Duke Announces Center for Precision Health to Transform Population Health, Patient Care

 

The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) has announced the launch of the Center for Precision Health (CPH), a collaboration that will harness the power of genomic, biomarker, and health data to transform patient care and population health.

The Duke University School of Medicine has a rich history of translational discovery science leveraging genetics, genomics, and other omic technologies coupled with data science and informatics. With continuing advances in genomics, biomarker technology, and computational biology alongside improvements in electronic health records and machine learning, the CPH will work to bridge discovery science with personalized patient care.

Read the full article here.


Internal Medicine Residents Build Community at NCMS

NC’s Internal Medicine Residency Programs came together in Raleigh for a day of education on professional leadership and collaboration. The group is pictured with Rep. Tim Reeder, MD at the NC General Assembly.

On Friday, September 8, 2023, the NC Chapter of the American College of Physicians (NC ACP) and the North Carolina Medical Society partnered on an educational summit for NC Internal Medicine Program Directors and Chief Residents.

Directors and their Chiefs met at the NCMS headquarters in Raleigh to create community and learn about the importance of professional leadership and collaboration. The content was designed to give chiefs the tools they need to be educators, advocates, and leaders in practice.

Speakers presented on topics including creating culture, coaching Residents on performance, accountability and self-reflection, lessons learned in leadership, and resources to take back to their programs. The group capped off the day with a health policy discussion with NCMS member Representative Tim Reeder, MD, who shared a tour of the Legislative Building, including the House Chamber.

Rachel Thompson of NCMS reports on the NCMS Foundation’s Community Practitioners Program.

NC ACP Governor Marion McCrary, MD, was excited to see the chapter provide support and community for the state’s training programs. “What a great day for learning and support,” said Dr. McCrary. “The NC ACP plans to make this an annual event as an investment in our future leaders.”

The NCMS will gladly host other residency programs with similar content. To connect your program with the NCMS for an opportunity to schedule an advocacy and leadership day for your specialty, contact Ashley Newton, VP Membership at NCMS.

 


NCMSF Past President Receives Community Service Award

 

NCMS Foundation Past President Dr. Katie Lowry recently received the David T. Tayloe, Sr. Award for Outstanding Community Service at the 2023 NC Pediatric Society Annual Meeting.

This award is presented to a pediatrician who has made exceptional contribution in her/his local community or statewide, and that may include efforts beyond the practice setting.

Congratulations, Dr. Lowry on this well-deserved honor!

 


NC Dermatology Association Call for Poster Abstracts

Call for Poster Abstracts
NC Dermatology Association 2024 Annual Meeting
January 26-28 at The Grandover Resort

Dermatology residents, fellows-in-training and students are invited to submit posters detailing original resident research (clinical and/or laboratory research, delineating a new investigation into mechanisms of a disease, or a detailed review of a clinical problem), or clinical vignettes (one or more cases that illustrate a new disease entity or prominent or unusual clinical feature of an established disease). Accepted posters will be judged by a panel of dermatologists on Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28, at the 2024 Annual Meeting, and the winning poster will be given a cash prize.

Please coordinate your participation with your Training Program Director and submit your abstract via e-mail to Megan Eberle, [email protected]no later than December 11. We will accept as many posters as space permits.

Please note the following instructions:

  1. Abstract Eligibility: Original abstracts that either have or have not been presented at other meetings will be considered. They are eligible if they have been published; however, abstracts based upon full papers that have been published are not eligible.
  2. Abstract Format: Title should be brief and clearly state content of paper. List name and degree for each author. Organize body of abstract as follows: (a) Purpose for study, (b) Simple statement of methods, (c) Summary of results, (d) Statement of conclusions.

Posters should be no larger than 3.5’ x 3.5’ in size. Those submitting posters will be advised of exact times that they should attend to their posters to respond to questions from the judges.

We hope you will attend the meeting regardless of whether you submit an abstract for the poster session. As always, meeting registration is free ($0) for residents, fellows-in-training and students.

Download and Submit Your Abstract Form


NCMS LEAD MedTalk Speaker Showcase: Juliana Wulforst, PA-C

NCMS Welcomes 2023 Leadership College Scholar

Juliana Wulforst, PA-C

Join us at the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala

Hear Juliana Wulforst's MedTalk: "Implementing Stress Disorder Screenings in a Level 1 Trauma Center"

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


Have Questions for NCMS Board of Directors? Submit Them Now for an Open Forum at 2023 LEAD Conference!

Have questions for the NCMS Board of Directors? Ask them now.

 

Do you have questions about NCMS and how it works? Do you wonder what the NCMS Board of Director's top priorities are? Do you want to know what the future of NCMS is?

Now is the time to find out! Submit your questions here for the Open Forum, taking place during the Annual Business Meeting at the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala.

Be sure to join us for the Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, October 14th at Noon. It is part of a jam-packed calendar of events in October that culminates in our 2023 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala. This year we are celebrating 20 years of Leadership College!

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN. Click here for more information and to register.

Interested in having your company exhibit at the LEAD Health Care Conference in 2023? Contact Kerry Kendall for more information or download the Sponsor Prospectus.


NCMS LEAD MedTalk Speaker Showcase: Katie Lowry, MD

NCMS Welcomes 2023 Leadership College Scholar
Dr. Katie Lowry

Join us at the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala

Hear Dr. Lowry's MedTalk: "Expanding the Local County Medical Society: Building a Roadmap for Success"

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Dr. Latonya Beatty's MEDTalk from 2018

The North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Latonya Beatty's MEDTalk from 2018 on "Postpartum Depression Screening at Well Child Visits"

Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Gala, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/KTc6GKLPPo4

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN. 

Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


Area L AHEC Provides Free SUD Courses for Healthcare Clinicians

Area L AHEC has developed two substance use disorder (SUD) educational programs meant to help healthcare clinicians better under and treat their patients suffering with SUD: A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery and The Growing Threat of Xylazine: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know.

A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery

Drug dealer selling pills,marijuana and cocaine

During this online activity, Dr. Stephen Loyd will expand the knowledge and competency of the learner regarding managing mental health needs in conjunction with SUD. He will also explain the many components of the SUD recovery ecosystem.

This training will provide 1.0 contact hour of the required Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act training for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered physicians and practitioners.

The Growing Threat of Xylazine: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health, xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer, has been linked to a rising number of overdose deaths nationwide.

This online activity will expand the knowledge and competency of the learner regarding recognizing and treating patients who have used xylazine. Jennifer Carroll, Ph.D., MPH, and Raagini Jawa, MD, FASAM, will discuss the issues associated with the xylazine crisis and provide the learner with tools to assess and manage these medically complex clients.

Both courses are online and self-paced. To get more information and learn how to register for these free programs, visit:

A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery

The Growing Threat of Xylazine: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know


Duke Health Makes Major Advancement in Parkinson’s Disease

 

DURHAM – Researchers have developed a blood test that detects Parkinson’s disease, potentially establishing a way to help diagnose the condition before nervous system damage worsens.

A new blood-based diagnostic test would be a major advancement for Parkinson’s disease, which afflicts 10 million people worldwide and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s. Led by a team of Duke Health neuroscientists, the study appears Aug. 30 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

“Currently, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed largely based on clinical symptoms after significant neurological damage has already occurred,” said senior author Laurie Sanders, Ph.D., an associate professor in Duke School of Medicine’s departments of Neurology and Pathology and member of the Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics.

“A simple blood test would allow us to diagnose the disease earlier and start therapies sooner,” Sanders said. “Additionally, a clear-cut diagnosis would accurately identify patients who could participate in drug studies, leading to the development of better treatments and potentially even cures.”

As a biomarker for their diagnostic tool, Sanders and colleagues focused on DNA damage in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are factories within cells that convert raw energy into a form that powers cells. They contain their own DNA, which can undergo damage separately from the nuclear DNA that encodes most of an organism’s genome.

Earlier studies have associated mitochondrial DNA damage with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, and the Duke-led team had previously reported an accumulation of mitochondrial DNA damage specifically in the brain tissue of deceased Parkinson’s patients.

Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, the Duke team developed an assay that successfully quantified higher levels of mitochondrial DNA damage in blood cells collected from patients with Parkinson’s disease compared to people without the disease.

The new test also identified high levels of the damaged DNA in the blood samples of people who harbor the genetic mutation LRRK2, which has been associated with an increased risk of the disease. The assay was able to detect Parkinson’s disease patients with and without LRRK2 mutations.

A further analysis in cells from patients with Parkinson’s disease explored whether the team’s PCR-based test could determine the impact of a therapy targeting the effects associated with LRRK2 mutation.

In these samples, the test identified lower mitochondrial DNA damage in cells treated with a LRRK2 inhibitor compared to samples from patients who did not receive the inhibitor. This suggests the assay could help pinpoint Parkinson’s disease patients who might benefit from LRRK2 kinase inhibitor treatments, even if they do not have the LRRK2 mutation.

“Our hope is that this assay could not only diagnose Parkinson’s disease, but also identify drugs that reverse or halt mitochondrial DNA damage and the disease process,” Sanders said. “This disease takes a terrible toll on people, and we are still just treating the symptoms. It’s important to get new, effective treatments over the finish line.”

Sanders said the research team’s future will include further testing of the assay in samples from patients with the earliest stages of disease, before symptoms develop. [source]


Join the Conversation: Creating Healthier Communities

Learn how health systems and hospitals work with local employers, schools, faith organizations, and other partners to build healthier, vibrant communities, in a free, two-part virtual town hall, featuring healthcare leaders from around the state.

 

Part 1 on September 26 from 11 am-12 pm, will focus on urban communities and feature participants from Business NC, Novant Health, Advocate Health (which Atrium Health is a part of), Cone Health, and Duke Health. Learn more.

Part 2 on October 11 from 11 am-12 pm, will focus on rural communities and feature participants from the NC Rural Center, Iredell Health System, Onslow Memorial Hospital, ECU Health, Northern Regional Hospital, and Mission Health. Learn more.


Moore Regional Hospital to Hold 40th Annual Wellness Screening Event

Are your patients in Richmond County or surrounding communities?

If so, here's an event they may be interested in.

 

 

ROCKINGHAM – The Annual Wellness Screening Event at Moore Regional Hospital (MRH)- Richmond is a longstanding community event dedicated to enhancing the overall health and well-being of residents of Richmond County and surrounding communities.

“With 39 years of providing free and reduced-cost health screenings, this year’s event continues our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyle choices and identifying illnesses through screenings and early detection,” said Christy Land, MSN, R.N., president, southern region and administrator of MRH-Richmond.

This year’s event will offer screenings from 6 to 9:30 a.m., September 28-30 and again from October 2-3.  The screenings include:

  • HCV antibody test - $40
  • Blood Pressure – FREE
  • Body Mass Index - FREE
  • Bone Density - FREE
  • Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) - $10
  • EKG - $10
  • Flu Vaccines - $20
  • A1C/Glycosylated Hemoglobin - $15
  • Wellness Profile - $25
  • Vitamin D - $25
  • Pap Smear - $25

You must be at least 18 years old to receive the screenings.  For best results, blood work should be done while fasting for at least eight hours prior to tests. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Participants should enter at the front visitor entrance, and registration will take place on the first floor.  All participants will receive a free gift while supplies last.

Results will be made available through FirstHealth MyChart. The MyChart patient portal not only allows access to test results, but it allows FirstHealth patients to communicate safely and securely with their health care providers, manage appointments, refill medications, pay their balances online, review their health history and schedule appointments.

FirstHealth will also offer to link patients with primary care providers in the event they do not have a primary care provider or need someone to review their results. [source]

For more information on services provided at this year’s wellness event, call Amy Forester at (910) 417-3735.


Register Now for the NC Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting

Is Your Practice Safe?

 

Multiple times a year we hear the tragic stories of patient-on-physician violence.   Workplace safety tools such as panic alarms are often available in inpatient settings, but where are the resources for medical professionals in outpatient and community-based settings? What should physicians know to consider safety concerns for their staff, patients, and themselves?  What is a practice’s liability when it comes to discharging a threatening patient?

These are all questions that led North Carolina Psychiatric Association (NCPA) to organize a training opportunity specifically for physicians and healthcare professionals around these issues.  NCPA will host "Workplace Safety: Empowering Physicians and Supporting Healthcare Professionals," Thursday, September 28 as a Pre-Conference to its 2023 Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in Myrtle Beach.  Sessions during this day-long Pre-Conference will work to destigmatize mental health and violence in healthcare, encourage advocacy for the safety of physicians, mental health professionals, and other healthcare workers, and explore liability as it relates to discharging a patient due to safety concerns. Up to 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ will be made for those attending the Pre-Conference and up to 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ will be made available for those attending the Pre-Conference and the Annual Meeting.

Special guests include Ryan Wagoner, MD, MBA, CPE, DFAPA, Vice Chair for Clinical Services in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of South Florida; Donna Vanderpool, MBA, JD, Director of Risk Management at Professional Risk Management Services; and Carrie Brown, MD, MPH, DFAPA, Chief Psychiatrist, Deputy Chief Medical Officer with NC Department of Health and Human Services, among others.

To view the training agenda and to register for "Workplace Safety: Empowering Physicians and Supporting Healthcare Professionals" visit ncpsych.memberclicks.net/scientific-schedule. For additional information, you can email [email protected]

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by American Psychiatric Association (APA) and North Carolina Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ . Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Happy Birthday to These NCMS Members Celebrating This Month!

Grab your party hats and noise makers and let’s celebrate!

 

