Rise of medical specialization and organizations affecting otolaryngology

As we enter the third millennium, there are in the United States 24 medical specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The majority of the members of each of these specialties have their education, training, and knowledge "certified" by an examining board unique to their specialty. One hundred years ago virtually none of the foregoing existed. At the turn of the 20th century, nearly all physicians practiced all of medicine. How and why did this evolution occur and what controls evolved to contain this? The goal of this presentation is to review the rise of medical specialties and the board examination system and describe some of the many organizations, often known by acronyms, which deal with this now complex architecture.