2023-05-15T13:28:40-05:00 2022-06-30 231980475 KREISCHER MILLER 100 WITMER ROAD SUITE 350 HORSHAM PA 190442369 990 2021-07-01 231352007 THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY INC AMER 2155684000 1617 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD 860 PHILADELPHIA PA 191031847 JO BUYSKE PRESIDENT AND CEO 2155684000 2023-04-27 1 JO BUYSKE 999009999 CHRISTOPHER M PEKULA P00734965 2154414600 3 AAL1 IAL1 2021 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z JO BUYSKE MD 1617 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD 860 PHILADELPHIA PA 191031847 19588692 0 X WWW.ABSURGERY.ORG X 1937 PA ADMINISTRATION OF CERTIFICATION, RECERTIFICATION AND CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION EXAMS AND ASSESSMENTS IN GENERAL SURGERY, AS WELL AS SPECIALTY AREAS OF SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, HAND SURGERY, COMPLEX GENERAL SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, VASCULAR SURGERY, AND HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE. 13 11 42 1300 0 0 0 616495 11950149 14984552 319870 287669 264072 265897 12534091 16154613 0 0 0 0 6184242 5965978 0 0 0 4488432 5635680 10672674 11601658 1861417 4552955 21861493 23969244 10998772 8046799 10862721 15922445 X SEE SCHEDULE O 1 0 THE ABS INCURS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF EXAMINATIONS FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING INITIAL CERTIFICATION, CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION, AND FOCUS PRACTICE DESIGNATION BY ABS AND IN ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF QUALIFICATION TO ALL CANDIDATES MEETING THE ABS'S REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, THERE WERE 21,334 INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK AN EXAMINATION, INCLUDING 10,758 SURGERY RESIDENTS TAKING THEIR IN-TRAINING EXAMINATIONS. 1,990 INDIVIDUALS OBTAINED INITIAL CERTIFICATION, 7 WERE RE-CERTIFIED IN HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 6,281 TOOK THE CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT FOR GENERAL AND OTHER SPECIALTIES AND 110 TOOK THE METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY FOCUSED PRACTICE DESIGNATION. THE TYPES OF EXAMINATIONS THE COSTS ARE INCURRED FOR INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: IN-TRAINING, QUALIFYING, CERTIFYING, RECERTIFICATION, CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENTS, AND FOCUS PRACTICE DESIGNATION. THE AREAS OF SPECIALTY INCLUDE GENERAL SURGERY, VASCULAR SURGERY, SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, HAND SURGERY, COMPLEX GENERAL SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE, AND METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY. THE SCORE ARM OF THE ABS INCURS EXPENSES IN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL CONTENT IN SUPPORT OF THE SCORE CURRICULUM TO RESIDENTS AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS VIA THE SCORE PORTAL ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. THE SCORE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO DEFINE THE SPECIALTY OF GENERAL SURGERY AND PROVIDE GREATER ASSURANCE THAT RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN ALL AREAS. THE CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON THE FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT CONSTITUTE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY IN THE U.S., AFTER MEDICAL SCHOOL BUT PRIOR TO INDEPENDENT PRACTICE.THE EPA PROJECT, ALTHOUGH LARGELY DRIVEN BY VOLUNTEER WORK, INCURS EXPENSES FOR THE OVERALL PROJECT LEADS, FACILITATION OF MEETINGS, COMMUNICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL FEES AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE-BASED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM. 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 0 1 42 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X JO BUYSKE MD PRESIDENT CEO 2155684000 1617 JOHN F KENNEDY BLVD STE 860 PHILADELPHIA PA 191031847 AMIT RT JOSHI MD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 AMY J GOLDBERG MD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 BETH H SUTTON MD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 JO BUYSKE MD PRESIDENT & CEO, EX-OFFICIO 40.00 X X 953723 0 50615 KAREN FISHER JD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 M ASHRAF MANSOUR MBBS DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 MARK R CHASSIN MD MPP MPH DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 MARY T HAWN MD VICE CHAIR 3.00 X 0 0 0 O JOE HINES MD CHAIR 7.00 X 0 0 0 PARIS D BUTLER