MedBoard Matters

Signing Death Certificates: Fact, Fiction, and Licensee Responsibility

Complaints involving delays and licensee refusals to sign death certificates have risen significantly in recent years. In this episode, we examine common reasons licensee

Stewardship, growth, and why NCMB is updating licensing fees

In this episode, host Jean Fisher Brinkley talks with Brian Blankenship, JD, Chief Legal Officer and Legislative Liaison for the Board, about an important update to physi

NCMB complaint process explained: From report to resolution

NCMB’s complaint process is one of the most important aspects of the Board’s work—but it’s also one of the least understood. With more than 3,000 complaints cases opened

What determines if medical care was appropriate?

Determining if care was safe and appropriate is the key thing NCMB has to do when patients complain about the quality of medical care. But what is the Board really lookin

Knowledge is the best medicine

In this episode of MedBoard Matters, host Jean Fisher Brinkley gives us her take on the Board's top five consumer resources and how each one works towards building a

Are you aiding in the unlicensed practice of medicine?

This podcast episode is all about the corporate practice of medicine. If you aren’t sure what that is, don’t worry. We are going to tell you. And while the corporate prac

Position statements: A licensee's secret weapon for avoiding regulatory problems

The North Carolina Medical Board is committed to providing our licensees with tools that will help them be successful in their practice. In this episode, we talk with Tod

Prescription for confusion: The cost of limited health literacy

Have you ever listened intently at a medical appointment just to leave with only a vague idea of what is going on with your health, let alone what you should do about it?

Remembering Helene: House calls on a four-wheeler

On this episode of the Remembering Hurricane Helene series, we meet PA Joshua Newton, who owns his own primary care practice in Spruce Pine, NC. Post-Helene, it took thre

Remembering Helene: “We’re being public servants”

On this episode of the Remembering Hurricane Helene series, we interview Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, Rural Fellowship Director and Director of Rural Health Initiatives for the M

Remembering Helene: When the lights (and water) went out at Mission Hospital

As we approach the one-year mark since Hurricane Helene, we reflect on the experiences shared by healthcare professionals who faced its impact firsthand. In this episode,

The IMLC is coming to North Carolina

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) was signed into law in July of 2025 as part of North Carolina (NC) Session Law 2025-37/HB 67. By joining the IMLC, there w

Resilience in the wake of Hurricane Helene

Reflecting on Hurricane Helene, the deadliest and costliest hurricane in North Carolina's history, recovery efforts are expected to span years. Amid the devastation,

Resources for new (and seasoned) licensees

The North Carolina Medical Board is committed to providing our licensees with tools that will help them be successful in their practice (and hopefully avoid any regulator

Don't make too merry this holiday season

With the holiday season firmly upon us, host Jean Fisher Brinkley talks with NCMB's Chief Investigative Officer, Pat Berckmiller about the worrying trend the Board h

NC DHHS’s response to Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene barreled into Western North Carolina on the morning of Friday, September 27th, leaving unprecedented levels of devastation in its wake. The storm has sin

What to do about drug shortages

It can be frustrating when medication shortages impact access to essential healthcare. Host Jean Fisher-Brinkley discusses a range of possible solutions with Jay Campbell

Physicians on the brink: Suicidal ideation in NC

Physician suicide is a longstanding issue, with doctors contemplating ending their own lives as frequently as non-physicians. However, a recent survey of North Carolina d

Violence in the Healthcare Workplace

Nearly one in three medical professionals who responded to our recent licensee survey told us they had either witnessed or been involved in a violent incident with patien

NCMB: Celebrating 165 years

As the oldest continuously operating medical board in the United States and territories, NCMB just celebrated 165 years in operation. Host, Jean Fisher Brinkley is joined