LEAD Upgrade

On January 9, ABFAS will launch a redesigned LEAD platform, driven by Diplomate feedback and best practices for longitudinal assessments. Updates and new features will improve Diplomates’ overall experiences, so LEAD remains relevant and easy to use.

Program requirements and the basic assessment structure will not change; you can still access LEAD questions from anywhere, at any time throughout the quarter, and your LEAD performance and progress to-date will carry over to the new platform.

Here’s what to expect in the new LEAD platform, beginning January 9:

Increased Relevance

• Each quarter, you may select General Foot and Ankle Concepts, Diabetic Limb Salvage, Trauma, or Reconstruction to tailor your LEAD questions and focus on content relevant to your practice or interest.
• No matter what you choose, all Diplomates will receive questions each quarter covering core concepts related to foot and ankle surgery.

Please note: Once you select a focus area, you cannot make changes until the next quarter. ABFAS may introduce additional content areas in the future.

Redesigned Dashboard

• Stay informed and on track with an improved LEAD dashboard.
• With new dashboard banners, you will know exactly how many quarters you still need to complete—and by when—to meet your LEAD requirements for certification renewal.

Enhanced Assessment Experience

• Track your MDT p-value(s) after each question answered—without ever leaving the page.
• Answer questions with fewer pop-ups. Moving forward, you will only see one alert at the start of each session before you begin answering questions.

Please note: Your LEAD progress through 2024 Q4 will carry over to the new site and show on your LEAD dashboard. Due to the platform transition, you will not be able to review your past LEAD history for questions completed 2024 Q4 and prior. Your LEAD question history will show for 2025 Q1 and onwards.

Reinforced Learning

• You may see questions you answered incorrectly in a future LEAD quarter. This provides a second chance to answer, which will help you focus on areas that may need more attention and improve your knowledge gaps.

Please note: Due to the platform transition, the assessment may introduce repeated questions as early as 2025 Quarter 4.

Here’s what stays the same: