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C. First of all
D. Therefore Answer: B
Section 34: Sec Thirty Four (208-217)
Details: US History Test Questions Question: 208
What grassroots political movement, started by southern and western farmers, arose in the
1890s US to fight banks, railroads, large corporations and other "elites"?
A. Entrepreneurship Movement
B. Farmers United
C. Populist Movement
D. Social Gospel Movement Answer: C Question: 209
Which turning point event in the Spanish-American War occurred in 1898?
A. America gave financial support to Cuban nationalists' revolution against Spain.t
B. Americans blamed Spain for the sinking of the USS Maine.t
C. The Philippines declared independence from US rule after Spain had transferred their rule
of the Philippines to the US t
D. The US withdrew from Cuba. Answer: B Question: 210
What was one main purpose of a Victory Garden in the US during World War II?
A. To ensure that the domestic food supply was not being poisoned by foreign spies or
infiltrators
94
B. To decrease demand on commercial vegetable growers, making more food available to
soldiers
C. To provide more nutritious food for poor immigrant populations
D. To sell grown foods at markets and raise money for war bonds Answer: B Question: 211
What was the primary purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act passed by the US Congress in
1882?
A. To ban Chinese from immigrating to the US
B. To exclude Chinese Americans from joining unions in the US
C. To ban Chinese Americans from working on railroads in the US
D. To exclude Chinese from claiming settlement lands in the western US Answer: A Question: 212
The Great Seal of the United States that was first used in 1782 included the motto E Pluribus
Unum. The same motto appeared on federal coins in 1795. What is the meaning of this
motto?
A. In God We Trust
B. In Union We Trust
C. Out of Many, One
D. The Many are United Answer: C Question: 213
In 1997, President Clinton presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Vernon J. Baker,
a 78-year-old African American, for his courage and leadership in attacks on the enemy in
Italy during a previous war. Racial prejudice during the time of this war had prevented Baker
from receiving the award previously. In which war did Vernon Baker bravely fight?
95
A. World War I
B. World War II
C. Korean War
D. Vietnam War Answer: B Question: 214
In Bush v. Gore, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a recount in that year's presidential
election must take place by midnight of December 12th, 2000. The ruling came hours before
the deadline, making it too late for a recount to actually occur. What is the BEST way to
describe the historical aspect of this Supreme Court case?
A. This case caused states to make drastic changes in the ways that they supervised recounts
in federal elections.
B. This case made history as the first time that a US President had his name and cause appear
in a Supreme Court case.
C. This case showed for the first time that presidential candidates needed to hire lawyers
even before their campaigns started.
D. This case marked the first time that the judicial branch of government involved itself in a
federal election, and critics said that the Supreme Court rather than the electorate had
determined the winner of a presidential election. Answer: D Question: 215
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 required elected public officials to make public some
of their financial information. What could be considered a source of public demand for
increased ethics in government at that time period?
A. The Watergate Scandal of the early 1970s had eroded some public trust in government
officials.
B. The Teapot Dome Scandal of the late 1960s had eroded some public trust in government
officials.
C. Newspapers had been making up stories in the early 1970s about public officials misusing
government money.
D. Gerald Ford was not considered an ethical president.
96 Answer: A Question: 216
When the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) declared an oil embargo
against the United States from 1973 to 1974, what was an effect on the US free enterprise
system?
A. Car owners stocked up on gasoline.
B. Auto manufacturers in the US started selling cars to European customers instead of to US
customers.
C. The effect on the US free enterprise system was minor; the US had stockpiles of oil
reserves and was actively drilling for oil in Texas and Alaska.
D. The US experienced inflation, economic recession, and restrictions on gasoline purchases;
auto manufacturers started making smaller and more fuel-efficient cars. Answer: D Question: 217
President Franklin D Roosevelt said his New Deal programs would use the authority of the
federal government to help all classes and groups of people in the country. Who was one
opponent of the New Deal programs, and why?
A. The American public: they felt the programs were not helping enough, and a majority
planned to not re-elect President Roosevelt.
B. Herbert Hoover: he felt the federal government should not assume so much responsibility
or deficit spending.
C. 1933 Congress: they did not pass the New Deal programs proposed by the President.
D. 1935 Congress: they did not pass the "Second Hundred Days" New Deal programs
proposed by the President. Answer: B
97
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https://killexams.com/exam_list/Certification-BoardUpskilling the non-technical: finding cyber certification and training for internal hires
Finding qualified staff to replace vacancies or build out an expanding team can be a nightmare for already overburdened CISOs, especially given there’s a pernicious and ongoing shortage of skilled cybersecurity workers in the job market. One creative alternative to frustratedly trolling job-search sites is to look inward, rather than outward — to find capable, smart people already working at a company in other areas and train them to fill roles on the cyber team.
There are many benefits to upskilling over hiring anew: current employees don’t need to adjust to the corporate culture, they have institutional memory, they have relationships within the company, and they’re already in the human resources channel. The downside is their lack of training and certification — but that’s a small price to pay for gaining a talented team member.
Pam Nigro, vice president of security for Medecision, is no stranger to upskilling non-technical workers with complementary skills to extend her security team. In a previous job at Health Care Services (HCSC), she cross-trained employees who worked in audit and vendor relationship management to staff up a new third-party risk management program. After passing internal security fundamentals training, they received HITRUST certifications and were able to begin validating third-party vendor compliance.
Training the non-technical is only the beginning
“At HCSC, we developed a career path for upskilling and recertifying employees with complementary skills, and I’ve carried that to my current job. Now my partners from IT and networking work with me on cross-training to move people forward,” Nigro says. Certification is part of the employee upskilling journey, she says, “but I never look at the certification as the end of skills building, I look at that as the beginning and a foundation to build on.”