MD MPH DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA M MINTER MD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT D FANELLI MD MHA DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN H STEWART IV MD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 JESSICA A SCHREADER COO; BOARD SECRETARY 40.00 X 181495 0 42379 MARY K MACKEY CPA CONTROLLER - BOARD TREASURER 40.00 X 184661 0 15697 ABBY POZEFSKY GENERAL COUNCIL, (RETIRED 9/30/21) 20.00 X 209156 0 17848 ANDREW JONES PHD DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOMETRICS 40.00 X 192789 0 30219 BRUCE A PERLER MD VICE-PRESIDENT 20.00 X 246329 0 7390 MARK J HICKEY COO - SCORE; ABS CIO 40.00 X 195850 0 45675 ALEX MINKOVSKY SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER 40.00 X 124857 0 24852 LISA DRISCOLL IT MANAGER 40.00 X 120586 0 36471 MARNI GRAMBAU DIRECTOR OF EXAMINATION DE 40.00 X 131372 0 23874 ADANWIMO OKAFOR ASSOC COUNCIL/CDEI OFFR(BEG. 6/1/21) 40.00 X 130678 0 9045 CAROL BARRY MARINI PHD SENIOR PSYCHOMETRICIAN 40.00 X 143365 0 33992 2814861 0 338057 15 0 1 0 NCS PEARSON INC 5601 GREEN VALLEY DRIVE BLOOMINGTON MN 55437 TESTING ADMIN FEES 1236614 SILVERCHAIR 316 EAST MAIN STREET SUITE 300 CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 22902 IT SERVICES (SCORE) 552601 WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 660 S EUCLID ST LOUIS MO 63110 EXECUTIVE SERVICES 273322 INTERNET TESTING SYSTEMS LLC 3000 CHESTNUT AVENUE SUITE 401 BALTIMORE MD 21211 IT SERVICES 249900 CONTEMPORARY STAFFING SOLUTIONS PO BOX 95000 PHILADELPHIA PA 19103 EXAM PROCTOR SERVICES 210621 7 616495 616495 REGISTRATION / EXAM FEES 611710 12239747 12239747 SUBSCRIPTIONS 611710 2514634 2514634 MISCELLNAEOUS EXAMINATION FEES 611710 111695 111695 CONTENT PARTNER 611710 66976 66976 PSYCHOMETRIC FEES 611710 51500 51500 14984552 629170 629170 3092578 3434079 -341501 -341501 -341501 PASSTHROUGH REIMBURSEMENT 611710 265897 265897 265897 16154613 15250449 0 287669 2507135 2225309 648723 303007 281804 174489 35561 85647 1081737 201240 1113443 415395 680302 56193 102231 EXAMINATION ADMINISTRAT 1023543 DUES 279841 BOARD PASSTHROUGHS 265597 COMMEMORATIONS 42941 77520 11601658 6143175 5905906 432576 366205 99924 263746 1799469 1555879 205162 243590 14966614 17175755 14042 14042 21861493 23969244 1068445 811588 3543513 4178017 6386814 3057194 10998772 8046799 X 10862721 15922445 10862721 15922445 21861493 23969244 X 4552955 -2195315 2702084 X X 0 1 X 1 0 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 431767 292978 138789 1289704 1257707 31997 77998 5194 72804 243590 PENSION PLAN LIABILITY 2514013 OTHER LONGTERM LIABILITY 543181 3057194 X 13257156 -2195315 -2195315 15452471 85647 616495 702142 16154613 11516011 0 11516011 85647 85647 11601658 PART X, LINE 2: ABS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) TO BE EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501 (C)(6) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (IRC). SCORE WAS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE IRS TO BE EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501 (C)(4) OF THE IRC. ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2020, SCORE FILED ITS FINAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN. PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. ABS ACCOUNTS FOR UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH AUTHORITATIVE GUIDANCE, WHICH PRESCRIBES A RECOGNITION THRESHOLD OF MORE-LIKELY-THAN-NOT TO BE SUSTAINED UPON EXAMINATION BY THE APPROPRIATE TAXING AUTHORITY. MEASUREMENT OF THE TAX UNCERTAINTY OCCURS IF THE RECOGNITION THRESHOLD HAS BEEN MET. ABS'S POLICY IS TO RECOGNIZE INTEREST RELATED TO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS IN INTEREST EXPENSE AND PENALTIES IN OPERATING EXPENSES. MANAGEMENT DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO TAX UNCERTAINTIES THAT MET THE RECOGNITION THRESHOLD FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021. ABS'S FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR 2021, 2020, AND 2019 REMAIN SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE IRS. