Catherine Flaitz

Founded in 1948, the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology is the certifying board for specialists in oral and maxillofacial pathology. The non-profit company is based in Tampa, FL. The organization sets standards for certification, including eligibility, examination, and ongoing certification maintenance. It administers an annual primary certification exam covering surgical, general, clinical, and radiographic pathology, and requires diplomates to maintain certification through continuing education and annual registration. The board defines diplomate statuses and enforces policies on examination integrity and certification representation. It offers programs to support certification and maintenance, such as a virtual slide program and a head and neck case review program, which provide digital slide study sets for self-assessment and certification maintenance. The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology complements these efforts with a continuing competency assurance program, offering virtual slide cases and continuing education credits online. The organization’s website facilitates verification of board certification and provides resources including bylaws, exam information, calendars, and continuing competency assurance tools. Governance is managed by a seven-member board of directors elected by fellows, with committees overseeing credentials, examinations, and certification maintenance.