Sandra M. Abda, MD
James C. Abell, MD
Patricia L. Adams, MD
Samuel B. Adkins, III, MD
Tehmina Adnan, MD
Vijay K. Agarwal, MD
Robert N. Agnello, DO
Longinus O. Agor, MD
Mark D. Aldous, MD
John R. Allbert, MD
Joseph C. Allen, MD
William G. Allen, MD
Arghavan Almony, MD
Joseph M. Alvarez, MD
Kenneth A. Anderson, Jr., PA-C
George C. Andrinopoulos, MD
Mary E. Armentrout, MD
Hans C. Arora, MD
Kavita S. Arora, MD
Pradeep S. Arumugham, MD
Philip E. Ashburn, MD
Sarah Elizabeth W. Atkins, MD, MPH, FAAP
J. Spencer Atwater, Jr., MD
Frederick D. Austin, III, MD
Kirsten H. Avery, MD
Fadi S. Azer, MD
George T. Bailey, MD
Kristin D. Baker, MD
Matthew F. Baldwin, MD
Bailey S. Balentine, DO
Ricardo G. Baler, MD
A. Rodman Barber, MD
Brad P. Barnes, MD
Luther E. Barnhardt, Jr., MD, FACS
Sydney F. C. Barnwell, MD
Rickey Baskett, Jr., MD
Zane K. Basrawala, MD
Charles R. Beasley, MD
Eric W. Beck, MD
Aileen Beckham, MD
Keith G. Begelman, MD
Carol R. Bell, MD
William B. Bell, MD
Lindsey M. Bellamy, DO
Larry F. Berman, MD
J. Lorraine Birdsong, MD
F. Alice Bishopric, MD
Cary F. Bizzell, MD
John A. Black, MD
John W. Black, MD
Cameron T. Blackman, MD
Robert G. Blair, Jr., MD
Wendy S. Blair, PA-C
Kenneth R. Blanton, PA
Susan H. Blumenthal, PA-C
Alexander V. Boiwka, MD
Karl E. Bolstad, MD
Kenneth R. Bonfield, MD
Allison M. Borja, MD, Pharm. D
Edward G. Boss, PA-C
Sherif B. Botros, MD
Emmanuel J. Botzolakis, MD
John E. Bourgeois, MD
Michael L. Bowen, MD
Jenee L. Bowman, MD
Patrick Box, MD
Gray T. Boyette, MD
Eugene M. Bozymski, MD, MACP
Stephen M. Bracewell, MD
Chadwick R. Brasington, MD
Samantha L. Breen, DO
Anthony C. Breuer, MD
Brian K. Brighton, MD
Allison K. Broderick, PA-C
Dahari D. Brooks, MD
David A. Browder, MD
Jon M. Bruce, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Clayton H. Bryan, MD
W. Blair Bryan, MD
Jennie B. Buchkovich, PA-C
Bethany L. Buie, PA-C
Rebecca A. Burbridge, MD
Jennie L. Byrne, PhD, MD, DFAPA
Arthur M. Calabretta, MD
David L. Call, MD
Donald B. Campbell, MD
Grant L. Campbell, MD
John K. Campbell, MD
Paul R. Capito, MD
Antonio M. Carbonell, MD
Kelly A. Carney, MD
Marjorie B. Carr, MD
Sarah E. Carr, MD
Philips J. Carter, MD
L. Franklin Cashwell, Jr., MD
Vincent P. Castellano, MD
Brian J. Caveney, MD, JD, MPH
Stephen G. Cecil, MD
Rajat Chander, MD
Joe T. Chandler, MD
Geoffrey S. Chapman, MD
Alexander W. Chasnis, MD
Priyank Chaudhary, MD
Paul R. Chelminski, MD, MPH
Tong Y. Chen, MD
Sendhil K. Cheran, MD
Hong Y. Chi, MD
Charles O. Chrysler, MD
Octavio Cieza, MD
Christine M. Ciszek, PA
Daniel L. Clarke-Pearson, MD, FACOG, FACS
Elizabeth B. Cleland-Roberts, MD
Michael G. Cloutier, MD
Edmund J. Cody, MD
Jason A. Coffey, MD
Kattron R. Cofield, MD
Wendy K. Coin, MD
F. Farrell Collins, Jr., MD, FACP
Jason T. Cook, MD
Robert G. Cooke, III, MD
Nicholas A. Coolidge, PA-C
John D. Corey, MD
Francis C. Corrigan, MD
Robert M. Cortina, MD
Billie F. Cosgrove, MD
Ronnie L. Cox, MD
Paul E. Craft, PA-C
Bert J. Crain, MD
James D. Crandall, MD
C. Marston Crawford, MD, FAAP
Dorwyn W. Croom, II, MD
Deepak Cuddapah, MD
Ravi R. Dalal, MD
Kimberly A. Dao, MD
James L. Darsie, MD
Ivan David, MD
Vartan A. Davidian, Jr., MD
Dwight D. Davidson, MD
John E. Davis, MD
John S. Davis, MD
Leon D. Davis, MD
Jordan N. De Lay, PA-C
John R. Deans, MD
Andrew R. Deibler, MD
Geoffrey D. DeLeary, MD
Steven H. Dennis, MD
Douglas H. DeSantis, MD
Donald G. Detweiler, MD
Bruce M. Distell, MD
Emily A. Diznoff, MD
Laura B. M. Dosier, MD
Arthur E. Douglas, Jr., MD
Denise E. Duff, MD
Christopher J. Dunatov, MD
Richard W. Dunlop, MD
David N. DuPuy, MD
Cecil T. Durham, Jr., MD
John R. Dykers, Jr., MD
Thomas S. Dziedzic, MD
James M. Edwards, MD
Palmer Edwards, MD, DFAPA
T. J. Ekwonu, MD
Yasser J. El-Abd, MD
John N. Ellis, MD
Eric T. Emerson, MD, FACS
Lakeshia A. Entzminger, MD
James J. Epperly, Jr., DO
Rachel A. Erickson, DO
Darlene M. Esper, MD
Kelly R. Esposito, MD
Stephen J. Ezzo, MD
Carrie A. Fales, MD
Victoria O. Fashakin, MD
Carolina E. Fasola, MD
Gary J. Fischer, MD
Duane D. Fitch, MD
David P. Fitzgerald, MD
Henry A. Fleishman, MD
Stephen B. Fleishman, MD
Megan N. Fleming, PA-C
Howard Floch, MD
Katie E. Fontaine, PA-C
Jonathan L. Forbes, DO
Mark D. Foster, MD
Vickie Fowler, MD
James F. Fraser, MD
Richard E. Frazier, MD
S. Mitchell Freedman, MD, FAAN
Mala A. Freeman-Kwaku, MD
Kevin M. French, MD
R. Everett Frerichs, MD, FAAP
Scott M. Frieary, DO
Michael D. Fried, MD
Douglas I. Friedman, MD
Jerry K. Froedge, MD, FAAP
Robert E. Gaddy, Jr., MD
Manasi Gahlot, MD
Judson P. Garbarino, MD
Ryan M. Garcia, MD
Garth J. Garramone, DO
Dana L. Garrett, MD
Debra J. Gazzuolo, MD
Peter A. Gentling, MD
John B. Gentry, MD
Zachariah Gerger, MD
Manisha Ghimire, MD
James S. Gibbs, MD
Brett J. Gilbert, MD
Brent R. Gill, MD
Brooks W. Gilmore, MD
Christopher A. Gilmore, MD
Thomas M. Ginn, MD
David L. Glenn, Jr., MD
Tapan N. Godiwala, MD
Raj Gondalia, MD
Margaret E. Goodwin, MD, FAAP
Lakshmi Gordon, MD
Raghavender Gotur, MD
Arthur L. Graff, MD
R. Eugene Granger, MD
Kelsey R. Graven, DO
Dino A. Graziano, MD
Taylor W. Green, PA
Michael W. Grier, MD
Daniel Gutman, MD
Michael M. Haglund, MD, PhD
Joseph F. Hakas, Jr., MD, FACC
Laleh Hakima, DO
James L. Hamby, MD
Emily A. Hannon, MD
Harriet N. Hansell, MD
Marie N. Hardy, MD, FAAD
Brent T. Harkrider, MD
Stewart J. Harley, MD
Revella B. Harmon, MD, MPH
John M. Harrelson, MD
James W. Harris, Jr., MD
Jessica L. Hart, MD, FAAP
Lisa M. Hartman, MD
John F. Hartness, Jr., MD
Christopher C. Hasty, MD
W. Benjamin Hatcher, MD
Henry C. Hawthorne, Jr., MD
Samuel A. Heathcote, Sr., MD
Joel A. Hedlund, MD
James F. Hedrick, MD
Mark R. Hedrick, MD
William W. Hedrick, MD
Peter W. Heetderks, MD
Timothy J. Heffron, MD
Melissa A. Helman, MD
Jonathan R. Helms, MD
Martin M. Henegar, MD
John T. Henley, Jr., MD
John H. Herring, MD
William A. Herring, Jr., MD
Lloyd M. Higgins, MD
Lacy C. Hobgood, MD, FACP
Edward W. Hoehn-Saric, MD
James B. Hoer, MD
Suneya G. Hogarty, DO
Chad A. Holder, MD
John C. Holder, MD
W. Claude Hollingsworth, MD
James H. Holmes, IV, MD
Henry D. Holt, MD
Thomas E. Hooper, MD, FACP
Marbry B. Hopkins, III, MD
Kirk A. Howard, MD
Jennifer G. Hudson, MD
Joshua R. Hughes, MD
Kaissar S. Ibrahim, MD
Adam A. Ingraffea, MD
Todd A. Irwin, MD
Latonja M. Ivery, MD
Peter W. Jaber, MD
Andrew M. Jakubowicz, MD
Arvind N. Jariwala, MD
Wayne T. Jarman, MD, FACS
Jolene Jean-Gracia, DO
Stanleigh E. Jenkins, Jr., MD
Charles S. Jere, MD
Harriman H. Jett, MD
Charles T. Johnson, Jr., MD
Donald C. Johnson, MD
Rachel M. Johnson, MD
William M. Johnstone, Jr., MD, JD, MBA
Robert H. Johr, MD
Charles W. Jones, MD
Mary E. Jones, MD
George L. Jordan, III, DO
Kristen M. Jordan, PA-C
Cristian A. Jurau, MD
J. Marc Kadyk, MD
Lisa M. Kafer, MD, FAAP
Rajdeep S. Kanwar, MD
Ulf L. Karlsson, MD
Mark A. Kasari, MD
Hailu M. Kebede, PA-C
J. W. Keeling, MD
Claire A. Kelleher, MD
Siva S. Ketha, MD
Faisal M. Khan, MD
Saad S. Khan, MD
Atul Khanna, MD
Jefferson K. Kilpatrick, MD
