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History & Purposes

The American Board of Laser Surgery was founded in 1984 by physicians and other medical practitioners from various fields experienced in the basic science and clinical applications of lasers. They shared a concern for the safe and efficacious use of lasers in medicine and surgery. They believed that the increasing complexity and utilization of lasers in treating patients had created a need for the establishment of minimum standards of knowledge, competence, and experience for those who used lasers in the health sciences. Many individual physicians, hospital administrators, chairmen of credentialing committees, and other concerned persons expressed a desire for an organization that would fulfill these needs. In doing so, they recognized that lasers are sophisticated instruments requiring special knowledge and experience for safe, effective use in surgery and therapy.

From the very beginning of the era of lasers in clinical use, iatrogenic, laser-related injuries and deaths were occurring among patients. This was the incentive for the founding of the American Board of Laser Surgery.

Read a 1988 report by then President Dr. Stanley Stellar for additional perspective on the background and history of the Board.

Today The Board's Purposes Are:

1. to establish levels of knowledge and clinical experience, for those medical practitioners across medical specialties who utilize lasers and other light-based technologies, that demonstrate a competent understanding of physics, biophysics and clinical safety.
2. to provide study materials and conduct examinations in the physics, biophysics and clinical use and safety of lasers and other light-based technologies, for qualified applicants seeking certification by demonstration of their knowledge in the medical use of these technologies relative to the competent understanding as defined by the Board, and to award Certification based upon successful completion of the Board’s study processes and examinations.
3. to educate as many qualified applicants as possible whom the Board judges, based on their credentials, can benefit from the certification program to become more knowledgeable in the use of lasers and light-based devices, and thereby increase the chances of their efficacious and safe use of these devices.
4. to provide, as may be beneficial in the Board’s judgment, current information relevant to efficacious and safe applications of lasers and other light-based technologies, to applicants for certification, Diplomates of the Board, medical institutions, governing authorities and/or the general medical community.

The Board's Activities:

Since 1984, the Board has held meetings involving Diplomates, candidates for certification and other interested physicians and medical practitioners, for the purposes of providing certifying sessions and examinations, the discussion of the changing needs for credentialing in laser and light-based technologies, and the evolution of the Board itself. In addition, the Board has provided certifying examinations for hundreds of candidates, both on an in-person and remote basis.

The Board’s Officers and Directors are well recognized practitioners in their respective fields and lecture internationally on a variety of topics related to the practice of laser medicine and surgery.