Nigro is also an adjunct professor at Lewis University, where she teaches graduate-level security, risk, and governance courses. And she is board chair and vice president at ISACA, where she teaches the Cybersecurity Fundamentals course, specifically designed for upskilling people with no security background. It’s part of a larger set of certificates required to earn the more advanced Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA) certificate that requires passing tests in five fundamentals: computing concepts, networking and infrastructure, cybersecurity, software development, and data science.
Upskilling is a “strong option” to solve staffing issues
According to CompTIA’s Workforce and Learning Trends Survey, released in April 2023, 75% of respondents said they plan to increase the scope of their talent mobility programs and processes through increased training and certification. “Broadly speaking, this is a strong option for a lot of companies trying to solve their supply/demand skill imbalance,” says Seth Robinson, VP of industry research at CompTIA. “There are circumstances where you can take someone who’s not in a technical job and, with the right amount of training, you can get them to work in security. But they’d start at a foundation level and if they show strong aptitude they can advance to higher-level security and compliance roles.”
As more organizations seek to upskill employees to grow their security teams using internal talent, there are a variety of certifications and career paths available to employees depending on how their existing skills can align with different security roles. To be successful in upskilling non-technical employees into security roles, it’s important to properly map that pathway, advises Diana Kelley, CISO at Protect AI and founder of Security Curve, a cybersecurity advisory.
Identify transferrable skills
“If you are moving people into technical security from other parts of the organization, look at the delta between the employee's transferrable skills and the job they’d be moving into. For example, if you need a product security person, you could upskill a product engineer or product manager because they know how the product works but may be missing the security mindset,” she says. “It’s important to identify those who are ready for a new challenge, identify their transferrable skills, and create career paths to retain and advance your best people instead of hiring from outside.”
In most types of upskilling situations, Kelley recommends the CompTIA Security+ Certification, which also has no pre-requisites, although students would benefit from having a basic understanding of computer networks, perhaps starting with the A+ or Network+ certifications, which is mapped in CompTIAs career pathway.
In addition to CompTIA and ISACA certification, the SANS Institute also has several courses geared toward upskilling employees who are new to cyber, including the new GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) certification, and the GIAC Information Security Fundamentals certification (GISF).
SANS also has introductory classes for digital forensics and cloud computing — the latter is among the hottest training tracks in demand today, says SANS curriculum director Rob Lee. He also notes that for upskilling, there are niches within niches; for example, cloud architecture or cloud pen testing, and specific cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Google. (Google has also recently added a new six-month cybersecurity certificate to its Google Career certificate program).
Specialty training can be key when upskilling
Other specialty areas include security skills for ICS or SCADA systems, as well as financial system auditors. To transfer skills to the specialty areas where talent is needed, he recommends using the SANS cyber talent skills assessments, which cost $200 each. “SANS cyber talent assessments provide managers with the ability to identify their team skills, performance, and training investment,” Lee says. “If you have someone new to a cyber role and want to identify who is going to be the superstar, assessments will help identify them and then you can put them on a fast track to more training and certifications.”
While upskilling and certifying existing employees would help the organization retain talented people who already know the company, Deidre Diamond, founding CEO of cyber talent search company CyberSN, cautions against moving skilled workers to entry-level roles in security that don’t pay what the employees are used to earning. Upskilling financial analysts into compliance, either as a cyber risk analyst or GRC analyst will require higher-level certifications, but the pay for those upskilled positions may be more equitable for those higher-paid employees, she adds.
CyberSN is a free search platform with standardized job requirements for 45 security roles, all of which require some networking and security experience, and most of which require certifications, including the analyst roles, which are the most searched for, followed by DevSecOps and security engineers.
Train outside the box
In addition to the obvious certification bodies, there are a wide variety of other training programs to prepare non-technical employees for work in cybersecurity. For example, look to economic mobility programs, such as the Ventura County Digital Upskilling Training Program. The state-funded pilot program led by the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) provides free certification training to local businesses, including CompTIA A+ and Security+ certifications.
Additionally, critical infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) provide training courses for their member companies. For example, the Financial Services ISAC offers training for boards and employees of member companies on cyber fundamentals, offense, defense, intelligence, applications, and cloud.
Similarly, in the UK, the National Cybersecurity Centre provides training and certifications at a reasonable price for beginners, such as its BCS in information security management principles, which applies to those with cybersecurity backgrounds wanting to learn more, but also to business unit information asset owners and those with legal compliance responsibilities.
Some governments offer cyber-upskilling programs
In addition, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and the SANS Institute announced the second iteration of the Upskill in Cyber program to help UK professionals make a career change into cybersecurity. The program lasts 14 weeks and offers free training and advice to support UK workers looking to forge a cybersecurity career.
Also, look into cybersecurity boot camps at local universities such as Rutgers and the University of Texas. In its literature, the University of Texas boot camp shares examples of upskilling people from technical writing, project management, law, finance, corporate security, and law enforcement. It also cites statistics showing that certifications are useful to both employees and employers.
Expect about a year for non-technical people to ramp up and achieve most of the basic certifications they need to move into cybersecurity, Lee advises. Most of the top certification bodies, SANS included, offer training and certifications across multiple countries and regions around the world and are priced as in-class or virtual, with or without hands-on labs, and include additional costs for taking the tests to earn the certifications.
“Think of upskilling and certifications as a way to support employees that are ready for a new challenge because they've outgrown their existing role,” Kelley says. “More organizations should look at what’s right for their employees' future success by building on the transferrable skills they already have and helping them skill up from there.”
Mon, 29 May 2023 21:00:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://www.csoonline.com/article/3697656/upskilling-the-non-technical-finding-cyber-certification-and-training-for-internal-hires.htmlWhat is B Corp certification?
A business holding a B Corp certification is deemed to take into account stakeholders in general, rather than holding as pre-eminent the return to its shareholders.
B Corp is a certification companies can hold if they meet requirements set out by B Lab, a US-based non-profit that devised and administers the system. Companies receive a qualifying score from an impact assessment held by B Lab covering a set of ESG criteria.
B Lab was founded in 2006 by Bart Houlahan, Andrew Kassoy and Jay Coen Gilbert.