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS 616,495. X X X X X X 0 0 0 JO BUYSKE MD PRESIDENT & CEO, EX-OFFICIO 762473 0 191250 0 0 0 23200 0 27415 0 1004338 0 0 0 BRUCE A PERLER MD VICE-PRESIDENT 245129 0 1200 0 0 0 7390 0 0 0 253719 0 0 0 MARK J HICKEY COO - SCORE; ABS CIO 179167 0 16683 0 0 0 16258 0 29417 0 241525 0 0 0 ABBY POZEFSKY GENERAL COUNCIL, (RETIRED 9/30/21) 204156 0 5000 0 0 0 16266 0 1582 0 227004 0 0 0 JESSICA A SCHREADER COO; BOARD SECRETARY 165115 0 16380 0 0 0 15110 0 27269 0 223874 0 0 0 ANDREW JONES PHD DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOMETRICS 176124 0 16665 0 0 0 15403 0 14816 0 223008 0 0 0 MARY K MACKEY CPA CONTROLLER - BOARD TREASURER 160136 0 15160 0 9365 0 14551 0 1146 0 200358 0 0 0 CAROL BARRY MARINI PHD SENIOR PSYCHOMETRICIAN 130615 0 12750 0 0 0 11831 0 22161 0 177357 0 0 0 LISA DRISCOLL IT MANAGER 109523 0 11063 0 0 0 10220 0 26251 0 157057 0 0 0 MARNI GRAMBAU DIRECTOR OF EXAMINATION DE 119352 0 12020 0 0 0 10492 0 13382 0 155246 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ACTED AS THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. AS OF JUNE 30, 2022, THE BOARD APPROVED A NEW SEPARATE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. PART I, LINE 7 THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AS PART OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN SETTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, ANNUALLY RECOMMENDS TO THE FULL BOARD, EXECUTIVE BONUSES BASED ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND CEO GOALS, RELYING ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS WHILE MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE COMPENSATION SETTING PROCESS FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY'S MISSION IS TO SERVE PATIENTS, SOCIETY, AND THE SPECIALTY OF SURGERY BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN SURGICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE. THE ABS ENSURES EXCELLENCE THROUGH: BUILDING A DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE CULTURE; RIGOROUS EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONALISM, LIFELONG LEARNING, AND CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION OF SURGEONS IN PRACTICE. THE ABS WAS FOUNDED IN 1937 TO PROVIDE BOARD CERTIFICATION TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MET A DEFINED STANDARD OF EDUCATION, TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF SURGERY. SURGEONS CERTIFIED BY THE ABS, KNOWN AS DIPLOMATES, HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 5 YEARS OF RESIDENCY TRAINING FOLLOWING MEDICAL SCHOOL, MET ALL ABS TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ABS EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONCE CERTIFIED, ABS DIPLOMATES MUST COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES IN A PROCESS NOW KNOWN AS CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION. BOARD CERTIFICATION BY THE ABS IS A VOLUNTARY PROCESS THAT DEMONSTRATES A SURGEON'S COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONALISM, LIFELONG LEARNING, AND QUALITY PATIENT CARE. THE ABS OFFERS BOARD CERTIFICATION IN SURGERY (GENERAL SURGERY), VASCULAR SURGERY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, COMPLEX GENERAL SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, HAND SURGERY, AND HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATION, ABS ALSO OFFERS VOLUNTARY FOCUSED PRACTICE DESIGNATION IN METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY. THE ABS ALSO STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF RESIDENTS IN GENERAL SURGERY AND RELATED SPECIALTIES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL CURRICULUM (SCORE). SCORE'S PRIMARY FEATURE, THE SCORE PORTAL, DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ALIGNED WITH THE CURRICULUM TO RESIDENTS, FELLOWS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. MANY ABS EXAMINATIONS, SUCH AS THE ABSITE AND THE GENERAL SURGERY QUALIFYING EXAM, INCLUDE CONTENT THAT IS ALIGNED WITH SCORE'S CURRICULUM IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THE SCORE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO DEFINE THE VARIOUS SURGICAL SPECIALTIES AND PROVIDE GREATER ASSURANCE THAT RESIDENTS AND FELLOWSHIP TRAINEES ARE RECEIVING SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN ALL AREAS. IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL SCORE CURRICULUM FOR GENERAL SURGERY, SCORE'S OFFERINGS HAVE GROWN TO INCLUDE CURRICULUMS FOR VASCULAR SURGERY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY AND SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, WITH A SURGICAL ONCOLOGY CURRICULUM CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT. THE SCORE CURRICULUM FOR GENERAL SURGERY FOCUSES ON THE FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT CONSTITUTE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY IN THE U.S., AFTER MEDICAL SCHOOL BUT PRIOR TO INDEPENDENT PRACTICE, AND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SIX COMPETENCIES EXPECTED OF A GRADUATING RESIDENT: PATIENT CARE; MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE; PROFESSIONALISM; INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS; PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING; AND SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE. THE SCORE CURRICULUMS FOR THE OTHER SURGICAL SPECIALTIES INCLUDE TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THE YEARS OF TRAINING FOLLOWING RESIDENCY. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 IN THE SPRING OF 2022, THE ABS OFFERED ITS FIRST FOCUSED PRACTICE DESIGNATION (FPD) IN METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY (MBS). FPD IS A NEW DESIGNATION FOR ABMS MEMBER BOARDS THAT RECOGNIZES THOSE DIPLOMATES WHO HAVE FOCUSED THEIR PRACTICE ON ONE PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF A GIVEN FIELD OF MEDICINE OR SURGERY. MBS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOCUSED PRACTICE WITHIN THE SPECIALTY OF GENERAL SURGERY. MOST SURGEONS PERFORMING MBS ARE GENERAL SURGEONS WHO HAVE FOCUSED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR TIME ON THE PRACTICE OF BARIATRIC SURGERY AND DEVELOPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE MBS PROGRAM. THEREFORE, MBS IS TRULY A VARIATION OF GENERAL SURGERY RATHER THAN A SUBSPECIALTY OF SURGERY. THE PURPOSE OF THE MBS FPD IS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENT INFORMATION TO THOSE PATIENTS WHO SEEK TO UNDERGO BARIATRIC SURGERY OR BARIATRIC ENDOSCOPY BY RECOGNIZING SURGEONS WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL SURGICAL EXPERTISE AND DEDICATE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THEIR PRACTICE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF THESE PATIENTS, INCLUDING PRIMARY AND REVISIONAL BARIATRIC SURGERY, MANAGEMENT OF BARIATRIC COMPLICATIONS AND ENDOSCOPY. THE EXAM CONSISTS OF ABOUT 150 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO EVALUATE A SURGEON'S KNOWLEDGE OF METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY PRINCIPLES AND APPLIED SCIENCE. THIS IS A ONE-DAY EXAM LASTING APPROXIMATELY 4.5 HOURS AND IS HELD AT COMPUTER-TESTING FACILITIES ACROSS THE U.S. ALSO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022, THE ABS ANNOUNCED THE MOVE TO A COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT OF SURGICAL TRAINEES BY INTRODUCING THE ABS ENTRUSTABLE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES (EPA) PROJECT, EXPECTED TO LAUNCH IN JULY 2023 FOR GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. THE ABS VOLUNTEERS BEGAN EXPLORING EPAS AS A POTENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR COMPETENCY-BASED SURGICAL TRAINING AND INITIAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IN 2016, FOLLOWING SEVERAL YEARS OF DISCUSSION AROUND VARIOUS STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TRADITIONAL TIME-BASED RESIDENCY TRAINING MODELS. THE ABS THEN DEVELOPED FIVE INDEX EPAS AND PILOTED THEM AT 28 DIVERSE SURGICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS FROM 2018-2020. WITH THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN EARLY 2020, IT BECAME MORE APPARENT THAN EVER THAT A MOVE TO COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT IS NECESSARY TO APPROPRIATELY DETERMINE TRAINEE READINESS TO ENTER THE ABS CERTIFICATION PROCESS. SUPPORTED BY PILOT-INFORMED BEST PRACTICE INSIGHTS. THE ABS WILL COLLABORATE WITH KEY SURGICAL EDUCATION PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS NATIONWIDE TO REFINE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE EPA PILOT EXPERIENCE INTO A FULL SUITE OF APPROXIMATELY 18 EPAS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CORE ELEMENTS OF GENERAL SURGICAL PRACTICE. THE EPAS WILL ALLOW MEANINGFUL, FREQUENT, AND LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT PERFORMANCE AND PREPARATION FOR AUTONOMOUS AND COMPETENCY-BASED PRACTICE. THE ABS WILL DEVELOP A MOBILE-BASED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM TO ALLOW FOR A TIME-EFFICIENT, FEEDBACK-ORIENTED ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENT PERFORMANCE DURING THE DAILY WORKFLOW. