The NBOME is pleased to recognize the 2019 Item Writer and Case Author of the Year award winners from its distinguished National Faculty. Throughout the year, this group of individuals graciously volunteered their time and expertise to contribute to the COMLEX-USA and COMAT exam programs. In addition to their professional roles, these volunteers wear a variety of hats – writing and reviewing test items, serving as physician examiners for COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, and supporting the NBOME mission to protect the public through competency assessment.
Each year, the NBOME Board selects the best-in-class item writers and case authors from a large group of contributors. Congratulations to these esteemed awardees for their exemplary commitment to producing valid and high-quality exam content.
2019 Winners
Martin Schmidt, PhD
COMLEX-USA Level 1 Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Schmidt is a professor of biochemistry at DMU-COM in Des Moines, Iowa and a long-standing member of our National Faculty. His contributions have been to the COMLEX-USA Level 1 and COMAT Foundational Biomedical Examinations.
John Dougherty, DO
COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Dougherty is the Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed) in Provo, Utah. He has been a member of the National Faculty since 2016.
Robyn Dreibelbis, DO
COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Case Author of the Year
Dr. Dreibelbis is vice-chair and assistant professor of Family Medicine at WesternU/COMP – Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon. Dr. Dreibelbis has been selected for this award as a member of the Case Development Committee.
Binh Phung, DO, MHA
COMLEX-USA Level 3 Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Phung is a clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics at OSU-COM in Tulsa, Oklahoma and a pediatric hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital at St. Francis. Dr. Phung has focused his talents on the COMLEX-USA Level 3 examination in both multiple-choice questions and clinical decision-making content.
Brett Stecker, DO
Clinical Decision-Making (CDM) Case Writer of the Year
Dr. Stecker is the assistant professor at Alpert Medical School at Brown University and physician advisor at Steward Medical Group at Morton Hospital in South Easton, Massachusetts. Dr. Stecker is experienced in working with the COMLEX-USA Levels 1, 2-CE and 3 examinations, and was previously awarded Item Writer of the Year for COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE in both 2016 and 2018.
Lauren Noto Bell, DO
COMLEX-USA Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Noto Bell is an associate professor at PCOM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a long-standing member of the National Faculty. She has been involved with all levels of the COMLEX-USA examinations and the COMAT clinical exam. She was awarded item writer of the year for OPP in 2017.
Todd Coffey, PhD
COMLEX-USA Preventative Medicine/Health Promotion (PMHP) Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Coffey is chair and associate professor in the department of research and biostatistics at ICOM in Meridian, Idaho. He joined the National Faculty in 2018 and contributes to all levels of the COMLEX-USA level examinations.
Jessica Rogers, DO
COMAT Clinical Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Rogers is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Coyle Institute Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery in Pensacola, Florida. She joined the National Faculty in 2014 and has been a significant contributor to both the COMLEX-USA and COMAT examinations.
Lori Redmond, PhD
COMAT Foundational Biomedical Sciences (FBS) Item Writer of the Year
Dr. Redmond is a professor of Neuroscience at PCOM in Suwanee, Georgia and has been a member of our National Faculty since 2017. She was recruited for and has been a strong contributor to the COMAT Foundational Biomedical Sciences examinations.