At the time of writing, there are approximately 6,400 certified B Corp companies spanning industries such as beverages, food, fashion and technology. B Lab has also indicated it has roughly 3,000 companies in the process of being certified.
How can businesses obtain the B Corp certification?
To achieve the certification and receive authorised uses of the B Corp stamp – a B in a circle – on packaging and marketing platforms, companies enter an assessment process.
Businesses are required to fill out a lengthy ‘B Impact’ assessment form that judges and scores their corporate and operational approach to the environment, workers, materials, community and governance.
To obtain a B Corp certification, a company must score 80 or above out of 200 in its ‘B Impact’ assessment.
In order to ensure that a company doesn’t just get the sticker, slap it on its brands and forget about it, B Lab requires members to re-certify every three years. This is done by filling out a ‘B Impact Assessment’ and submitting it with documentation to B Lab for evaluation.
“Becoming B Corp certified is, quite rightly, not a simple tick-box exercise. It is a detailed and rigorous process which forces you to look at all areas of the business, and it initially took us around 18 months to complete,” Bruichladdich Distillery CEO Douglas Taylor tells Just Drinks.
“Three years on, the recertification process has taken around six to nine months and is a huge team effort – and a significant investment of time and resource. It’s a big commitment, you really have to want to do it.”
In its annual report for 2022, B Lab lead executive Eleanor Allen noted the non-profit had “reached a major milestone with more than 200,000 businesses registered on the B Impact Assessment to measure, manage, and Excellerate their impact”.
She wrote: “We are well past our proof of concept phase, and in fact, the interest we see for our certification has recently outpaced our own ability to scale. And so we find ourselves in that territory of wrestling with “a good problem to have.”
To be clear, B Lab is a non-profit organisation and it does not carry any legislative backing or power from a statutory body.
B Lab does instil some legal requirements on those seeking membership. To join a company must “mission lock” itself and change its legal framework to include a commitment to environmental and social good.
There have been examples of companies that, once certified, no longer hold the status.
In December, B Lab confirmed UK brewer BrewDog was no longer a member. When contacted by Just Drinks, BrewDog confirmed it was no longer a member of B Corp, but claimed it had voluntarily withdrawn its status after being unable to implement additional measures requested by the B Lab board. This contradicts an earlier report in The Guardian, which suggested the brewer had lost its status.
Significant costs are included in the process. Membership includes an annual fee on a sliding scale depending on the size of the company ranging from $500 to $50,000. Companies with over $1bn in revenue are charged an individualised fee.
Proceeding through the impact assessment process is also costly as it takes time and often legal counsel, especially in the rewriting of the company’s mission structure. A cottage industry of companies offering their services to help business through the process has sprung up in recent years.
Which businesses are signing up for B Corp certification and why?
Proponents of B Corp certification say the status has a number of benefits for corporate groups and SMEs, arguing that, with the exception of the cost to certify and maintain that certification, it holds little drawback.
Hence why corporations like Danone, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Nestlé and Beam Suntory have strived to achieve certification for at least one of their brand subsidiaries.
Danone, for example, has an “ambition” for its whole business to hold the B Corp certification. “Over 50% of Danone’s global sales are now covered by B Corp certification, marking significant progress towards Danone’s ambition to become one of the first certified multinationals,” the company says on its website.
This has proven to be a lengthy process, as a Danone spokesperson tells Just Drinks. “The challenge is that B Corp certification process is bottom-up and there is a need to certify legal entity by entity for multinationals like Danone, which is complex as we have hundreds of entities around the world to certify.
“Having also in mind that identifying gaps and opportunities through the certification usually takes almost a year for just one entity. As Danone joined the movement in 2015, it will take a journey of ten years to reach our ambition to be fully B Corp certified by end-2025.”
Having a B Corp accreditation could help companies when it comes to recruitment. In a 2023 survey by KPMG, one in three 18- to 24-year-olds said they have rejected a job offer from a company due to its sketchy record.
The UK-based survey of 6,000 adult workers also found 46% stated they wanted to work for a company that had demonstrated a commitment to ESG principles. The younger the age the higher this need grew.
Innocent, the Coca-Cola Co.-owned UK soft drinks brand, says: “When we recertified in 2021, we managed to increase our score (from 92.5 to 105.2 out of 200) across the board through things like engaging our suppliers in our hero provider programme, our internal programme that assesses our suppliers’ sustainability performance, creating a great workplace environment and providing volunteering opportunities to support the local communities around our offices.
“More than half of our points come from how we support our people. This ranges from our career development and end-of-year review processes to things like flexible working and our mental wellbeing programme.”
For smaller enterprises, there are additional benefits in achieving B Corp certification as it gives access to and brings together similar businesses into one network. B Lab hosts events where SMEs share policies and processes on best practices around sustainable logistics, packaging and suppliers, as well as general operational know-how.
Criticisms and future of B Corp certification
The fact B Lab is a private non-profit organisation with no legislative backing or command taken from a statutory body means it operates as it sees fit, which leaves it open to criticism given its role in evaluating and certifying the validity of companies’ efforts.
Last year, B Lab attracted criticism when it announced it would be granting the B Corp accreditation to Nestlé’s single-use coffee pod capsule brand Nespresso. It was given an overall ‘B Impact’ score of 84.3 out of 200.
A Nespresso spokesperson told Just Drinks: “Nespresso is one of the largest organisations to achieve B Corp accreditation today and, for an organisation at the scale of Nespresso, one of the key challenges was bringing together the correct data from huge datasets and ranging global sources. As a global organisation, we adhere to legislation covering everything from employment and contracting to supply chain and other operations, so accumulating rigorous proof against all B Corp points was a huge administrative task.
“We are hugely proud that we have achieved B Corp certification, following the comprehensive B Impact Assessment. Of course, part of the B Corp journey is looking at how we can continuously improve, as we have always done on our sustainability journey.”
