New Study at UNC Offers New Hope For Safer Bleeding Treatments
New Study at UNC Offers New Hope For Safer Bleeding Treatments
(Medical XPress, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Lisa Lock and Andrew Zinin) — A new study from UNC School of Medicine researchers, published this week in Blood, provides fresh insight into how the body forms and dissolves blood clots—and may help reshape how doctors treat patients at risk of bleeding.
Led by…
Joy and Wholeness Summit Scholarship Awardee
Joy and Wholeness Summit Scholarship Awardee
The 2025 national Joy & Wholeness Summit, scheduled for July 23-25 in Asheville is a premier event dedicated to advancing the well-being of physicians, APPs, and healthcare teams.
This year’s Summit features dynamic plenary sessions, specialty tracks including “Women & Medicine,” “GME,” and “Well-Being Leadership”, and a “Focus on You”…
Multimillion-Dollar ‘NC Care’ Initiative To Help Reopen Hospital In Martin County
Multimillion-Dollar 'NC Care' Initiative To Help Reopen Hospital In Martin County
(WUNC, Brianna Atkinson) — A new state initiative for rural healthcare will help reopen a hospital in Martin County. The NC Care Hospital investment will provide $150 million to rural hospitals across North Carolina.
The UNC System is in charge of distributing the funds, and the state's public university…
’Baby Brain’ Is Real. 3 Things To Know About What’s Happening To Your Patients’ Brains
’Baby Brain’ Is Real. 3 Things To Know About What’s Happening To Your Patients’ Brains
(CNN, Andrea Kane) — Science has pretty well established that the brain isn’t static; it changes and adapts throughout our lives in response to life events in a process called neuroplasticity.
Researchers are discovering this is especially true of female brains, which get remodeled significantly during the…
New Study Finds Fewer Americans Are Developing Dementia—But More Are Living with It
New Study Finds Fewer Americans Are Developing Dementia—But More Are Living with It
(UNC Health) — A major new study published in The British Medical Journal has found that fewer older Americans are being newly diagnosed with dementia, yet the total number living with the condition is growing—a trend with serious implications for the healthcare system.
The latest research, led by experts…
The North Carolina Medical Society Honors Memorial Day
The North Carolina Medical Society Honors Memorial Day
In observance of Memorial Day, you will not receive the NCMS Morning Rounds on Monday, May 26. As we pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, all of us at the North Carolina Medical Society remember their sacrifice with gratitude. Regular email delivery will resume on Tuesday.
AI Model Predicts Future Lung Cancer Risk From A Single Low-Dose Chest CT Scan
AI Model Predicts Future Lung Cancer Risk From A Single Low-Dose Chest CT Scan
(News Medical Life Sciences, American Thoracic Society) — A deep learning model was able to predict future lung cancer risk from a single low-dose chest CT scan, according to new research published at the ATS 2025 International Conference.
The model, called Sybil, which was originally developed using National Lung…
One-Of-A-Kind Charlotte Facility Could Tackle ‘Staggering’ NC Mental Health Crisis
One-Of-A-Kind Charlotte Facility Could Tackle ‘Staggering’ NC Mental Health Crisis
(The Charlotte Observer, Mary Ramsey) — Officially, Michael Estramonte is the founder of the Katie Blessing Center for youth behavioral health. But his sons get credit, too. After leading his StarMed Healthcare business through the COVID-19 pandemic, Estramonte looked for another “tough to tackle challenge.”…
Novant Health, UNC Health And UNC School Of Medicine Award $1 Million To Launch Two Regional Research Efforts
Novant Health, UNC Health And UNC School Of Medicine Award $1 Million To Launch Two Regional Research Efforts
(UNC Health) — Thanks to a $1 million investment, Novant Health physicians based in Wilmington are partnering with peer physicians and researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to advance two clinical research efforts in North Carolina.
The pair of $500,000…
NC Works To Expand Availability Of Donor Breast Milk As Demand Rises
NC Works To Expand Availability Of Donor Breast Milk As Demand Rises
(NC Health News, Rachel Crumpler) — Demand for pasteurized donor breast milk is rising.
