Exploring the Environmental Impact of In-Person Board Examinations

The University of Utah’s Department of Anesthesiology continues to drive important conversations in graduate medical education with the recent publication of "Estimation of Air Travel–Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions for the In-Person Anesthesiology Oral Board Examination" in the Journal of Graduate Medical Education. This article, authored by Dr. John Pearson and resident Dr. Sierra Mastrantonio, sheds light on the environmental implications of returning to mandatory in-person board certification exams.

The study estimates the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by air travel for anesthesiology graduates attending the in-person Applied Examination (AE) at the American Board of Anesthesiology testing center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Using residency training locations as proxies for examinee origins, the analysis revealed that air travel for the AE produces an estimated 517 to 568 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) annually—equivalent to the yearly emissions of approximately 112 passenger vehicles.

With climate change becoming an increasingly critical focus in medical education, this research highlights the environmental trade-offs of in-person certification processes. The authors call for further reflection on sustainable practices in graduate medical education and beyond, fostering dialogue on how the medical field can reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining rigorous training and evaluation standards.

Dr. Pearson and Dr. Mastrantonio’s work exemplifies the University of Utah’s commitment to advancing environmental sustainability in anesthesiology and graduate medical education. Their findings encourage thoughtful consideration of how evolving practices can align with global efforts to combat climate change.