Message from the TBSCCB Chair

Colleagues,

At its core, board certification exists to protect the public by ensuring that practicing surgeons meet the highest standards of safety, competence, and clinical skill. The American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) mission is to serve patients, society, and the specialty of surgery. The Trauma, Burns, and Surgical Critical Care Board (TBSCCB) is dedicated to ensuring certification standards remain responsive to the evolving needs of the public while staying meaningful and relevant to surgeons in training and practice.

Maintaining public trust is not a static achievement but an ongoing responsibility requiring continuous evaluation and improvement. The ongoing rollout of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) directly advances this work, providing a structured, workplace-based framework that captures authentic clinical competence and bridges training with safe, independent practice. By actively engaging with EPAs and collaborating with the board, program directors help ensure that assessments reflect real-time entrustment and practice-readiness, reinforcing the public’s confidence in our workforce.

The TBSCCB is profoundly grateful for the dedication and partnership of our diplomates as we collectively uphold excellence, accountability, and the highest standard of care for critically ill and injured patients.

– Dr. Nicole Stassen