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Thesis Guidelines

Starting with 2026 graduates, the thesis process has been revised. These changes are designed to enhance the overall fellowship experience by reducing delays and providing clearer guidance throughout the thesis journey. We believe this updated process will empower programs and better support fellows in successfully completing the thesis requirement.

Fellows graduating in 2025 or earlier will continue to follow the original thesis process.

Below are additional details for each process pathway. Please follow the one corresponding to the applicable graduation year. Resources for Program Directors (PDs) and Program Managers (PMs) are also provided.

2025 and Prior Subspecialty Graduates

A thesis is required by all subspecialties as an eligibility criterion for the Subspecialty Certifying Exam and must be submitted by the date listed in the Subspecialty CE bulletin and according to the guidelines for preparation listed below. Prior publication of a thesis by a refereed journal does not guarantee acceptance of the thesis for the Certifying Examination. It is not necessary for the thesis to have been published. 

A copy of the completed Thesis Affidavit Form in PDF format must be uploaded on the candidate's ABOG portal during the Subspecialty CE application process. 

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2026 and Future Subspecialty Graduates

A thesis is required by all subspecialties as an eligibility criterion for the Subspecialty Qualifying Examination. The thesis must be submitted, along with the completed Thesis Defense Form, in the fellow’s ABOG portal by June 15 in their final year of fellowship. Fellows will be able to defend their thesis at any point in fellowship. As soon as the thesis and Thesis Defense Form upload tasks are available in the portal, ABOG will notify fellows via email. Electronic copies or reprints of published manuscripts are acceptable.

For questions or clarification, please visit the FAQs.

To support fellows in navigating the thesis process, a high-level outline and video are provided below.

Thesis Defense Form

This document outlines the full structure of the thesis defense process, including requirements, the thesis defense committee, and approved study designs. It also includes the official Thesis Defense Form, which must be completed and uploaded to the ABOG portal as part of the process. This is the primary reference for understanding and executing the defense process for 2026 graduates and beyond.

Potentially Acceptable Theses

Any thesis submitted must be the product of a significantly robust research effort. Reports of the results of treatment of patients from a practice or department are not acceptable as these are considered to be a case series.

The research must be important to the field of the subspeciality. The following types of research conducted during a fellowship may qualify as an acceptable thesis for eligibility for board certification:

Laboratory, Translational, and Animal Research
Randomized Controlled Trial: The study must adhere to the CONSORT standards.
Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review: The report must adhere to the PRISMA or MOOSE guidelines.
Cost-Effective Analysis: The report must conform to the recommendations of the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine for reporting CEA results.
Case-Control Study: The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.
Cohort Study: The research may involve primary or secondary data analyses. The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.
Survey Research: The candidate must have developed the questionnaire or used a previously validated questionnaire, and there should be a 50% return and completion of the questionnaire. The thesis must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies and CHERRIES guidelines for web-based surveys.
Epidemiology Research: The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for Epidemiological Studies.
Mechanistic Trials: The study must meet the NIH definition for a clinical trial.
Modeling and Simulation-Based Research: A prediction model thesis must follow the TRIPOD statement. An SBR thesis must adhere to the SBR extension to the CONSORT and STROBE statements.
Quality Improvement: The thesis must adhere to the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines.
Qualitative Research: The thesis must adhere to the COREQ or SRQR guidelines.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Research: The thesis must adhere to the SPIRIT-AI Extension or the CONSORT-AI Extension statements.
Implementation Science: The thesis must conform to the StaRI guidelines.

PD/PM Resources

This section provides resources and guidance to support Program Directors and Managers in implementing and managing the updated thesis process for 2026 graduates and beyond. For questions or clarification, please visit the FAQs.

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2026 and Future Subspecialty Graduates

For questions or clarification, please visit the FAQs.

To support fellows in navigating the thesis process, a high-level outline and video are provided below.

Thesis Defense Form

Potentially Acceptable Theses

Laboratory, Translational, and Animal Research
Randomized Controlled Trial: The study must adhere to the CONSORT standards.
Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review: The report must adhere to the PRISMA or MOOSE guidelines.
Cost-Effective Analysis: The report must conform to the recommendations of the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine for reporting CEA results.
Case-Control Study: The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.
Cohort Study: The research may involve primary or secondary data analyses. The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.
Survey Research: The candidate must have developed the questionnaire or used a previously validated questionnaire, and there should be a 50% return and completion of the questionnaire. The thesis must conform to the STROBE guidelines for observational studies and CHERRIES guidelines for web-based surveys.
Epidemiology Research: The study must conform to the STROBE guidelines for Epidemiological Studies.
Mechanistic Trials: The study must meet the NIH definition for a clinical trial.
Modeling and Simulation-Based Research: A prediction model thesis must follow the TRIPOD statement. An SBR thesis must adhere to the SBR extension to the CONSORT and STROBE statements.
Quality Improvement: The thesis must adhere to the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines.
Qualitative Research: The thesis must adhere to the COREQ or SRQR guidelines.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Research: The thesis must adhere to the SPIRIT-AI Extension or the CONSORT-AI Extension statements.
Implementation Science: The thesis must conform to the StaRI guidelines.

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Thesis Guidelines

2025 and Prior Subspecialty Graduates

Thesis Preparation Instructions

Potentially Acceptable Theses

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2026 and Future Subspecialty Graduates

Thesis Defense Form

Potentially Acceptable Theses

PD/PM Resources

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Thesis Defense Process

Thesis Defense Form

Thesis Defense Committee

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Need Assistance?

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Potentially Acceptable Theses

2026 and Future Subspecialty Graduates

Thesis Defense Form

Potentially Acceptable Theses

PD/PM Resources

Thesis Defense Process

Thesis Defense Form

Thesis Defense Committee

Need Assistance?