The American Board of Family Medicine has announced that Dr. Ofelia Nickel Melley has successfully completed its recertification examination.

Board certification confers a standard of excellence in knowledge and practice to physicians who not only certify through the examination process, but who also work diligently on the maintenance of these skills during the seven-year cycle between examinations, a news release said.

Melley was originally board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) in 1988 and has maintained her certification continuously since then.

She currently limits her practice to cosmetic and laser medicine at The Laser Institute of Pinehurst.

The Laser Institute provides services to clients in Moore County and surrounding areas including laser treatments, hair removal, Botox injections, Juvederm and Radiesse injections.

Her staff includes Alicia Deece, licensed aesthetician and makeup artist; Michelle Palladino, office manager; Laura Cahoy, marketing coordinator and administrative assistant; and three licensed massage therapists.

They are at 80 Aviemore Court, Suite A, in Pinehurst at the Traffic Circle and can be contacted at (910) 295-1130.

To achieve recertification by the ABFM, a family physician must verify the completion of 300 hours of acceptable continuing medical education over the past six years; possess a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine; and successfully complete a one-day, -written examination of cognitive knowledge and problem solving abilities, a news release said.

This examination covers the disciplines of the specialty including such things as adult medicine; care of newborns, infants, children and adolescents; maternity and gynecological care; community medicine; care of the older patient; human behavior and mental health; and care of the surgical patient.

The ABFM, one of 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, is the second largest medical specialty board in the United States.

Additional information regarding the ABFM can be obtained from its Web site at www.theabfm.com.