Paul K. Kim, MD
Brandon S. Kinneman, PA
Rex A. Kiteley, II, MD
Ashleigh M. Knoeferl, PA-C
Mary Ann Knovich, MD
F. A. Koontz, MD
Christopher C. Kornegay, MD
Lawrence D. Krabill, MD
Alex R. Kroft, PA
Daniel P. Krontz, MD
Eric F. Kuehn, MD
Amit Kumar, MD
Adam J. Lake, MD
Andrew S. Lamb, MD
Christian J. Lambertsen, Jr., MD
John A. Lang, III, MD
Marianna G. Law, MD
Richard M. Leighton, DO
Melissa L. Lemnah, PA-C
Philip G. Leone, MD
Gary G. Leonhardt, MD
Peter L. Leuchtmann, MD
Felicia Levine, PA-C
Andrew J. Lewis, Jr., MD
Clifford T. Lewis, MD
Richard S. Lewis, MD
Todd M. Listwa, MD, FACEP
Frederick C. N. Littleton, Jr., MD
Tyler P. Litton, MD
Michael S. Loboda, MD
Robert J. Logel, MD
Pamela S. Londres, MD
John A. Lowery, MD
Brian P. Lowry, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Chancy G. Lucas, MD
George B. Lutman, MD
Surendrapal S. Mac, MD
Katherine T. MacDonald, MD
Murthy V. S. Madduri, MD
Christopher J. Magryta, MD
Patrick D. Maguire, MD
Nicholas H. Mai, MD
Marshall J. Malinowski, DO
Charles H. Mann, MD
Courtney H. Mann, MD
Theodore B. Manny, Jr., MD
Kevin K. Manocha, MD
Lisa I. Mansur, MD
James T. Marino, MD
Anne T. Martinelli, MD
Sameer Mathur, MD
Curtis J. Matthews, Jr., MD
Eric E. Maur, MD
Taylor E. Maxwell, PA
C. Douglas Maynard, MD
Ryan K. McBeth, MD
Robert B. McBride, Jr., MD
Elizabeth A. McCool, PA
W. Jason McDaniel, Jr., MD
Christopher N. McDaniels, MD
Michael L. McGehee, MD
L. Scott McGinnis, III, MD
Erin K. McGloin Shanahan, MD
Patrick L. McKenzie, MD
Ryan L. McKimmie, MD
Tracey M. McKinzie, PA-C, MPAS
C. Scott McLanahan, MD
Christopher W. McQuinn, MD
Thomas J. Meakem, III, MD
Miriam Medero-Eng, MD
William D. Medina, MD
Bettina B. Meekins, MD
Paul D. Mehlhop, MD
Todd D. Meisinger, MD
Radha V. Menon, MD
Darlyne Menscer, MD
Jay W. Meredith, MD
Margaret C. Merrick, MD, FAAP
Michael S. Merrill, MD
David K. Mertz, MD, FAAP
Keri D. Metcalf, MD
John R. Michalak, MD
David P. A. Michel, MD
Mark R. Mikles, MD
Erik J. Miles, MD
Henry S. Miller, Jr., MD
Lisa L. Miller, MD
Farhaan R. Mir, MD
Sanjib P. Mohanty, MD
Daniel J. Mollin, Jr., MD
William M. Monroe, MD
Kelley O. Montoya, MD
George H. Moore, Jr., MD
Richard S. Moore, Jr., MD
Frank H. Moretz, MD
Lynne R. Morgan, MD
Daniel J. Motuz, MD
Andrew J. Muir, MD
Joseph P. Mullen, III, MD
Kimberly C. Munro, MD
Richard S. Myers, MD
Larry A. Napolitano, Jr., MD
Nirmala Narasimha, MD
John Nardiello, MD
John A. Narron, III, MD
Adnan Nasir, MD
Joe Navejar, IV, DO
John W. Neal, VI, MD
Shelileah R. Newman, MD
William H. Newman, MD
Phillip N. Nguyen, MD
Gary S. Niess, MD, FACC
Ronald A. Noe, DO
Michael E. Norins, MD
Allyson K. Norwood-Valentine, PA-C
Joseph G. O'Brien, MD
Brendon M. O'Connell, MD
Shelly B. Odom, Jr., MD
Laura N. Okolie, PA-C
Arnold C. Olegario, MD
Kaebah S. Orme-Evans, MD
Barry S. Ostrow, MD
William J. Panzo, PA
Jonathan M. Parish, MD
James A. Partridge, MD
Barry R. Pate, MD
Raj V. Patel, MD, EMT-T
Shreyang H. Patel, MD
Sunny H. Patel, MD
Swetang M. Patel, MD
Tirth V. Patel, MD
Laura G. Patwa, MD
Nicholas P. Pediaditakis, MD
Sara Perez, PA-C
Jennifer A. Perkins, PA-C
Abigail C. Pettigrew, PA-C
Michele Polidoro, MD, FACOG
Joseph W. Ponzi, MD
Karla M. Pou, MD
Dustin C. Powell, MD
LeVonne G. Powell-Tillman, MD
Arthur J. Prange, Jr., MD
James P. Pressly, MD
Mary E. Price, MD
Robert E. Price, Jr., MD
Camilla A. Proctor, MD
George H. Provosty, MD
Jeremy W. Pyle, MD, FACS
Tarek B. Radwan, DO
Amy H. Radzom, DO
Florian J. Ragaz, MD
Robert J. Raible, MD
Sujatha Raman, MD
Lakshman Rao, MD
Elizabeth M. Rattle, PA-C
Sammy Razik, MD
Robert A. Reade, MD
Elizabeth C. Reichard, MD
Keith C. Reschly, MD
Evan R. Restelli, DO
Janelle A. Rhyne, MD, MACP
Everett C. Ribakove, MD
Stephanie L. Riggins, MD
Syed A. R. Rizvi, MD
John P. Roberson, MD
Ketarah C. Robinson, MD
Timothy M. Robinson, MD
Chadwick G. Rogers, PA-C
Jim A. Rogers, MD
A. Silvia Ross, MD
Robert E. Ross, Jr., MD
Stephen E. Rostan, MD
Richard E. Roux, MD
Marie S. Rowe, MD, FACOG
Eugene F. Russell, II, MD
Steven M. Russo, DO
Darryl A. Sandidge, PA-C
Kaddijatou Sanyang, PA-C
Justin D. Sargent, DO
Sarah Ann M. Saunders, PA-C
Charles J. Sawyer, III, MD
John R. Scagnelli, MD
Brian P. Scannell, MD
Julie H. Schopps, MD
Joseph J. Schreiber, MD
Jodi Schwab, MD
John L. Scott, MD
Brent W. Seifert, MD
Frank T. Shafer, MD
Dhirenkumar N. Shah, MD, FACC
Erika R. Shah, MD
Priyavadan M. Shah, MD, FACC
Azra P. Shaikh, MD
Deepti Sharma, MD
Robert A. Sharpe, MD
Michael R. Shaughnessy, MD
Douglas D. Sheets, MD, FACOG
Scott B. Shepard, PA-C
M. Trevor Shick, MD
William R. Shipley, MD
Edwin H. Shoaf, Jr., MD
Christopher J. Shuman, MD
Jason A. Silva, MD
Catherine A. Sims, MD
Ashima Singal, MD
Nadine B. Skinner, MD, FAAFP
Ginger E. Smith, PA-C
Lyman S. Smith, MD
Lynn K. Smith, MD
Stephen R. Smith, PA-C
Alexander J. Snyder, MD
John M. Solic, MD
J. Kim Song, MD
Kyle S. Spinrad, PA-C
Thomas R. Spruill, MD
George Stamataros, DO
Malcolm T. Stark, Jr., MD
Eric N. Stashko, MD
Jeffrey P. Stein, MD
Henry L. Stephenson, Jr., MD
E. Walker Stevens, Jr., MD
P. Lindsay Stevenson, MD
Robert I. Steward, MD
Hal T. Stoneking, MD
Phillip E. Stover, MD
Kristen Suchniak-Mussari, MD
Srikar R. Sudini, MD
Thomas E. Sumner, MD
Royce R. Syracuse, MD
Ryan K. Takenaga, MD
Knox R. Tate, MD
Julian R. Taylor, MD
Michael R. Tedrow, DO
Charles H. Tegeler, IV, MD
Fredrick A. Teixeira, MD
Christopher M. Terry, MD
Jessica L. Thibault, PA-C
Charles C. Thomas, II, MD, FACRO
Megan R. Thomas, MD
Seth L. Thomas, DO
Willard R. Thompson, Jr., MD
Roger Z. Thurman, MD
Karen G. Todd, MD
Stuart K. Todd, MD
David E. D. Tolentino, DO, FACOI
S. Susan Torres, MD
Erron J. Towns, MD, FAAP
Brent A. Townsend, MD
Victoria Trapanotto, DO
G. Earl Trevathan, Jr.
Michael D. Tripp, MD
Andre K. S. Tse, MD
Theodore Tsomides, MD, PhD
Rita M. Tucker, MD
Rosemary H. Tulloh, MD
Chad A. Turner, PA-C
Indira M. Varia, MD
Alison D. Vasan, MD
Allin C. Vesa, MD
Carrie H. Vice, MD
Suzanne J. E. Voorhees, MD
Earl W. Walker, Jr., MD
Karen J. Walter, MD, FAAP
Jeffrey T. Waltz, MD
Walter J. Wardell, MD
Craig A. Warner, MD
Susan C. Watson, MD
R. Randolph Weast, MD
Charles S. Wehbie, MD
Richard T. Weisenburger, DO
Steven T. Welch, MD
Adam H. Wells, MD
John S. Welsh, Jr., MD
Sean S. Wentworth, MD
Aaron A. Westphal, MD
Joseph D. Whisnant, Jr., MD
Shea T. Whittaker, PA-C
David M. Williams, III, MD
Johnathan D. Williams, MD
Meghan B. Williams, MD
Robert C. Williams, Jr., MD, FACS
Rufus D. Williams, Jr., MPAS, PA-C
Linda L. Willis, MD
Amy E. Wilson, MD
John E. Wise, MD
Joanna B. Wisotsky, PA-C
Kurt P. Wohlrab, MD
Karen E. Wood, MD
Warden L. Woodard, III, MD
LaToya N. Woods, DO
Hannah E. Woriax-Forsythe, MD
Andrew C. Wu, MD
Robert T. Wyker, MD
Amber C. Yarrison, PA-C
Kimberly B. Yates, MD
Zahra H. Younes, MD
Frank A. Young, MD
John A. Young, II, MD
Sarah W. Young, MD
Roland M. Zahn, MD
William M. Zban, MD, FACEP
Julia Zhu, PA-C
Eugenia F. Zimmerman, MD
Robert E. Zipf, Jr., MD