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF DEPLOYING EPAS IS TO CREATE A HABIT OF WORKPLACE-BASED MICRO-ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT-ORIENTED PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK LINKED TO CORE COMPETENCIES AND MILESTONES THAT HELP FULFILL EVERY SURGEON'S COMMITMENT TO HONOR THE PUBLIC TRUST. THE ABS AIMS TO INCORPORATE THIS STRATEGY INTO A NEW PARADIGM FOR SURGICAL TRAINING FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, WITH A VIEW TO EXCELLENCE AND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN PATIENT CARE. EPAS ARE ALSO IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE OTHER ABS SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING VASCULAR SURGERY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, COMPLEX GENERAL SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, AND SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, WITH PLANS TO INTRODUCE THIS TRAINEE ASSESSMENT MODEL TO THOSE SPECIALTY PROGRAMS IN THE COMING YEARS AS WELL. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE ORGANIZATION HAS AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM PREPARE THE FORM 990. THE FORM IS THEN REVIEWED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTROLLER, LEGAL COUNSEL, COO AND PRESIDENT/CEO AND ANY NEEDED CHANGES OR UPDATES ARE COMMUNICATED BACK TO THE ACCOUNTING FIRM. THE 990 IS REVIEWED IN DETAIL BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THEN RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE FULL BOARD. ALL BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVE COPIES OF THE FORM 990 BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALL DIRECTORS SIGN A DISCLOSURE FORM ANNUALLY ATTESTING TO THE FACT THAT THEY EACH HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREED TO ABIDE BY THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. ALL NEW DIRECTORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN THE SAME ATTESTATION UPON THEIR JOINING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN ADDITION, ANY DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVING AN INTEREST IN A CONTRACT OR OTHER TRANSACTION PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR A COMMITTEE THEREOF FOR AUTHORIZATION, APPROVAL, OR RATIFICATION SHALL GIVE PROMPT, FULL, AND FRANK DISCLOSURE OF HIS OR HER INTEREST TO THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE PRIOR TO ACTING ON SUCH CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION. THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE SHALL GATHER COMPARABILITY DATA REGARDING A POSSIBLE CONFLICT TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS REGARDING THE FAIRNESS AND REASONABLENESS OF THE TRANSACTION. THE INTERESTED PARTY MAY MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT AND THE INTERESTED PARTY'S INTEREST IN THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT. THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE SHALL THEN DISCUSS THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT WITHOUT THE INTERESTED PARTY PRESENT, INCLUDING THE DATA GATHERED ABOUT POSSIBLE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TRANSACTIONS OR ARRANGEMENTS. IF A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT IS NOT REASONABLY POSSIBLE UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES NOT PRODUCING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS WHETHER THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT IS IN THE CORPORATION'S BEST INTEREST, FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT, AND WHETHER IT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE IN CONFORMITY WITH THIS DETERMINATION, IT SHALL MAKE ITS DECISION AS TO WHETHER TO ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 IN JANUARY 2021, THE ABS ENGAGED AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE RELEVANT, COMPETITIVE COMPARABLE MARKET COMPENSATION INFORMATION FOR SELECTED EXECUTIVE POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE CEO, VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND GENERAL COUNSEL. THE EXPERT REPORT CONCLUDED THAT ALL EXECUTIVES CURRENT RATES OF TOTAL COMPENSATION ARE REASONABLE. THE COMPENSATION REPORT AND ANALYSIS FOR THE EXECUTIVES WERE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE ABS AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS CONFIRMED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE MINUTES AT THAT TIME. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE ABS TO ENGAGE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW EVERY 2-3 YEARS OR AS CONTRACTS ARE RENEWED; THEREFORE, AN ADDITIONAL, UPDATED REVIEW OF THE CEO COMPENSATION WAS PERFORMED IN APRIL 2022, AS PART OF THE CONTRACT RENEWAL PROCESS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: OTHER COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC PENSION COSTS 2,702,084. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C AUDIT COMMITTEE IS TO OVERSEE THE SELECTION OF AUDITORS AND REVIEW OF AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS