I am looking for some advise from the NIF representative.  I am practicing Dermatology in California and due to California Medical Board Guidelines do not use the term"Board Certified" but rather advertise myself as "Certified in Dermatology by the American Board of Physician Specialties".  I have been involved at the local medical society level in organized medicine in our county but face the difficulty of not being able to be represented accurately in the County Medical Society directory.  Since I am board certified in Family Practice through ABMS and Certified in Dermatology by ABPS they will only allow me to list Family Medicine and not include any mention of Dermatology certification since this is not ABMS or AOBA.  They still list me as a Dermatologist but the appearance of Family Medicine and absence of Dermatology in my directory listing is a bit confusing to the referral base.  Their guidelines  only allow ABMS / AOBA certification only.  I have requested that they include Certified in Dermatology by American Board of Physician Specialties but last year they said no.  I am wondering if you have any advise of how I might proceed with the local County Medical Society which is a subsidiary of California Medical Association etc..  Or would this be a competing organization that would not likely ever be willing to give recognition to ABPS certification.  If you have any experience with this I would be grateful for you advise.

I guess why only ABMS and AOBA?  Why not ABMS only or why not ABPS too?  

Sincerely,
Kelly A. Kinsley, M.D. 