Have Questions for NCMS Board of Directors? Submit Them Now for an Open Forum at 2023 LEAD Conference!

Have questions for the NCMS Board of Directors? Ask them now.

 

Do you have questions about NCMS and how it works? Do you wonder what the NCMS Board of Director's top priorities are? Do you want to know what the future of NCMS is?

Now is the time to find out! Submit your questions here for the Open Forum, taking place during the Annual Business Meeting at the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala.

Be sure to join us for the Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, October 14th at Noon. It is part of a jam-packed calendar of events in October that culminates in our 2023 Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala. This year we are celebrating 20 years of Leadership College!

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN. Click here for more information and to register.

Interested in having your company exhibit at the LEAD Health Care Conference in 2023? Contact Kerry Kendall for more information or download the Sponsor Prospectus.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Dr. Zoe Stallings's MEDTalk from 2016

The North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Zoe Stallings's MEDTalk from 2016 on "Setting Patient Expectations: Patient Orientation and Patient Satisfaction Scores"

Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Gala, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/Q25Od1ksu80

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN. 

Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


The Lung Bus is Coming! Columbus Regional Healthcare System to Host Lung Cancer Screening Event

Do you have patients in Columbus County who can benefit from a free lung cancer screening?

 

 

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) - The Columbus Regional Healthcare System has announced that the Lung Bus is set to return to Columbus County on Friday, September 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The bus will be in the Hills Plaza parking lot near 1326 S. Madison Street in Whiteville, and it will offer low dose CT screenings for free to patients who:

  • Lack insurance, have Medicaid or are underinsured
  • Have a 20 pack-year smoking history (this would equal one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years)
  • Currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 15 years
  • Are 55-77 years old

There is also a clinical trial for people between the ages of 40 and 54 who meet the smoking history requirements. The program provides free nicotine replacements and smoking cessation counseling.

Attendees are advised that the organizers prefer a referral from your primary care physician, but walk-ins are accepted.

The screenings are part of Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute’s Lung B.A.S.E.S. 4 Life program. B.A.S.E.S. stands for bringing awareness, screening and education to improve survivorship.


NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley Talks Medicaid, Mental Health, and More

North Carolina’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley sat down with NC Newsline for a conversation on Medicaid expansion, concerns about mental health and developmental disabilities, and expanding donations to the nation’s blood supply.

With a state budget still not settled, Kinsley opens up about what the delay of the Medicaid expansion means for North Carolinians.

Related stories from NCMS:

NCDHHS: NC Medicaid Expansion Will Not Launch October 1 as Scheduled


Join a COCA Call on Recommendations for Flu Prevention and Treatment in Children Thursday

2023-2024 Influenza Season: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices updated its flu vaccine recommendations for the 2023-2024 flu season. They include specific guidance about the timing of vaccination. They also identify populations at higher risk for medical complications attributable to severe influenza.

This Thursday, CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) group will hold a call about the guidance related to children.

2023-2024 Recommendations for Influenza Prevention
and Treatment in Children: An Update for Pediatric Providers

Thursday, August 31
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET

Join the day of the session

Visit the call webpage for call-in info and, after the webinar, the slides and recording.
**CE Available**


NCMS LEAD MedTalk Speaker Showcase: Michalina Kupsik, MD

NCMS Welcomes 2023 Leadership College Scholar
Dr. Michalina Kupsik

Join us at the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala

Hear Dr. Kupsik's MedTalk:  "Implementing Governance and Strategy to a Breast Center Program"

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


Join Us on the Hill - 2024 National Advocacy Conference

Save the Date!

