two Boards of Medical Examiners carried on this
function One represented the Medical and Chirur
gical Faculty and the other the State Homeopathic
Society (Chapter 296, Acts of 1892) The General
Assembly in 1957 abolished the Homeopathic
Board and provided for the State Board of Medical
Examiners to regulate the practice of medicine
Responsibility for disciplining licensed physicians
was assigned to the Commission on Medical Disci
pline of Maryland, created in 1968 (Chapter 469,
Acts of 1968) In 1988, the functions of both the
State Board of Medical Examiners and the Com-
mission on Medical Discipline of Maryland were
combined under the State Board of Physician Qual
ity Assurance (Chapter 109, Acts of 1988)
The Board tests and licenses physicians to prac
tice medicine in the State For certain causes, the
Board may revoke the license of any physician The
Board also registers residents and x-ray assistants
The Board certifies seven categories of allied health
practitioners, including physician assistants, psy
chiatnsts' assistants, respiratory care practitioners,
medical radiation technologists, nuclear medical
technologists, cardiac rescue technicians, and emer
gency medical technicians paramedics It deter-
mines the eligibility of physicians to represent
themselves as specialists The Board works with the
State Board of Nursing to review written agree
ments between physicians and nurse practitioners
and nurse midwives
To determine eligibility for initial medical licen-
sure, the Board administers the United States
Medical Licensing Examination The Board also
administers the Special Purpose Examination of the
Federation of State Medical Boards to some apph
cants and licensees to determine if they have re
mamed competent practitioners after an absence
from practicing medicine
For certain cases, the Board may take discipli
nary action, including revocation, suspension, rep
nmand, or probation, and may fine a licensee
Where there is an imminent threat to the public,
the Board may issue an emergency suspension of a
license In an effort to prevent misconduct, the
Board operates a speaker's bureau, and conducts
educational programs and training sessions on cer
tarn high-risk behavioral areas Quarterly, the Board
also issues a newsletter with a lead article of topical
interest to the medical community as well as infor-
mation about the Board's acts or sanctions
The Board works closely with state and local law-
enforcement agencies, as well as federal agencies such
as the U S Federal Bureau of Investigation and the
U S Office of Inspector General Since 1977, the
Board and its predecessor have participated m the
network of state disciplinary information bank of the
Federation of State Medical Boards Since 1990, the
Board has served as a conduit of disciplinary informa

non between Maryland hospitals and the National
Practitioners Data Bank
Composed of fifteen members, the Board is
appointed by the Governor One consumer mem-
ber is appointed to an initial term of three years with
Senate advice and consent Other members serve
four-year terms The Governor selects a physician
member as chair Authorization for the Board con
tinues until July 1, 2003 (Code Health Occupa
tions Article, sees 14 101 through 15 502)

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE

J Andrew Sumner, M D , Chair

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory
Committee was created in 1990 The Committee
advises the State Board of Physician Quality Assur
ance on matters regarding the certification of and
regulations governing cardiac rescue technicians
and emergency medical technician-paramedics
The Committee also advises the Board on matters
related to the provision ofprehospital advanced life
support, including quality assurance, standards of
practice, and treatment protocols

MEDICAL RADIATION & NUCLEAR MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mary M Newman, M D , Chair

The Medical Radiation and Nuclear Medical
Technology Advisory Committee began in 1990
The Committee reviews and makes recommenda
tions to the State Board of Physician Quality Assur-
ance on all applications for certification of nuclear
medical technologists and medical radiation tech
nologists The Committee recommends to the
Board the approval, modification, or disapproval of
an application for certification The Committee
also makes recommendations to the Board regard
ing regulations governing nuclear medical tech-
nologists and medical radiation technologists and
on matters related to the practice of medical radia
tion technology and nuclear medical technology

MEDICAL SPECIALTY COMMITTEE

John T Lynn, M D , Chair

The Medical Specialty Committee was established in
1989 The Committee formulates new regulations con-
cerning cntena for specialty designation of physicians

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Ira N Brecher, M D , Chair

The Physician Assistant Advisory Committee was
created within the State Board of Medical Examiners
m 1986 (Chapter 759, Acts of 1986) The Committee
became part of the State Board of Physician Quality
Assurance m 1988 (Chapter 109, Acts of 1988) The
Committee recommends to the Board regulauons for
the certification of physician assistants The Committee
also recommends to the Board the approval, modifi