ABMS Shield Developed as a Collective Mark for All Member Boards

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Our logo seal was created in 1960 as part of the incorporation process of the Advisory Board for Medical Specialties. This event happened to respond to the concern felt at the time about the organization of specialty examining boards of “questionable need or spurious origin”. The logo, approved by the United States Patent Office in 1961 was developed as a collective mark that physicians certified by the specialty boards could use for purposes of identification and that the Advisory Board could use to further its purposes by making it less likely that “non-approved boards would achieve acceptance by unwitting members of the medical profession”.

The seal is represented in the form of a shield with the inscribed motto “Animis Opibusque Parati,” which, being translated from Latin, means “Prepared in Knowledge and Resources” The shield is divided into three main parts:
	In the upper left quadrant is shown the authentic staff of Aesculapius (the ancient god of medicine) and “1933” which is the year the Advisory Board was founded. In the upper right quadrant is the lamp of knowledge which is symbolic of the first portion of the motto. In the lower half of the shield is shown a colonnade with a superimposed entablature. On the columns are inscribed the words “Ethics” “Honor” and “Skill” and on the entablature is the word “Excellence.” It is implied that these qualities and characteristics are the “resources” of the medical profession. Thus, this portion of the shield is symbolic of the second part of the motto. The reference is that the physician is expected to uphold the dignity and honor of the medical profession and the requirement of skill is always emphasized.
In 2006, the graphic structure of the logo was slightly modified for reading clarity and usability. The statement, “Higher standards. Better care.” was added to succinctly express our mission, commitment, and promise. The combination of these elements symbolizes our long history and prospects for the future.