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NCMB made its first foray into medical education on Friday, Nov. 1, by holding a mock medical board Disciplinary Committee experience with first year students at the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM).

The two-hour class, presented by Immediate Past President Barbara Walker, DO, was the first installment of a larger program to help young professionals understand the role of the medical board and professional regulation in the practice of medicine. NCMB designed the program in partnership with CUSOM as part of students’ exploration of the professional core competencies. NCMB will return to CUSOM in summer 2020 to present a mock medical board hearing to rising third year students. NCMB and CUSOM plan to present the two courses annually. NCMB hopes eventually to offer similar programming to other medical schools and physician assistant programs across North Carolina.

The course presented Nov. 1 included a 30-minute lecture on NCMB’s disciplinary authority, investigative process and case review system, as well as Disciplinary Committee procedure and frequent causes of enforcement cases. The balance of the course had students break up into small groups to discuss case studies and determine possible ways to address the misconduct described in each example. Topics covered included prescribing to oneself and to immediate family, maintaining appropriate boundaries, professional conduct on social media and licensee alcohol and substance use, among others. Following case discussion, students used audience response technology to vote on a course of action in each case. NCMB staff and Board members present were impressed with the questions and thoughtful engagement by students.

NCMB is grateful to CUSOM for the opportunity to engage with its students and looks forward to the continued development of the medical education initiative.