Following the accreditation of Nespresso, a number of B Corp companies spoke out and signed an open letter to B Lab deriding the decision, listing several environmental companies they had against the single-use coffee pod capsule brand.
Small independent Scottish-based Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters – ‘B Impact’ score 104.2 – wrote last year that: “We feel a line needs to be drawn somewhere to protect the reputation of the certification scheme as well as businesses like ourselves who have signed up to it.
“The question is: where is that line? When we heard that Nespresso was about to be certified as a B Corp our initial reaction was dismay.”
Business leaders hit out at B Corp in an open letter signed by 32 B Corp companies – operating in multiple categories – brought together by the self-named ‘certification watchdog' the Fair World Project. They called for improvements in the assessment process and a move away from one ‘minimum total score’.
It stated: “We envision a world where B Corp values can scale to include companies of any size, but this must not happen in a way that dilutes the integrity of the movement the certification stands for.
“Without a structurally higher certification bar and a mechanism for enforced accountability within the B Impact Assessment or certification process, we are concerned that corporations will do the bare minimum to ‘greenwash’ themselves as B Corps.”
B Lap says it is striving to address its criticisms and is going to change its assessment standards next year. B Lab has indicated future company assessments will focus on ten categories, including diversity, human rights, climate change, fair remuneration and risk assessments. Last May, the group announced the results of a consultancy report which detailed the new standards they are aiming for.
The intention is the requirement to hit these targets will eliminate companies aiming to just hit above the 80-score mark for that B Corp status.
While the future of the B Corp accreditation’s prominence and status may be uncertain, what is clear is that an increasing number of companies across all industries are spending time and resources to align themselves with its standards in the hope of obtaining that certification.
Thu, 25 May 2023 03:42:00 -0500Conor Reynoldsen-UStext/htmlhttps://www.just-drinks.com/features/what-is-b-corp-certification-an-explainer-from-just-drinks/Benefits of ISO 13485 Certification for Medical Device Manufacturing
The medical device sector must meet stringent regulatory requirements plus convince potential customers that they make reliable, safe products. Having a strong commitment to quality can help customers achieve both those aims and others.
Parts of the ISO 13485 process involve identifying and documenting processes. For example, company representatives must find all processes that have even a minor connection to manufacturing. Next, they must create written procedures to establish which elements could introduce risks to the product.
Those threats could range from contaminated equipment to poorly trained personnel. After bringing attention to the risks, company representatives must name and describe measures to mitigate the potential issues.
ISO 13485 does not spell out the specific measures for device manufacturers to take. However, the certification gets people in the mindset that quality happens at every stage of manufacturing and that ongoing efforts enable maintaining high standards.
Reducing the Likelihood of Longstanding Issues
Another component of ISO 13485 requires ongoing managerial reviews to determine whether previously implemented controls work as expected or if further tweaks would get better results. Unfortunately, some leaders see these evaluations as box-checking exercises and feel under excessive pressure to get them done.
However, gathering relevant data and creating processes to keep that information up-to-date and accessible can make it easier to carry out thorough, non-rushed reviews related to ISO 13485.
For example, looking at customer feedback, audit results, new regulatory requirements, and any details of corrective actions taken so far can help decision-makers verify whether quality controls related to ISO 13485 have the desired effects.
Additionally, these periodic reviews Excellerate the chances of catching issues that could lead to faulty products or operational efficiencies. They encourage better visibility that limits the likelihood of an unaddressed issue causing long-term problems.
Increasing Marketplace Competitiveness
The most recent version of ISO 13485 requires that certified companies insist that any subcontractors conform to the standard, too. That means the commitment to quality extends beyond a particular organization. Many potential customers appreciate that, knowing that working with any new company poses challenges. ISO 13485 reduces many of them with its emphasis on quality.
Also, since ISO 13485 is an internationally recognized standard, it can help in cases where company leaders want to expand into other countries and boost their chances of success. Certification assists organizational leaders in conveying that they take quality seriously.
It’s vital to convince stakeholders of efforts to prioritize quality since medical devices directly affect people’s lives. Minimizing the chances of harm and increasing positive outcomes helps potential customers build trust in a company and decide it makes sense to work with or purchase from them.
Helping Products Stay on the Market Without Issues
Statistics indicate that approximately 4,500 medical devices and drugs get taken off the market owing to recalls. Just as managerial reviews of ISO 13485 processes can prevent persistent issues, a certified company is less likely to experience problems that lead to getting products pulled from shelves. In addition to the lost profits that such events cause, recalls can permanently damage the public’s reputation, making many people perceive a troubled brand as unsafe.
However, corrective and preventive actions get built into the ISO 13485 framework, helping company representatives identify and tackle problems faster than they otherwise might. It’s also advantageous that getting certified can help create and maintain a culture of personal responsibility within the organization.
Once an employee understands that a single missed step or ignored protocol could cause quality issues that affect a whole organization, they’ll likely become more conscious of their behaviors and choices made while working.
Plus, if a company does experience a recall, being ISO 13485-certified should make it easier to target where things went wrong and prevent future issues. Doing those things should bolster public trust and reassure people that a device manufacturer has its operations under control.
ISO 13485 Certifications Strengthens Medical Device Companies
The medical device sector is a high-pressure industry where people praise innovation as long as it doesn’t sacrifice user safety. Moreover, manufacturers must respond to demand spikes, as instances like the surge in ventilator needs during the COVID-19 pandemic showed.
Getting an ISO 13485 certification can help a company make positive, permanent quality and process improvements. Thus, representatives from certified companies often find that ISO 13485 contributes to organizational resilience. It’s not right for every organization, but the associated benefits make it well worth consideration.
Wed, 24 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://www.mddionline.com/standards/benefits-iso-13485-certification-medical-device-manufacturingNew Report: A Record Number of US Doctors are ABMS Member Board CertifiedNew Report: A Record Number of US Doctors are ABMS Member Board Certified
PR Newswire
CHICAGO, May 24, 2023
In stark contrast to older physicians, the gender breakdown is equal among physicians 44 years and younger
CHICAGO, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to new data released by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), more doctors than ever are certified by its Member Boards, which benefits patients and their families across the country.
