Board Certified Vs. Not

Board certification means the physician has completed a training program after going to medical school, and they have taken certification examinations to determine their proficiency in a particular specialty.

A board certification exam is a national exam, given to doctors in a specialty to test their knowledge and experience. If a doctor fails the board exam, they can retake it at a later date.

There are good physicians who are not board certified who are practicing medicine. Likewise, there are board certified doctors who may not be good doctors. Whether the physician is board-certified or not, they would be subject to providing you with the same standard of care. Board certification (in my eyes) is a way for a physician to communicate to his/her patients that "I have gone above and beyond regarding training in this specialty, and I have passed the exams to prove it."

I would find a board certified OBGYN especially if you are lookingto have a VBAC in the future. That way you will know they have been trained in the field of OB.

I personally wouldn't go with anyone that wasn't Board Certified. Why go through all the tests and what not to be a doctor and then not get board certified? It's like they're hiding that they suck. Also, if they did something to you that you had to sue them, I think it would make it harder for them to have to face up to anything since they aren't board certified. I wouldn't do it, but that's my opinion.

Honestly, I cant say enough about Dr. Dooley! I LOVE HER!! I neve knew anything about her being board certified or not, I knew her from church, and so I decided to use her. I have had 4 different dr.s or midwives deliver my 4 children, and hands down she was the best! Maybe it helped that I knew her already, but I never waited for appointments, she addressed any concern I had, and even sent me to a specialist to check something because one of our other children had a heart murmur..no other dr. had ever done that! Best of all, I swear I would never have pushed my daughter out had she not gotten me through my hardest labor! Several friends use her and are thrilled too! Board certified or not, I would never use another dr. after her!! ~A.~

Hi Heather,

I am a mother of an 11 month old and my doctor was Dr. Dooley. She is awesome and was throughout the whole pregnancy. My sister in law is pregnant with twins and she is using Dr. Dooley as well. I work with a lady and Dr. Cummings delivered her daughter about 19 years ago. They are all very good. I have also been to Dr. Walsh for a check-up when I couldn't get into Dr. Dooley. I would highly recommend any of these doctors.
Hope this helps.