 Join us for our return to Capitol Hill!

 

2024 National Advocacy Conference

February 12-14, 2024

Grand Hyatt / Washington, DC

Plan now to join your colleagues as we advocate for patients and the medical profession on . . .

Prior Authorization Relief
Medicare Payment Reform
Step Therapy Reform
Workforce Shortage Initiatives – GME
Physician Wellness

 Registration and additional information coming soon here.


West Nile Virus Found in Mosquitoes near Wilmington

 

NEW HANOVER COUNTY -- Mosquitoes captured around Wilmington have tested positive for West Nile virus, the New Hanover County Health Department said in a Friday afternoon press release.

“While we know that West Nile virus has been detected locally, it’s not a reason to panic as routine, preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk to you and your loved ones,” Jon Campbell, the county’s public health director, said in a statement.

The county health department urged people around Wilmington to take steps to avoid mosquito bites and limit the standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Those steps include tipping out anything containing standing water like birdbaths, old tires or buckets.

“It only takes a very small amount of water to create a habitat where mosquitoes can breed,” Campbell said.

Other steps recommended by the health department include avoiding being outside at dawn and dusk; wearing light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants; and using an EPA-registered mosquito repellent that contains DEET or a similar ingredient.

A map showing the location of the mosquitoes that tested positive for the virus was not immediately available, according to a county spokesman.

Mosquitoes contract West Nile by feeding on birds and then transmit it to humans. While many who contract the virus show no symptoms, about 20% suffer symptoms like a headache, fever or rash that can last from a few days to several weeks.

About one in 150 of those infected will suffer more severe symptoms like a high fever, disorientation, paralysis, tremors or coma. Those symptoms can last for several weeks, according to the health department, potentially causing permanent neurological effects. [source]


Hearts of Gold Casino Night: Play a Game for a Good Cause!

ADVANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH

HEARTS OF GOLD CASINO NIGHT

 

 

Advance Community Health invites you to join them for their Hearts of Gold Casino Night on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the City Club in Raleigh, NC. This fun-filled evening will feature blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, non-cash prizes, raffles, adult beverages, heavy hors d’oeuvres, music and more.

All proceeds from the casino night will benefit Advance Community Health’s Impact Fund, which is dedicated to supporting their mission to deliver quality, compassionate primary health care – every patient, every time – in response to the needs of our communities.

The Impact Fund supports several crucial health initiatives including but not limited to our pharmacy prescription assistance program, mobile health program, pills on wheels pharmacy delivery, healthcare for the homeless program, power hour patient education series, and A-Team health ambassador program. With your support, Advance Community Health can build healthier communities, one patient at a time.

Get all the details and how to become a sponsor here.


CDC Warning: Don't Kiss or Cuddle Your ... Turtle!

 

After a salmonella outbreak linked to small turtles sickened people across 11 states (including North Carolina), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a simple warning: Don't kiss or cuddle your turtle.

Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. Symptoms of salmonella can start anywhere from six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria and people suffering from it can experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, officials said.

While most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, some people -- most often children younger than 5-years-old, adults over the age of 65, or those with weakened immune systems -- may have a more severe experience with the illness and require medical attention or even hospitalization.

Continue here to read what the CDC recommends to limit potential exposure if you are thinking of getting a pet turtle, have one already, or are exposed to one.


Several NC Health Systems and Hospitals Make Forbes Best Employer List

 

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey 70,000 workers at companies (minimum of 500 employees) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Participants were asked if they would recommend their employer to others, and to evaluate their employer based on working conditions, diversity, compensation packages, potential for development, company image and more.

Participants were also asked to assess employers beyond their own: Respondents could evaluate employers in their particular state; nationally, participants were able to rate employers anywhere within their respective industries. All surveys were anonymous to encourage candor.

Several NC Heath Systems and Hospitals ranked high on the list: WakeMed ranked #4, UNC Health Care ranked #7, Duke University Health System ranked #14, Novant Health ranked #38, and Cone Health ranked #39.

View the complete Forbes list here.


NCMS LEAD Speaker Spotlight: Maria J. Small, MD, MPH

NCMS Welcomes
2023 LEAD Conference and
Golden Stethoscope
Awards Gala Speaker
Dr. Maria J. Small

 

Dr. Maria J. Small is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist within the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Born and raised in Durham, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and attended medical school at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at Yale University’s New Haven Medical Center and an OB-GYN residency at Temple University Hospital. She went on to perform a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Yale University and has a master’s degree in public health from Yale.

Small joined Duke University Medical School in 2007 and is currently an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to returning to Durham, Small served in a variety of instructional positions, including assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University’s School of Medicine and adjunct faculty and associate head of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rwanda.

In addition to her professorial endeavors, Small also sees patients at Duke Birthing Center in Durham, N.C. She is board certified by both the American Board of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Maternal & Fetal Medicine, and the American Board of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Obstetrics & Gynecology. Small, who speaks Portuguese and Spanish in addition to English, has a special interest in high-risk maternal medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and preeclampsia.

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

 

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala

or to become a sponsor click here.


We Need Your Feedback on Obesity Policy Revisions

 

The North Carolina Medical Society's (NCMS) Policy Committee is charged with developing policies that align with the NCMS Mission and the NCMS Guiding Principles. It is also tasked with reviewing and revising existing NCMS policies.

The committee has developed a Revised Draft Policy providing a broader focus on obesity prevention and treatment. This policy will serve as a tool to guide and support NCMS advocacy efforts.

The NCMS Policy Committee invites you to review the draft policy and share your feedback in the survey here.

The survey closes on September 15th, 2023.


North Carolina’s State Health Director Talks COVID, Fall Respiratory Virus Season

North Carolina State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson (image credit: NC Newsline)

 

NC Newsline sat down with Dr. Betsey Tilson, North Carolina’s State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, to discuss the latest EG.5 variant, new vaccines, protecting yourself ahead of the fall respiratory virus season.

Data from the CDC show nationwide COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen 19% over the last two weeks, while North Carolina has seen an increase in COVID-19 metrics in recent weeks, including in the early warning wastewater monitoring system, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions.

Listen to the full broadcast interview with Dr. Tilson here. Read the full interview here.


Foundation Friday! Thank You to These NCMS Foundation Donors.

 

Today, the NCMS Foundation recognizes donors who have joined us on the journey to help make health and well-being attainable for all North Carolinians. These individuals are contributing to make sure clinicians are where they are needed most and that clinician leaders are lighting the way.

Marty A. Baker, MD
Mr. Andrew Clark * In Memory of Lee Andrew Clark, Jr., MD
Shirish Devasthali Advised Fund
Richard H. Felkner, MD * Life Member
Eugenie M. Komives, MD, FAAFP

Thank you for your continued support to help North Carolinians lead healthier lives.

Learn more about how YOU can make a difference too here.


NCMS LEAD MedTalk Speaker Showcase: Christine Khandelwal, DO

NCMS Welcomes 2023 Leadership College Scholar
Christine Khandelwal, DO

Join us at LEAD 2023 for Dr. Khandelwal's MedTalk:

"Implementing Safe Practices for Opioid Prescribing in NC in 2023"

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Dr. Kailey Remien's MEDTalk from 2020

This year the North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Kailey Remien's MEDTalk from 2020 on "Evaluating the Didactic Medical Education on How to Treat Sexual Assault Victims"

Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/sFIjF_7cElE

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN. 

Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


Biden Administration Focuses on Next Generation of COVID-19 Vaccines

Project NextGen is the long-term follow-up to Operation Warp Speed

 

(Axios) -- The Biden administration has announced the first funding awards from its $5 billion project aimed at developing the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. [source]

Why it matters: The project is intended to support vaccines that are longer lasting and more protective against a mutating virus, as well as better options like more effective monoclonal antibodies, after some were sidelined by the emergence of new variants.