The 2021-2022 ABMS Board Certification Report shows that more than 975,000 physicians are currently certified by an ABMS Member Board, representing an increase of more than 35,000 physicians (3.7 percent) over the previous year. This data is current as of June 30, 2022.
"Certification by an ABMS Member Board is the cornerstone of physician quality," stated ABMS Senior Vice President, Certification Standards and Programs Greg Ogrinc, MD, MS. "It is incredibly gratifying to see so many physicians nationwide using board certification to demonstrate their specialty expertise and commitment to provide safe, high-quality, and effective care."
The board certification process was created more than 100 years ago as a rigorous, independent evaluation of a physician's experience, knowledge, and skills. Today, certification by an ABMS Member Board supports continuous assessment and professional development activities. While doctors are required to be licensed by the state in which they practice, board certification is a higher standard that doctors choose to attain and maintain.
For more than 45 years, the annual ABMS Board Certification Report has illustrated the continued importance of board certification as a public credential. Several entities use ABMS data as the definitive guide to specialties and board certification in the U.S. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses ABMS certification data for its popular "Physician Compare" web site. To verify that their doctor has taken that extra step to practice at the top of their profession and deliver high-quality and safe care, patients can visit www.CertificationMatters.org.
The 2021-2022 ABMS Board Certification Report offers a variety of information about the 40 specialty and 89 subspecialty certification programs administered by the 24 Member Boards that comprise ABMS. This 62-page report also includes a snapshot of the active certificates held by ABMS Member Board certified physicians, also known as "diplomates."
The breakdown of age and gender for the diplomate population continues to change over time. The younger cohort (44 years old and younger) shows an even distribution between male (45.4 percent) and female (44.5 percent). This is in stark contrast to older cohorts, including the 65–74-year-old group, which is 74.4 percent male and 24.2 percent female. Currently, 30.2 percent of all active diplomates are women, while 64.8 percent are men, with approximately five percent of diplomates' genders unknown. The median age of an ABMS board certified diplomate is 55 years old and the mean age is 56.9 years old.
Report highlights include:
In 2021, the 24 Member Boards awarded 38,901 new specialty certificates and 16,100 new subspecialty certificates.
Colorful charts and infographics that break down important data, such as the distribution of board certified diplomates by ABMS Member Board, state, age, and gender.
Published annually, the ABMS Board Certification Report can be downloaded from the ABMS website. This report reflects information reported by the 24 ABMS Member Boards and data from the ABMS certification database, which contains more than one million records. The database is updated daily with information received from Member Boards and is considered a primary source for professional certification verification. ABMS offers www.CertificationMatters.org, a free online tool that the public can use to verify that their doctors are board certified.
About ABMS Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is responsible for the creation of standards overseeing physician certification in the United States. Dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families and communities they serve, the 24 ABMS Member Boards develop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physicians and medical specialists. More than 975,000 physicians and medical certified are certified by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards in one or more of 40 specialties and 89 subspecialties. For more information about ABMS, visit abms.org or call (312) 436-2600.
Wed, 24 May 2023 03:11:00 -0500entext/htmlhttps://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20230524dc07771/new-report-a-record-number-of-us-doctors-are-abms-member-board-certifiedNomad Coffee Group explains how it became B Corp Certified
Nomad Coffee Group discusses the road to becoming B Corp Certified, what it means to its collection of specialty coffee brands, and how it ensures continuous improvement.
Becoming a Certified B Corporation is no easy feat, and not one many companies achieve on their first try, but Nomad Coffee Group, the parent company of Veneziano Coffee Roasters, is happy to join the exclusive club.
“This certification allows us to make a statement to the industry and to our customer base that meeting high standards of Tested performance, accountability, and transparency is incredibly important to us,” says Nomad Coffee Group Sustainability Manager Nick Percy.
“This is something that we put a lot of time and effort into. We knew how extensive the process would be and went into it wholeheartedly and hopeful. The initial mindset was ‘we think we’re ready, so let’s have a crack and see how we go’. We were expecting a list of areas to Excellerate on between then and the next application. But we had done the hard yards and achieved the certification on our first attempt.”
B Lab is the non-profit organisation that certifies Benefit Corporations (B Corps), the name given to successful companies that achieve the certification. It is a unique undertaking that measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact. Those that make it through the rigorous process are considered leaders in the global movement of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
The process began back in 2020 when Nomad Coffee Group’s sustainability committee, which includes Nick, People and Culture Manager Amie Jacobson, and Head of Procurement Jack Allisey, considered the company’s materiality matrix and what was important to its internal and external stakeholders. What came to the surface were two clear sustainable goals: becoming carbon neutral certified by government- backed initiative Climate Active, and achieving B Corp certification. It ticked off the first objective in 2022, then set its sights on the second.
“We liked B Corp because it was an all- encompassing certification. There are quite a few certifications out there that are pretty narrow in their focus, whereas this involved many impact area pillars, including our employees, our customers, the environment, the community, and all the ways in which we generate a profit,” Amie says.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters aims to source the highest quality coffees for its blends and seasonal microlots.
“As far as our day-to-day operations go, we do a lot of good work here because that’s who we are as a company. Becoming B Corp Certified was a great way to demonstrate that and measure our success.”
Down to business
Jack says the process of becoming B Corp Certified was much more in depth than simply “a tick and flick” or marking a checkbox.
“We definitely identified this as quite an aspirational goal of ours. We’d been very coffee-focused up until we set our sights on B Corp, so switching gears and focusing on all aspects of the business was an important step for us,” he says.
To become B Corp Certified, a company must demonstrate high social and B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and pass a risk review. The median score for businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9. Nomad Coffee Group scored 90.3.
The B Impact Assessment is broken down into five key areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Governance evaluates a company’s overall mission and engagement around its social and environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. Nomad Coffee Group scored 13.5 in this area, while the average score for comparative sector and business sizes is six.