More than 10 percent of babies born in North Carolina are premature, according to state data. In 2023, that meant 12,885 premature infants. Breast milk helps protect premature babies’ guts and helps facilitate their growth.
The…
Doctors Perform First-Ever Human Bladder Transplant In U.S
Doctors Perform First-Ever Human Bladder Transplant In U.S
(Physician's Weekly, HealthDay News)—
Doctors in Southern California have performed the first human bladder transplant, offering new hope to people with serious bladder problems.
The surgery was done earlier this month by two doctors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California…
NC Public Health, Threading The QI Needle
NC Public Health, Threading The QI Needle
June 12, 2025 Program: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Presented via Live Webinar
Description:
Join us for “Threading the Needle”, a compelling presentation on public health clinical and financial quality improvement, led by 30-year veteran Health Director Scott Harrelson and Shannon Peaden, MBA, CPF, NC AHEC Public Health System Consultant. This…
Duke Researchers Find Experimental Painkiller Could Outsmart Opioids – Without The High
Duke Researchers Find Experimental Painkiller Could Outsmart Opioids – Without The High
(Duke University School of Medicine, Shantell M. Kirkendoll)— An experimental drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine could offer powerful pain relief without the dangerous side effects of opioids.
Called SBI-810, the drug is part of a new generation of compounds designed to target a receptor…
ECU Health Opens Impact Clinic To Serve Patients With Perinatal Substance Use Disorders
ECU Health Opens Impact Clinic To Serve Patients With Perinatal Substance Use Disorders
(ECU Health)— ECU Health is proud to announce the opening of the IMPACT (Integrated Model of Perinatal Addiction Care and Treatment) Clinic, a new outpatient addiction medicine clinic dedicated to providing specialized care for pregnant individuals facing substance use disorders. Located within the high-risk…
Is There A Doctor On The Beach? NC Outer Banks A Tourism Hub, But A Health Care Desert
Is There A Doctor On The Beach? NC Outer Banks A Tourism Hub, But A Health Care Desert
(Carolina Public Press, Jane Winik Sartwell) — This summer, 5 million tourists will descend on 200 miles of remote North Carolina coastline. The Outer Banks are idyllic — and popular. But for both those visitors and the area’s 38,000 year-round residents, the vacation paradise has one serious problem: health…
Duke Study Suggests Dosing of Heart Failure Medication Can be Safely Simplified
Duke Study Suggests Dosing of Heart Failure Medication Can be Safely Simplified
(Duke Health, Stephanie Lopez) — An estimated 32 million people globally have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, a condition where the lower left chamber of the heart does a poor job of pumping blood to the rest of the body.
While there are approved medications for the condition, not all providers…
In Memoriam: NCMS Life Member Dr. Larry T. Burch
(Courtesy: Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service)
Dr. Larry T. Burch, NCMS Life Member Since 1977
(Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service) -- Dr. Larry T. Burch, 91, of New Castle, passed away Monday, May 12, 2025. He was born on November 20, 1933, in Adrian, MI, a son of the late Herbert E. and Lenore (Gould) Burch.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Dr. Burch was a medic while serving in the Navy.…
Volunteering for a Cancer Clinical Trial: 5 Things Your Patients Should Know
Volunteering for a Cancer Clinical Trial: 5 Things Your Patients Should Know
(Atrium Health) — When facing a cancer diagnosis, many people hear about clinical trials but aren’t exactly sure what they involve. Are they safe? Will you still receive effective treatment? Who’s a candidate?
Oncology researchers at Atrium Health Levine Cancer share what they want everyone to know about the power of…
Enhancing Support For Patients With Hearing Loss Through Medicaid Communication Access
Enhancing Support For Patients With Hearing Loss Through Medicaid Communication Access
May 21, 2025 | 12 PM–1 PM | Live Webinar
Join us for an upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn with the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Meet with the NC Medicaid Communication Access team to learn how you can support your patients with hearing loss and how to register and use the free…
State Expands Student Loan Repayment For Rural Health Care Providers
State Expands Student Loan Repayment For Rural Health Care Providers
(The Transylvania Times) — To encourage more health care providers to serve in rural areas the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is offering the opportunity for educational loan repayments. This program, known as the North Carolina Primary Care Physician Incentive, is available to qualifying physicians committed to…
Leadership Opportunity: North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy
The NCMS has an opportunity to appoint a new member to the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. This appointment will fill a term until 6/30/29*.
