 6AM so their rooms can be used for the actual examinations. In addition, many examiners further donate their time and expertise to serve on numerous ABO committees. It has long been a desire of mine, and I am sure for most directors, to somehow acknowledge and thank the examiners for all they do for the ABO. When I became chair of the ABO in 2010, I proposed to the ABO that we give each examiner an ABO tie to thank them for their contribution. My thoughts were not only that it would be a tangible token of our appreciation, but also that it could serve the dual purpose of promoting the ABO. I thought that the examiners would be proud to wear these ties at other medical meetings, and if anyone asked about the tie, that might
Figure 1. The American Board of Ophthalmology tie (left) and scarf (right).
S34
2016 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology Published by Elsevier Inc.
Figure 2. Emeritus Director Martin Wand, MD (left) wearing the nonofficial American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) bowtie, and Executive Director John G. Clarkson, MD, with the only official ABO bowtie.
stimulate a dialog about the ABO and possibly encourage interest in becoming an examiner. Initially, there were a number of objections by ABO members to this proposal. As might be expected, cost was a consideration, but it did not turn out to be prohibitive. Of course, we already have the beautiful rosette lapel pins that Bill Tasman introduced many years ago. But since only directors get these rosettes, they did not address the issue of acknowledging and thanking the examiners. And the question was raised about how to acknowledge the women examiners and directors? That objection was resolved easily with an ABO scarf for the women. Suggestions for other items, such as paper weights or pens, were soon ruled out. Eventually, all directors agreed to proceed with giving an ABO tie or scarf. In the design, it was unanimous that the ABO logo would be used and that ABO name should be at the bottom of the logo; in the initial samples, the logos were deemed too small and duly changed. The colors of the tie were determined by consensus. The final ties and scarves were ordered and received, and all agreed that they were quite attractive Statement of Potential Conflict of Interest and Funding/Support: See page S35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.06.017 ISSN 0161-6420/16
Wand
The ABO Tie
(Fig 1). It was decided henceforth that all examiners would receive a one-time tie or scarf; that all past, current, and future directors would receive a tie or scarf; and that all ABO staff would receive a tie or scarf for the dedicated work they do for the ABO. We know that the directors proudly wear their ties and scarves at our meetings and during examination periods, and most importantly, there has been feedback that these ties and scarves have been greatly appreciated by the examiners as well. I have seen these ties worn by examiners at other eye meetings. I presume that they are proud to be examiners and, if asked about the ties or scarves, rhapsodize about the ABO.
An unplanned benefit was that in the course of designing the ties, we received samples of regular ties and bowties. Ultimately, it was decided that we would not give out bowties because of logistics. But we did not need to send the sample ties back. Thus, John Clarkson, our executive director and a bow tie aficionado, became the only person who has an official ABO bow tie! But, in the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that the original samples sent to us with the smaller rejected logos included a bowtie as well. Having always been frugal, I could not bear throwing it away. So, I confess that I have the only nonofficial ABO bow tie (Fig 2).
Footnotes and Financial Disclosures Originally received: April 18, 2016. Final revision: June 3, 2016. Accepted: June 3, 2016.
Analysis and interpretation: Wand Data collection: Wand Manuscript no. 2016-793.
American Board of Ophthalmology, Bala Cynywd, Pennsylvania. Presented at: American Board of Ophthalmology 100th Anniversary Symposium, March 2016, San Francisco, California. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. Author Contributions: Conception and design: Wand
Obtained funding: none Overall responsibility: Wand Abbreviations and Acronyms: ABO ¼ American Board of Ophthalmology. Correspondence: Martin Wand, MD, American Board of Ophthalmology, 111 Presidential Boulevard, Suite 241, Bala Cynywd, PA 19004. E-mail: martin.wand@ comcast.net.
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