  • Project NextGen is the long-term follow-up to Operation Warp Speed, which delivered COVID-19 vaccines and treatments in record time.

Driving the news: The $1.4 billion in awards announced Tuesday includes $1 billion for clinical trials for more advanced vaccines. The idea is to do preparatory work so the trials can move faster once the specific vaccine candidates are chosen.

  • $326 million is going to Regeneron for work on a monoclonal antibody that can help prevent COVID-19 in people who do not respond well to the vaccines.
  • Some of the remaining funds will go towards better vaccine manufacturing technology, such as a nasal spray that in theory could guard better again infection.

What they're saying: Dawn O'Connell, an assistant secretary of health and human services, said more awards are expected before the end of the fiscal year.

  • The moves are "strengthening us for whatever the COVID-19 virus brings next," she said.

What's next: Officials said clinical trials for the improved vaccines will begin "as early as this winter," and the new monoclonal antibody will enter clinical trials this fall.

  • As for when the next-generation vaccines will be ready, an HHS official said that will be "entirely driven by the data."

CDC: 1 in 5 Women Report Mistreatment During Maternity Care

Mistreatment is more common among Black, Hispanic and multiracial mothers.

 

According to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 5 women were mistreated while receiving maternity care, and nearly a third faced discrimination.

For Black, Hispanic and multiracial mothers, the mistreatment is even more common. The troubling numbers show about 30% of Black and Hispanic mothers reported mistreatment during maternity care, and about 40% reported discrimination.

Nearly 10% of women said that health care clinicians ignored them, refused requests for help or took an unreasonable amount of time to respond to requests, according to the CDC report. Nearly 7% of women – about 1 in 15 – said they were shouted at or scolded by doctors, midwives or nurses, and nearly 4% were threatened by their health care clinicians. Other experiences of mistreatment included violations of physical privacy and withholding or forcing treatments.

Read the full article here.


Raleigh Riders offers Tandem Bike Rides for Disabled Adults and Children

A BIKE RIDE IS A WONDERFUL THING

 

You grip the handlebars as tight as you can. Your feet glued to the pedals. The blue sky seems endless, and you can feel the heat of the sun basking on your face as your legs start to move. Your speed picks up and the surroundings become a blur. The wind is whipping around you and your eyes water from the wind’s impact as well as the effort to get your bike moving. This first hill is always the hardest to climb and you can see the crest coming up. You reach the top of the incline, and a thrill runs through you as you pump the pedals as fast as possible, and you accelerate down the steep hill. A smile comes over your face and you give a gigantic yell as the road levels out and you rush down the street.

This is a pretty common memory of childhood for those who are able to ride a bike. Honestly, it’s a familiar memory of adulthood as well. There is a certain segment of the population who are unable to experience this particular thrill and freedom of movement. Either these individuals have never had the opportunity or due to other circumstances have lost the ability to do so.

That’s where Raleigh Riders come in.

Raleigh Riders is a local group of cyclists who, with the help of a specialized wheelchair bike, are providing the opportunity for children and adults to experience a sunny day out on the Capital Area Greenways.

Safety is a top priority of Raleigh Riders. There are always two adults on each ride. Either the client’s family member or friend can ride along, or another adult volunteer rider will be present. Each volunteer passes the City of Raleigh’s background check process before participating.

Learn how your patients can take advantage of this opportunity here.


NCDHHS, State Legislators to Host Mental Health Town Hall August 24

 

RALEIGH --  North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley — alongside NC State Senator Jim Burgin, NC State Representative Howard Penny and Campbell University leadership — will host a community discussion in Lillington, N.C, on Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. on improving the mental health of college students across North Carolina. NCDHHS is committed to advancing behavioral health and resilience, as more than three million people in North Carolina have mental health or substance use disorders.

The public, especially those in Harnett County — as well as the surrounding counties — is encouraged to attend, ask questions and contribute to the conversation.

What: Mental Health Town Hall: Improving Mental Health for College Students

Who: Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary, NCDHHS
Jim Burgin, NC State Senator, R-District 12
Howard Penny, Jr., NC State Representative, R-District 53
Dan Marlowe, Ph. D., M.S., Associate Dean and Chair of Behavioral Health, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University

When: Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023
6 - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Campbell University, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Levine Hall – Lecture Hall 201
4350 US 421 South
Lillington, NC  27546

Livestream available on the NCDHHS YouTube Channel


Have YOUR Voice Heard! Submit to the NCMS On Point Blog Today

Submit Your On Point Editorial

The NCMS Communications Team is looking for Medical Society members to contribute to the “On Point” blog and Podcast. Submissions to the “On Point” blog must meet the following criteria:

  1. Focus on a current or emerging issues that (a) are of interest to our member—physicians and physician assistants; (b) focus on chronic health, mental health, or integrated health topics; or (c) opinion pieces about lifestyle and wellness topics.
  2. Blog submissions must be 500-1,000 words for decent depth and detail.
  3. Podcasts are 30 to 60 minutes in length and will be interview format or can be an original pre-recorded discussion submitted as a mp4 format file.
  4. ALL content must be original content of the author and does not include self-promotion or marketing information.
  5. All submissions must be well-written and complete, no outlines.
  6. Submissions are restricted to NCMS members only.

Please send submissions to [email protected].

The blog is for educational and informational purposes.


CMS is Seeking Your Feedback on Proposed Changes to the Quality Payment Program

You Can Submit Your Comments on Policy Changes for Quality Payment Program NOW!

 

 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed policies for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) via the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule, with proposals applicable to the 2024 performance year.

CMS proposed policies that continue the development and maintenance of MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), support the use of digital measurement and health information technology, amend requirements for third party intermediaries, and update the performance threshold.

2024 Policy Highlights

The following are some of the key QPP policies that have been proposed in the 2024 PFS Proposed Rule:

  • Introducing 5 new MVPs for the 2024 performance year, and revisions to the MVPs already finalized, including adding and/or removing measures and improvement activities based on MVP inclusion criteria and information received through the MVP maintenance process.
  • Using the mean final scores from 2017-2019 MIPS performance periods/2019-2021 MIPS payment years to set the MIPS performance thresholds, averaging the mean final score from each of the three performance periods (this would increase the performance threshold to 82 points for the 2024 MIPS performance year).
  • Keeping the data completeness threshold to 75% for the 2024 and 2025 performance years with incremental increases for subsequent performance periods.
  • Updating MIPS quality measures and the improvement activities inventory.
  • Increasing the performance period for the Promoting Interoperability performance category to a minimum of 180 continuous days within the calendar year.
  • Establishing the Medicare Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the Shared Savings Program (Medicare CQMs) as a new collection type for Shared Savings Program ACOs under the APP.
  • Requiring all MIPS eligible clinicians, Qualifying APM participants (QPs), and Partial QPs participating in a Shared Savings Program ACO (regardless of track) to report the measures and requirements under the MIPS Promoting Interoperability performance category at the individual, group, virtual group, or APM Entity level.
  • Removing the numerical 75% threshold for certified EHR technology (CEHRT) for Advanced APMs and instead simply having the Advanced APM require the use of CEHRT for QP performance periods starting in 2024.

Submit a Formal Comment by September 11

You must officially submit your comments in one of the following ways:

  • Electronically, through regulations.gov
  • Regular mail
  • Express or overnight mail

Comments are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on September 11, 2023.

For More Information

Learn more about the 2024 PFS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the QPP proposals by reviewing the following resources:


In Memoriam: NCMS Past President Dr. H. David Bruton

Renowned pediatrician. Successful business leader. Outspoken statesman.
A Giant in NC Medicine.