“In 2022 we implemented a paid parental leave scheme offering to employees which covers paid leave and superannuation to help close the gap between superannuation retirement funds,” Nick says.
“Our policy aligns with key Workplace Gender Equality Australia guidelines, and we are proud to share a values-driven policy which positively impacts the lives of our employees.”
The workers category evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health and safety, wellness, career development, and engagement and satisfaction. Nomad Coffee Group scored 20.8, while the median score for similar-sized businesses is 17.
“Nomad Coffee Group has established wellbeing programs including company- subsidised work outs, an RUOK wellbeing committee, and onsite massages. We also initiated annual leave programs to allow employees to purchase up to two weeks of extra leave over the year, to support work life balance and longer holidays,” says Amie.
The community sector evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires, and sources from. In this area, Nomad Coffee Group scored 27.6. The median score is 20.
“We continue to source the highest quality coffees to go into our blends and our seasonal microlots. As our business grows, we’ve increased our purchases from key partners at origin in Central and South America as well as new relationships in Vietnam,” says Jack.
One of those key partners is farmer Rigoberto Herrera, who produces the Colombia Cerro Azul La Esperanza Geisha Natural. Veneziano Coffee Roasters Head Barista Gabrel Tan used this lot in the 2023 Vitasoy Australian Barista Championship.
The Colombia Cerro Azul La Esperanza Geisha Natural produced by farmer Rigoberto Herrera.
“We’ve been working with this farm for many years now and seeing the progression of these coffees and how Rigoberto has dialled in the processing technique to achieve the flavour profile has blown us all away,” says Gabrel.
The environment category evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable, its supply chain and distribution channels. Nomad Coffee Group scored 25.5, which is about the same as the average.
“We continue to embed sustainability culture into our every day at Nomad Coffee Group. Our commitment to sustainability and protecting the future of coffee is paramount and at the forefront of our business decisions, primarily evident in the achievement of our Carbon Neutral Organisation accreditation by Climate Active in March 2022,” Amie says.
Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. Nomad Coffee Group scored 2.6, and the average score is two.
“We have partnered with Miir, a reusable coffee container manufacturer and have implemented a swap-and-go program where customers simply fill their canister with beans which helps reduce packaging consumption, and with Closed Loop to give our café customers options for recycling single use coffee cups,” says Nick.
Nomad Coffee Group CEO Craig Dickson says the certification allowed the company to highlight the areas of business it already excelled in on a daily basis.
“A positive thing that came out of this process was recognising where we were already doing a great job, especially in our people and culture engagement scores. It gave us a chance to celebrate and reflect on the good that we do and have done for a long time. This includes launching a paid volunteering program allowing employees to work in employee nominated charities on Nomad Coffee Group paid time,” he says.
The company has made a significant investment in the last year to achieve its B Corp and Climate Active certifications.
“Our size certainly made the process more complicated than if we were still a smaller, single brand business. We have over 140 employees across Australia and New Zealand, operate across six sites, and roast 80 to 100 tonnes of coffee a week. For us to achieve this certification allows us to set a benchmark for bigger companies in the industry to understand the magnitude of this process,” Craig says.
Forward focus
As leaders in the movement for economic systems change, Jack says being B Corp Certified reaps remarkable benefits.
“The certification underpins a lot of our values within the business and reflects our overall mission of ‘everyday evolution’. It builds trust with our consumers, communities, and suppliers, attracts and retains employees, and draws mission-aligned investors. It shows that we operate in a sustainable way, makes us reputable within the industry and displays that we’re a high-class employer and a great place to work,” Jack says.
“It’s always been in the business’s DNA to go down this road. Primarily, we’re in business to make coffee and a profit, but we have an opportunity through that process to make a positive impact and use our business as a force for good.”
B Corp certification applies to all companies under the Nomad Coffee Group: Veneziano Coffee Roasters, Black Bag Roasters, Coffee Hit, and Flight Coffee. To ensure Nomad Coffee Group maintains and retains its high sustainability targets, the company reports its progress to the company board quarterly.
“It’s definitely not a ‘set and forget’, it’s something that’s constantly monitored. We’re proud of the work we do and want to continue making a difference every day,” Amie says.
While Nomad Coffee Group is extremely proud of its B Impact Assessment score, there’s always room for improvement.
“Although we’re healthily above the benchmark, we want to get our score up to triple figures within the next certification period of three years,” Nick says.
Jack adds that Nomad Coffee Group is still looking to Excellerate its waste reduction, minimise use of packaging and make it even more recyclable, and tackle carbon offsets.
“We’re constantly challenging ourselves to be better. Being B Corp Certified helps us set a benchmark and pushes us to improve,” he says.
“It’s vital that we do our part and step up as an industry leader in Australia, to show that not only is it possible for larger businesses such as ours to obtain B Corp Certification, but that it’s affordable and accessible for all.”
New credential recognizes pharmacy technicians providing specialized care to patients
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation's first and only nonprofit credentialing organization for pharmacy technicians, today launched its Nonsterile Compounding Certificate. This new specialized credential recognizes pharmacy technicians in community settings creating customized formulations for patients requiring medications or dosage forms that are not commercially available.
"We are pleased to offer technicians this new opportunity to advance their careers," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. "Not only will this certificate benefit technicians, but it also expands the ability of community pharmacies to safely provide medication formulations tailored to each patient's unique needs."
Technicians who pursue this specialty will gain the critical knowledge and skills required to address the risks involved with compounded medications, ensuring the quality of the product and protecting their patients. The certificate complements PTCB's Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Program, which assesses technicians' knowledge and skills to prepare medications in sterile environments such as hospitals, home infusions centers, and other compounding facilities to prevent contamination.
