Peter G. Anderson, DVM, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, received the Edithe J. Levit Distinguished Service Award at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) in Philadelphia. The award recognizes Anderson for his 20 years of dedicated service to the NBME.

Anderson has been a member of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine faculty in the Department of Pathology since 1986 and has been active in research and teaching throughout his career. A member of the NBME since 2002, he first joined the Pathology Test Material Development Committee for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 on which he served for 5 years; and an additional 4 years as chair.  Anderson was also a member of the USMLE Step 1 Committee, the USMLE Management Committee overseeing all three USMLE Step examinations, and he serves on the USMLE Step 1 Forms Review Committee and the Interdisciplinary Review Committee. He was also a test committee representative to the NBME, Chair of the NBME Pathology Committee from 2008 to 2011 and a member and then chair of the Hubbard Award Committee.

Upon presenting the Levit Award Dr. Alfred Tallia, Chair of the NBME, noted that Dr. Anderson was the first Veterinarian ever to receive this award. Comments were also shared remotely by USMLE staff who have worked with Dr. Anderson over the years:

“Pete Anderson has been a valuable contributor to the USMLE program. He has remained committed to the mission and purpose of the NBME, serving as chair of the Pathology/Genetics TMDC, Step 1 IRC, Step 1 Forms Review, the Step 1 Committee and the Management Committee over the years. His deep understanding of basic science combined with his upbeat sense of humor have made him a favorite at committee meetings. Pete’s dedication to ensuring the quality of the USMLE Step exams is very much appreciated," said Christy Bracken-Vasquez, Managing Editor, USMLE. 

“Since 2002, we have worked with Dr. Anderson while he served on the Pathology and Genetics TMDC and subsequent Step 1 IRCs. His foundational science knowledge [specifically cardiovascular pathophysiology] along with his patience, collaboration, and humor that he brings to each meeting have been very much appreciated and make him an outstanding volunteer for NBME," said Tina Paul, Senior Editor, USMLE. 

Established in 1983, the Levit Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of former NBME president and CEO Edithe J. Levit, who served from 1977 to 1986.  Recipients of the Levit Award are selected from individuals who have served the NBME exceptionally in their dedication to research related to the evaluation of health professionals.  The NBME's stated mission is to "protect the health of the public through state of the art assessment of health professionals" and emphasizes that "while NBME's mission is centered on assessment of physicians, this mission encompasses the spectrum of health professionals along the continuum of education, training and practice.”