 

 

NCMS Past President Dr. H. David Bruton died at his home Friday, August 18th. He was 88.

"We have lost a giant in NC medicine. Dr. Bruton's prowess far surpassed his stature. He was a renowned pediatrician, successful business leader, and outspoken statesman. Countless stories continue to be retold of his time as President of NCMS as well as Secretary of DHHS. His legend will surely live on," says Chip Baggett, CEO of the North Carolina Medical Society.

Bruton was a lifetime member of the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) and served as NCMS President from 1995-96. He served as NC Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1997-2001, where among many things he instituted statewide hearing tests of all newborns. In 2000, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Jim Hunt. In 2004, he helped found the Moore Free and Charitable Clinic which provides affordable health care for the uninsured of Moore County. He was a North Caroliniana Society member receiving their highest award in 2017.

The North Carolina Medical Society expresses its sincerest condolences to Dr. Bruton's widow, Frieda, family and friends.

For his full obituary, memorial service information, and how to send condolences, click here.

These links of interest highlight some of Bruton's accomplishments and his impact on medicine in the state of North Carolina:

Former NCMS President H. David Bruton, MD Honored

Reginald Harris Award Recipient (PDF)

YouTube Interview with local radio

Local newspaper article: Moore Free Clinic Honors Co-Founder

 


Curious About Telehealth Best Practices? Register for the National Telehealth Conference

Ready to Navigate the latest in telehealth?

 

 

Join health care professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from around the country at the National Telehealth Conference on Tuesday, September 12 for insights on balancing telehealth solutions and vital in-person services.

Conference topics also include:

  • The adoption of telehealth and expansion of broadband connectivity to improve health equity
  • Using tele-behavioral health as a successful model for integrating telehealth into the standard of care
  • Telehealth’s role in supporting the health care workforce and expanding services for patients
  • Implications of health policy to inform telehealth’s future in an evolving health care environment

Register to learn how others are integrating telehealth into their practice and working to give patients a choice in how they receive their care.


NCMS Welcomes Alo as New Business Alliance Member

NCMS Welcomes Alo as a Bronze-level Business Alliance Member!

Alo is a physician enablement platform that provides the tools for independent clinicians to shape health care for the better - for patients, communities, and themselves.

Are you a physician who wants to maintain your autonomy and build a thriving, sustainable practice? Alo may be the right partner for you. Be sure to check out their exhibit booth at the NCMS LEAD Conference, this October.

Click here to learn more about Alo.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


NCMS LEAD MedTalks Speaker Showcase: Jacqueline Njapa, MD

NCMS Welcomes 2023 Leadership College Scholar
Jacqueline Njapa, MD

Join us at LEAD for Dr. Njapa's MedTalk on "Improving Patient Satisfaction with Anesthesia During the Per-Operative Period"

To learn more about leadership training opportunities at NCMS click here.

To register for the 2023 LEAD Conference and Golden Stethoscope Awards Gala or to become a sponsor click here.


Do you Know About KIPL Leadership Programs for Students?

If you are a student in a healthcare track, Future Clinician Leaders College is the leadership training opportunity for you!

Future Clinician Leaders College (FCLC) is a partnership between NCAHEC and NCMS and welcomes nominees and applications from students currently enrolled in a North Carolina health profession training program interested in an interprofessional leadership development program. FCLC is open to medical, pharmacy, physician assistant, nursing, or other health professional students.

The FCLC program is tuition-free! 

  • Click here for a full outline of requirements and program dates.
  • Complete the application by clicking here.
  • For more information, contact Erica Hall at [email protected].

 

Are you interested in sponsoring a student for FCLC or a scholar for Leadership College or Health Care Leadership & Management? Contact Pam Highsmith, VP of Development today and learn more at [email protected].


Physicians Foundation Offering Support to Help Address SDoH Challenges Faced by Physicians and PAs

Findings from a recent survey by the Physicians Foundation found that while nearly all physicians agree that their patients’ health outcomes are affected by DOH, many physicians face challenges in addressing them. To be a part of the solution, the Foundation is offering the following opportunities:

  • A call for medical associations to submit proposals for The Physicians Foundation’s Drivers of Health Grant Program to develop capacity, resources and data collection that support physicians in their understanding of DOH and integration into their medical practices as part of their regular patient care.
  • A call for applications from physicians who are new or early-career for The Physicians Foundation’s Fellowship Program to help advance physicians’ leadership skills to improve physician wellbeing, address DOH and lift physician perspectives.

The Physicians Foundation published a press release to announce these calls for applicants.

For more information about The Physicians Foundation’s Fellowship Program and to apply by September 19, visit their website.


TBT: Celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine! Here is Dr. Bryan Zorko's MEDTalk from 2018

This year the North Carolina Medical Society is celebrating 20 years of Leadership in Medicine!

Here is a Throwback Thursday to Dr. Bryan Zorko's MEDTalk from 2018 on "Transporation as a Social Determinant of Health in Pitt Co., NC."

Look for a new TBT every Thursday until the 2023 LEAD Conference, October 13-14.

https://youtu.be/V7d5GxlyPc4

 

The 2023 LEAD conference registration is OPEN.  Click here for more information. 

Please contact Erica Hall at NCMS to organize a class table at the LEAD Gala of your own. 

 


NCMS PAC Thankful Thursday!

 

On this Thankful Thursday, we are recognizing some of our NCMS PAC Investors! Thank you for your continued investment in your patients and profession. Contact Hannah Rice ([email protected]) to learn more about how you can make a difference.

Carl J. Westcott, MD
Claudius D. B. Jarrett, MD
Craig N. Burkhart, MD
Mingwei Chen, MD
Wake Emergency Physicians PAC


Maui Fire Response – Message from the HMA

(Photo: LA Times)

Our friends at the Hawaii Medical Association are helping coordinate the ongoing response following the devastating fire in Maui.  They have set up a Maui Support page, which includes updates on the effort, resource coordination and how you can help.

Below is a message from HMA executive director, Marc Alexander:

Aloha colleagues,

Thank you for your many emails and messages of concern about the Maui fire disaster. Our president, Dr. Angela Pratt, and her team have been ensuring open communications with various entities. This morning, we had a Maui update, as one of the other HMA officers, Dr. Nadine Tenn-Salle, prepared to fly to Maui for another coordination meeting. HMA’s president-elect lives on Maui (Dr. Elizabeth A. Ignacio) and is in the thick of things.

HMA has published a Maui Support page which will be regularly updated. We are in direct communication with the incident commander, as well as the governor's office and Maui mayor's office, ready to assist. Bookmark the Maui Support page to stay in touch. Several news outlets are linked, as are donation pages. At this time, we have been asked to gather names of additional physicians who may be able to assist, but we need to wait patiently for when that need arises. The road to recovery will be long.

We have been advised that the best supports right now are probably cash, patience, and yes, prayers.


Request for Applications for the Making Care Primary Model Now Available

New CMS model to launch July 1, 2024, in eight states, including North Carolina.

 

In June, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new model aimed at strengthening coordination between patients’ primary care clinicians, specialists, social service providers, and behavioral health clinicians, to drive improved chronic disease prevention, fewer emergency room visits, and better health outcomes.

CMS has released a Request for Applications (RFA), detailing model payment, care delivery, quality, and other policies for the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model. Interested applicants may apply to the model later this month when the Application Portal opens. CMS will send an announcement when the Application Portal is open.

CMS will answer questions during office hours from 2-3 PM ET on August 21, 2023. Sign up for office hours here. Submit questions about the RFA in advance via registration or send your questions to [email protected]. If you are interested in the Making Care Primary Model, but are not sure whether to apply yet, please submit a non-binding Letter of Intent here.

For questions about the Making Care Primary Model, please reach out to [email protected].