The commission serves in an advisory capacity on issues relating to the regulation of people offering occupational therapy services to the public. The council also develops and submits a state plan to monitor, review and evaluate…
Congratulations to the NC Medical Society’s Academy for Future Healthcare Leaders 2025 Graduates!
Raleigh, NC – Eighteen healthcare professional students have completed the NC Medical Society Kanof Institute of Physician Leadership’s Academy for Future Healthcare Leaders.
Each year, the NC Medical Society’s Kanof Institute of Physician Leadership program welcomes healthcare students from academic institutions across NC interested in leadership and professional growth. Interested students…
Gene Editing Helped A Desperately Ill Baby Thrive. Scientists Say It Could Someday Treat Millions
Gene Editing Helped A Desperately Ill Baby Thrive. Scientists Say It Could Someday Treat Millions
(Associated Press) — A baby born with a rare and dangerous genetic disease is growing and thriving after getting an experimental gene editing treatment made just for him.
Researchers described the case in a new study, saying he’s among the first to be successfully treated with a custom therapy that…
Tips For Staying Alive, Decades In The Making
Tips For Staying Alive, Decades In The Making
(The Harvard Gazette, Alvin Powell) — When it comes to the idea that prevention is the best medicine, JoAnn Manson doesn’t mess around.
Since the 1980s, Manson has dedicated her career to teasing out complex threads of human health, with an emphasis on factors under our control: physical activity, diet, sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption,…
Innovative Birth Simulation Mobile Training Unit Enhances Maternal Care
Innovative Birth Simulation Mobile Training Unit Enhances Maternal Care
(Atrium Health) — Atrium Health's Birth Simulation Mobile Training Unit is revolutionizing maternal care by providing hands-on training to health care professionals. This state-of-the-art mobile unit travels to our labor and delivery hospitals, offering realistic birth simulations that help improve skills and preparedness…
Duke Helps Young Adults Move Forward After Cancer
Duke Helps Young Adults Move Forward After Cancer
(Duke University School of Medicine, Mary-Russell Roberson and Angela Spivey)— At age 34, Iris Bugbee, of Fuquay-Varina, NC, faced more than a breast cancer diagnosis. She juggled full-time work as a speech-language pathologist while raising her two-year-old daughter, Mila. After taking six weeks off for surgery, she continued working through…
Novant Health Initiative To Capitalize On The Healing Power Of The Arts
Novant Health Initiative To Capitalize On The Healing Power Of The Arts
(QC Nerve, Ryan Pitkin and Annie Keough)— Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” One new local art exhibit, however, is challenging that very notion.
In A Slice of Life: The Art of Everyday, local artists draw from the everyday moments and mementos that one may brush off as the…
U.S. Overdose Deaths Fell 27% Last Year But Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
U.S. Overdose Deaths Fell 27% Last Year But Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
(The Associated Press) — There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded.
An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Wednesday. That’s down 27%…
NCWorks Prepares Young Professionals With The Skills And Knowledge For Careers In Health Care
NCWorks Prepares Young Professionals With The Skills And Knowledge For Careers In Health Care
(ECU Health) — NCWorks is an initiative through the state of North Carolina for young adults aged 18 to 24 who are interested in exploring careers in health care. The program brings together various statewide agencies including the Department of Commerce, Public Instruction and the NC community college…
Free ‘Mega Clinic’ In Asheville To Offer Medical, Dental, And Vision Care In June
Free 'Mega Clinic' In Asheville To Offer Medical, Dental, And Vision Care In June
(WSPA, Joanna Johnson) — A mega clinic will be hosted in downtown Asheville next month, offering free services to anyone in need.
