Starting in 2008, family physicians, internists and doctors in eight other specialties can be board certified in hospice and palliative medicine. This is the first time 10 American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards have collaborated to offer certification in one area. Co-sponsoring the new certification are certifying boards in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, psychiatry and neurology, radiology and surgery. "Each of the co-sponsoring boards recognizes the growing importance of this area of medicine," said James C. Puffer,MD, president and CEO of the American Board of Family Medicine. The new certificate will be offered to physicians who hold specialty or subspecialty certification by one of the 10 sponsoring boards. The first exam will likely be offered in 2008.