The Nonsterile Compounding Certificate is the newest offering in PTCB's growing list of comprehensive programs to advance medication safety and represents the organization's ongoing commitment to best practices in patient care, transparency, and increasing career opportunities for pharmacy technicians. More than 280,000 technicians nationwide are actively PTCB-Certified, making its pharmacy technician programs the industry's most-recognized credentials. Over 1,300 technicians across the country have earned PTCB's Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) credential, and more than 10,000 Assessment-Based Certificates (ABCs) have been earned through PTCB's non-degree granting program.
For more information, please visit PTCB.org.
About PTCB The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the nation's first, most trusted, and only nonprofit pharmacy technician credentialing organization. Founded on the guiding principle that pharmacy technicians play a critical role in advancing medication and patient safety, PTCB has established the universal standard of excellence for those supporting patient care teams through offering the industry's most-recognized credentials, including the PTCB certification for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT).
Tue, 09 May 2023 01:02:00 -0500en-UStext/htmlhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/pharmacy-technician-certification-board-launches-130000272.htmlCapital Region teachers receive National Board certification
Several Capital Region teachers were honored at a pinning ceremony at the New York State United Teachers headquarters on Thursday. The teachers were all a part of the 2022 cohort of National Board certified teachers. Four of the teachers pinned were from the Schenectady City School District.
Schenectady County has the highest percentage of National Board certified teachers, according to Annette Romano, chair of National Board Council of New York State. The city is also fourth in the state in terms of total amount of National Board certified teachers. With 19 total, the city trails behind only New York City, Yonkers and Newburgh.
The gathering was the first since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the certification process can take two or three years to complete, many of the teachers present had completed theirs alone.
Denise Harrington is a fifth grade teacher at Caroline Street Elementary in Saratoga Springs. She was among the night’s honorees, it took her two years to complete her components.
“I feel like I did my process in a bubble, so it was nice to finally hear about other people’s processes,” Harrington said.
Donya Clute, an elementary teacher in Schenectady completed her certification over the course of three years, balancing the work with her family and teaching. She chose to obtain the certification to challenge herself beyond the normal classroom duties.
“I wanted something different, a challenge,” Clute said.
The certification process consists of four components candidates must complete over three years. Components make be resubmitted after the three years if needed. The first component consists of an assessment, components two-four are portfolio based. for these, teachers must submit evidence of their development and skills in the classroom.
Karen Ryder teachers twelfth grade government at Schalmont High School, she recently completed the process after two years of working on the components.
“It’s a very reflective process,” Ryder said. “You start to ask yourself questions. On a normal day you’re not necessarily always doing that.”
After hearing from board representatives, the honorees participated in mingling actives where they shared their takeaways from the program with each other.
“Put one foot in front of the other,” read the mantra written by Renetta Tallman of Shenendahowa school district. She recalled completing one of her components during the early days of the pandemic, when students were still adjusting to virtual learning.
“It was hard. So I would tell myself, just put one foot in front of the other and you’ll keep going,” Tallman said.
Tue, 30 May 2023 12:00:00 -0500en-UStext/htmlhttps://dailygazette.com/2023/04/07/capital-region-teachers-receive-national-board-certification/Getting to know Niskayuna music teacher Susan Kokernak – Recently earned a national board music certification
NISKAYUNA – Susan Kokernak has a music-filled life. She has been a music and band teacher at Niskayuna Central School District for 13 years, she plays oboe with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and other musical organizations and she recently earned National Board Certification in music for elementary and middle-school levels.
Kokernak, a Niskayuna resident, was one of 75 teachers across the state who received board certification in December from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She was one of just two in New York and 58 nationwide to receive the certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music with an emphasis in band.
Kokernak teaches about 140 students between two elementary schools, seventh-grade band and also lessons in sixth and seventh grade.
The Gazette caught up with Kokernak recently to talk about her career:
Q: What does it feel like to now be board certified? What was it like becoming board certified? A: It’s pretty detailed. The process for all the certifications is very focused. I focused on fifth-grade band. There’s four large components you have to complete. The first is called content knowledge, where you take a test on music theory, music history. You have to compose on the spot.
You have some composition that you have to be able to write music for band that’s appropriate for the age level that you’re getting certified in, and then you have to have specialized skills and knowledge in band, which is the content area.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about teaching and, more specifically, teaching in Niskayuna? A: It’s really fun. The kids have a lot of fun. In my teaching, I try to create a calm, fun atmosphere, but also, I expect them to work really hard. And I think that [if] they see that work ethic paying off, then they are very rewarded by that.
Music is awesome. There’s no other thing in life like it. When you’re learning how to play an instrument, you’re learning your fine-motor skills, and you’re training your ear, and you’re learning about the form of music, and you’re practicing a new language.
Q: How did you get into music? A: My family always listened to a lot of music when I was growing up. Both of my older brothers played instruments, and my oldest brother was a jazz and rock musician, so I always knew I would play an instrument.
I started with the piano when I was 7, and then I played oboe when I was 10. I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. So my undergraduate [degree] is actually in oboe performance and music management. I got a double major. Then later I went back and focused on music education. I got my master’s degree in music ed.
Q: What are some of the hardest parts about teaching music? A: Probably helping kids to find the time to practice, and find the right ways to practice, [and figure out] what they should focus on. I created a new practice sheet and a practice log plan, so if a child only has 10 minutes to practice, what would be the best thing for them to go through, and try to develop a routine with it so they can be developing good practice habits throughout the week.
I’m lucky that I work in a terrific department. We have amazing musicians in our department, everybody plays different instruments. We’ve got wonderful vocalists, wonderful pianists, jazz musicians. It’s cool to come to work every day and work in an atmosphere where my colleagues are awesome, they are really well-trained. In the elementary schools, too, the classroom teachers are excellent.
Q: When you’re not teaching music, what do you like to do for fun? A: I like to run, and spend fun, quality time with my husband, Jim, and my two girls, Amelia and Charlotte.
I play oboe with the Schenectady Symphony. We have a concert coming up on March 11, and I play with the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra, in Cooperstown. That’s a new orchestra that just started. The 2022-2023 [season] is their inaugural season so that has been wonderful. I play a lot with Albany Pro Musica and different choral groups and orchestras in the area.