Liberty and Health Alliance, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is offering all people access to free medical, dental and vision care from June 4 through 6. It will be…
Annunziato (Ned) Amendola Installed As President Of The American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Annunziato (Ned) Amendola Installed As President Of The American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) announced Annunziato (Ned) Amendola, MD, FAAOS, FRCSC, DABOS, as its new president. Dr. Amendola, professor of orthopaedic surgery and chief of sports medicine at Duke University, assumed leadership of the AAOS at the recent AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting…
Campbell University Selected As NC AHEC Teaching Hub
(Campbell University) — Campbell University’s Community Care Clinic was selected as one of four interprofessional teaching hubs in North Carolina, thanks to the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) Rural Hub Grant. The program, funded by the North Carolina state legislature and NC AHEC, supports the development of rural, community-based interprofessional clinical training sites…
Some Bad News And Some Good News: Rural Maternity Wards Are Closing, But Siler City Opened A New One
Some Bad News And Some Good News: Rural Maternity Wards Are Closing, But Siler City Opened A New One
(Carolina Public Press)— Over the last decade, 10 hospitals have eliminated maternity care in North Carolina. Just one has added it: UNC Health Chatham in Siler City.
The Chatham County center serves as a rare counterexample to the wave of rural maternity closures across the state. That’s…
How A Little-Known Protein Powers Energy Production And Fights Cancer
How A Little-Known Protein Powers Energy Production And Fights Cancer
(Duke University School of Medicine, Shantell M. Kirkendoll) — A Duke University School of Medicine study reshapes what scientists know about how our cells generate energy and fend off cancer.
The Nature Cell Biology study led by cancer researcher Hui-Kuan Lin, PhD reveals an unexpected role for the protein ALDH4A1 in…
The FDA Approves First U.S. At-Home Tool As A Pap Smear Alternative
The FDA Approves First U.S. At-Home Tool As A Pap Smear Alternative
(NPR, Jennifer Ludden) — The Food and Drug administration has approved the U.S.'s first at-home alternative to the Pap smear, a procedure generations of women have dreaded and often found painful.
The new device by Teal Health will offer a "much preferred experience," the company said in its announcement, and also aims to…
Firefighters Face Higher Skin Cancer Risk. A Winston-Salem Hospital Offered A Free Screening
Firefighters Face Higher Skin Cancer Risk. A Winston-Salem Hospital Offered A Free Screening
(WFMY Ben Briscoe) — Meredith Smith didn’t have to look far to find her motivation. Her husband is a firefighter. And as an oncology nurse, Smith knows firsthand the elevated cancer risks that come with the job — especially when it comes to skin cancer.
That’s why she’s teaming up with Novant Health…
Want to Improve Your Job Performance? Try a “NASA Nap”
Getty Images)
Put down that third cup of coffee, and try to power nap like an astronaut
(Marisa Chen) -- It’s an hour or two after lunch, and you’re fading fast. You’d love nothing more than to snuggle under the covers and take a long, deep sleep, but you’ve got to be awake, alert and on fire for a 4 p.m. Zoom with an important client. Knowing that a long nap will throw you off (and…
North Carolina Extends Prior Authorization for Type 1 Diabetes
North Carolina Extends Prior Authorization for Type 1 Diabetes
In its May 2025 pharmacy update, NC Medicaid has provided notice that prior authorization approval for insulin has been extended for up to 3 years. The notice is below.
Insulin Prior Authorization Extension for Type 1 Diabetes
(Excerpt from NC Medicaid’s May 2025 Pharmacy Newsletter)
Insulin Prior Authorization Extension…
US Infant Mortality Dropped In 2024. Experts Partly Credit RSV Shots
US Infant Mortality Dropped In 2024. Experts Partly Credit RSV Shots
(AP Health, Mike Stobbe) — The nation’s infant mortality rate dropped last year after two years of hovering at a late-pandemic plateau.
Some experts think one reason for the drop could be a vaccination campaign against RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms that can be dangerous…
Capitol Chronicle: NC Medical Society Sends Congress A “Protect Medicaid” Appeal
Capitol Chronicle: NC Medical Society Sends Congress A “Protect Medicaid” Appeal
With cuts to Medicaid funding and coverage in the crosshairs on Capitol Hill, the NC Medical Society has issued an appeal to each of our US House and US Senate offices to protect the program which has 3.1 million enrollees in North Carolina. Congress is seeking budgetary offsets for a proposed tax package and…
Supporting And Empowering Pregnant Women And New Moms In Opioid Recovery
Supporting And Empowering Pregnant Women And New Moms In Opioid Recovery
(Atrium Health)— No one should have to face pregnancy or postpartum alone, but these big life moments can feel extra isolating when someone is also experiencing opioid use disorder. That’s why Atrium Health Women’s Care Myers Park OB-GYN created a new program called Empowering Moms Through Recovery of Greater Charlotte…
New Data On Resident Physician Burnout: 4 Things To Know
New Data On Resident Physician Burnout: 4 Things To Know
(AMA, Brendan Murphy) — With year-over-year improvements in several key metrics, an AMA report offers some cautious optimism on the state of resident well-being.
Based on responses from more than 3,600 resident physicians across the United States, the AMA National Resident Comparison Report reflects 2024 trends on six—job satisfaction,…
North Carolina Unveils Dashboard On Peer Warmline Success For Mental Health Awareness Month
North Carolina Unveils Dashboard On Peer Warmline Success For Mental Health Awareness Month
(WCTI 12, Alberto Cardoso) — On Thursday, May 8, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of a new dashboard highlighting the success of North Carolina's Peer Warmline, a free resource for people experiencing emotional difficulty, mental health issues, substance use…
New Research: Class of HIV Drugs May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease
(aidsmap, Zekerie Redzheb) -- A cohort of people with HIV who took NRTIs (a class of HIV drugs) as part of HIV treatment showed lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease than people without HIV. The team of American researchers behind this study published in the journal of Pharmaceuticals suspect HIV-like sequences in our genome to be associated with the disease and thus these HIV drugs protect against…
How A Minimally Invasive Procedure Helped This Heart Failure Patient Get Her Life Back.
How A Minimally Invasive Procedure Helped This Heart Failure Patient Get Her Life Back.
(Novant Health, Patrick Flanary) — For most of 2024, Karen Powell struggled to get out of bed.
Regular tasks like taking a shower and vacuuming the house sapped her strength and often left her breathless. The worst part was that Powell, a Wilmington grandmother of five, had experienced this before.
Back in…
Loneliness Is Epidemic, Even Among Older-Adult Physicians
Loneliness Is Epidemic, Even Among Older-Adult Physicians
(AMA, Timothy M. Smith) — Loneliness is a worldwide phenomenon. It has become so pervasive that some national governments have elevated the issue to the policy level. For example, the U.K. now has a minister for loneliness; Australia formed the Ending Loneliness Together organization; and Canada established the Canadian Institute for…
New Study: Exercise May be Secret Weapon Against Cancer Treatment Negative Effects
New Study Finds Physical Activity May Mitigate Some Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
(NICE NEWS) -- There’s no doubt exercise is good for your heart, bones, balance, and brain. And a new study found that physical activity can also mitigate some side effects of cancer treatment, such as brain fog and heart and nerve damage.
While prior research has shown that exercise can be generally…
Physicians Reluctantly Pack The EHR In Their Carry-On Luggage
Physicians Reluctantly Pack The EHR In Their Carry-On Luggage
(AMA, Georgia Garvey) — A physician’s most intrusive, unwelcome and demanding travel companion just may be the EHR—the coworker they can’t leave behind, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.
The study on EHR use during paid time off (PTO) showed that, too often, physicians must continue to work during what is…
Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat
Medicaid Managed Care Back Porch Chat
Key NC Medicaid Updates
Thursday, May 15 | noon-1 p.m.
Please join this month's Back Porch Chat on Thursday, May 15 from 12-1 p.m. This webinar will be hosted by Dr. Janelle White, Chief Medical Officer of NC Medicaid, and will cover important federal updates and NC Medicaid budget priorities.
Additional topics include:
Clinical Coverage Request…
These Are The Safest Hospitals In NC, Report Says. See If Yours Made The List
These Are The Safest Hospitals In NC, Report Says. See If Yours Made The List
(The Charlotte Observer, Evan Moore) — How safe are North Carolina hospitals? A national health care watchdog group determined the state had dropped outside the top 10 in its latest hospital rankings.
The Leapfrog Group released its spring 2024 Hospital Safety Grades on Thursday, May 1, scoring local hospitals with…