Q: Is there anything else people should know about you? A: I find that learning an instrument is really rewarding. And, I try to do that too. I’m still practicing and I’m playing. I try to talk about that in my teaching with my students so that they know that I’m going through the same thing. I’m very busy and I’m trying to schedule my time so I can get time in with my instruments to learn the music that I have to perform next. It’s great – once you go through the concert you just feel so rewarded that you persevered through some hard work.
“Getting To Know …” is a weekly feature spotlighting people making a difference in the lives of others. If there’s someone you think we should feature, let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
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Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0500en-UStext/htmlhttps://dailygazette.com/2023/02/21/getting-to-know-niskayuna-music-teacher-susan-kokernak/New Report: A Record Number of US Doctors are ABMS Member Board Certified
In stark contrast to older physicians, the gender breakdown is equal
among physicians 44 years and younger
CHICAGO, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to new data released by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), more doctors than ever are certified by its Member Boards, which benefits patients and their families across the country.
The 2021-2022 ABMS Board Certification Report shows that more than 975,000 physicians are currently certified by an ABMS Member Board, representing an increase of more than 35,000 physicians (3.7 percent) over the previous year. This data is current as of June 30, 2022.
"Certification by an ABMS Member Board is the cornerstone of physician quality," stated ABMS Senior Vice President, Certification Standards and Programs Greg Ogrinc, MD, MS. "It is incredibly gratifying to see so many physicians nationwide using board certification to demonstrate their specialty expertise and commitment to provide safe, high-quality, and effective care."
The board certification process was created more than 100 years ago as a rigorous, independent evaluation of a physician's experience, knowledge, and skills. Today, certification by an ABMS Member Board supports continuous assessment and professional development activities. While doctors are required to be licensed by the state in which they practice, board certification is a higher standard that doctors choose to attain and maintain.
For more than 45 years, the annual ABMS Board Certification Report has illustrated the continued importance of board certification as a public credential. Several entities use ABMS data as the definitive guide to specialties and board certification in the U.S. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses ABMS certification data for its popular "Physician Compare" web site. To verify that their doctor has taken that extra step to practice at the top of their profession and deliver high-quality and safe care, patients can visit www.CertificationMatters.org.
The 2021-2022 ABMS Board Certification Report offers a variety of information about the 40 specialty and 89 subspecialty certification programs administered by the 24 Member Boards that comprise ABMS. This 62-page report also includes a snapshot of the active certificates held by ABMS Member Board certified physicians, also known as "diplomates."
The breakdown of age and gender for the diplomate population continues to change over time. The younger cohort (44 years old and younger) shows an even distribution between male (45.4 percent) and female (44.5 percent). This is in stark contrast to older cohorts, including the 65–74-year-old group, which is 74.4 percent male and 24.2 percent female. Currently, 30.2 percent of all active diplomates are women, while 64.8 percent are men, with approximately five percent of diplomates' genders unknown. The median age of an ABMS board certified diplomate is 55 years old and the mean age is 56.9 years old.
Report highlights include:
In 2021, the 24 Member Boards awarded 38,901 new specialty certificates and 16,100 new subspecialty certificates.
Colorful charts and infographics that break down important data, such as the distribution of board certified diplomates by ABMS Member Board, state, age, and gender.
Published annually, the ABMS Board Certification Report can be downloaded from the ABMS website. This report reflects information reported by the 24 ABMS Member Boards and data from the ABMS certification database, which contains more than one million records. The database is updated daily with information received from Member Boards and is considered a primary source for professional certification verification. ABMS offers www.CertificationMatters.org, a free online tool that the public can use to verify that their doctors are board certified.
About ABMS
Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is responsible for the creation of standards overseeing physician certification in the United States. Dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families and communities they serve, the24 ABMS Member Boardsdevelop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physicians and medical specialists. More than 975,000 physicians and medical certified are certified by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards in one or more of 40 specialties and 89 subspecialties. For more information about ABMS,visit abms.orgor call (312) 436-2600.
New credential recognizes pharmacy technicians providing specialized care to patients
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation's first and only nonprofit credentialing organization for pharmacy technicians, today launched its Nonsterile Compounding Certificate. This new specialized credential recognizes pharmacy technicians in community settings creating customized formulations for patients requiring medications or dosage forms that are not commercially available.
New credential recognizes pharmacy technicians providing specialized care to patients
"We are pleased to offer technicians this new opportunity to advance their careers," said PTCB Executive Director and CEO William Schimmel. "Not only will this certificate benefit technicians, but it also expands the ability of community pharmacies to safely provide medication formulations tailored to each patient's unique needs."
Technicians who pursue this specialty will gain the critical knowledge and skills required to address the risks involved with compounded medications, ensuring the quality of the product and protecting their patients. The certificate complements PTCB's Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Program, which assesses technicians' knowledge and skills to prepare medications in sterile environments such as hospitals, home infusions centers, and other compounding facilities to prevent contamination.
The Nonsterile Compounding Certificate is the newest offering in PTCB's growing list of comprehensive programs to advance medication safety and represents the organization's ongoing commitment to best practices in patient care, transparency, and increasing career opportunities for pharmacy technicians. More than 280,000 technicians nationwide are actively PTCB-Certified, making its pharmacy technician programs the industry's most-recognized credentials. Over 1,300 technicians across the country have earned PTCB's Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv) credential, and more than 10,000 Assessment-Based Certificates (ABCs) have been earned through PTCB's non-degree granting program.
For more information, please visit PTCB.org.
About PTCB The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is the nation's first, most trusted, and only nonprofit pharmacy technician credentialing organization. Founded on the guiding principle that pharmacy technicians play a critical role in advancing medication and patient safety, PTCB has established the universal standard of excellence for those supporting patient care teams through offering the industry's most-recognized credentials, including the PTCB certification for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT).