Winter Issue 2026

Volume 22 Issue 1 • Winter 2026

The North Carolina

Family Physician Quarterly News in North Carolina Family Medicine

Defying Gravity in Family Medicine PG. 4

The NC Family Physician - Autumn 2025 | 1

Inside Winter 2026

The 2025 NCAFP Annual Report PG. 12

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

MEMBERSHIP

4

18 Dr. Warren Newton Receives 2025 NCAFP

Defying Gravity in Family Medicine

Distinguished Family Physician of the Year Award

ADVOCACY

RESIDENTS & STUDENTS

8

28 Andrea Augustine and Hannah Rayala Named 2025

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Short Legislative Session

Pisacano Foundation Scholars

CHAPTER AFFAIRS

PATIENTS & PRACTICE

10 Advocacy in All Branches of Government Led to

30 New CMS Models: What Family Physicians Need

Reversal of Medicaid Cuts

PUBLISHED BY

t 919.833.2110 • fax 919.833.1801 • ncafp.com Editor Kevin LaTorre, NCAFP Communications Managing Editor, Design & Production Peter T. Graber, NCAFP Communications

to Know

DEPARTMENTS President's Message 4

CME Opportunities 22

Chapter Affairs 10

Residents & Students 28

Membership Services 18

Patients & Practice 30

Have a news item we missed? NCAFP members may send news items to the NCAFP Communications Department for publishing consideration. Please email items to kevin@ncafp.com.

Material in articles and advertisements does not necessarily express the opinion of the NCAFP. Official policy is formulated by the NCAFP Board of Directors.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Defying Gravity in Family Medicine Defying Gravity is exactly what it feels like to be a Family Physician in America today.

Every day, we rise above — above the paperwork, the prior authorizations, the staffing shortages, the politics, and the reimbursement rate changes — because we are driven by something higher.

We rise for our patients, our communities, and one another.

But let’s be honest; it’s not easy to keep “defying gravity” when the weight of the health care system keeps trying to pull us down. With each passing year we move closer to 2030, when our nation is projected to face a severe physician shortage — a shortage that will be felt deeply here in North Carolina, especially in our rural communities. And while nurse practitioners and physician assistants are vital members of our health care team — let’s be clear — they are not the solution to the physician shortage.

We need physicians. We need family physicians. We need you. Most importantly, patients need you!

For those who may not know me, my government name is Benjamin Franklyn Simmons III — but my parents, Benjamin Jr. and Ella Mae, called me Frankie.

I was born in Manassas, VA: the middle child of three.

Our family began as a traditional Christian nuclear family — father, mother, and children (no dogs, although I asked often!). Everything changed when my mother was

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By Benjamin F. Simmons, MD 2025-2026 NCAFP President

diagnosed with cancer. That journey thrust us into the world of physicians, hospitals, and research. After my mother passed away in 1988, my father, now a single parent, moved us to Hampton, VA. My grandmother, Vivian Simmons, stepped in to help raise us. We lost her this past August. The pain of losing her felt like losing a mother all over again.

But all the while, I was raised on hard work and faith. My father gave me three options: college, college, or college!

So, I went to Longwood University and earned my degrees in Biology and Chemistry. I taught high school science before attending the Howard University College of Medicine. Initially, I wanted to be a surgeon. Like many medical students today, I had a high amount of student loan debt, and I faced a tough decision. And I wondered…what specialty would let me pay that debt and still provide the lifestyle I imagined for myself?

Thanks to Bob Ross and my joy for painting, I knew I had skilled and steady hands. I enjoyed anatomy and physiology, and one of my professors told me surgery would be a good fit for me.

I completed one year of general surgery, but what I noticed is that something did not fit. The long hours and the lifestyle were grueling. I did not enjoy general surgery, and when I recalled my medical school rotations, one stood out to me: Family Medicine.

Dr. Ricardo Galbis was a Family Physician in Washington, DC, at the Andromeda Clinic. He had an

2025-2026

independent practice that primarily served the Hispanic community in DC. I learned from him the breadth of care a family physician can provide to their community: He provided primary care, HIV care, and mental health care to his patients, and he owned a community center and medical assistant school in his building.

Thanks to experiences with family physicians like Dr. Galbis, I found my way to Family Medicine and transferred to Carolinas HealthCare System, Elizabeth Family Medicine.

NCAFP Board of Directors Executive Officers President

Benjamin F. Simmons, MD, FAAFP

President-Elect

Deanna M. Didiano, DO, FAAFP

Secretary/Treasurer

Amanda R. Steventon, MD, FAAFP

Immediate Past President

S. Mark McNeill, MD, FAAFP

Executive Vice President Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE

At-Large Directors D. Landon Allen, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP Stacey A. Blyth, MD Lisa A. Cassidy-Vu, MD, FAAFP Eric H. Chen, MD, FAAFP Katherine E. Haga, DO, FAAFP Jay I. Patel, MD, MPH Kelley V. Lawrence, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAFP Patrick S. Williams, MD, FAAFP

Academic Position Robert N. Agnello, DO, MHPE, FACOFP, FAAFP

Resident Director Irina Balan, MD

Resident Director-Elect Claire Namboodri, MD

Student Director Ryan Taylor

Student Director-Elect Taylor Ellis

AAFP Delegates & Alternates AAFP Delegate AAFP Delegate AAFP Alternate AAFP Alternate

Tamieka Howell, MD, FAAFP Thomas R. White, MD, FAAFP Rhett L. Brown, MD, FAAFP Jessica Triche, MD

NCAFP Committee Chairs Dr. Benjamin "Frankie" Simmons delivers his installation address.

Workforce Committee Advocacy Committee

My journey, like many of yours, was not a straight line. And as a Black man in medicine, the obstacles were not just academic — they were personal.

Many people believe racism is something of the past, but my lived experience tells a different story. I have had patients refuse to see me because of my race. I have been called racial slurs — in the exam room.

I don’t share this for pity; I share it for perspective. Because presence does not equal parity.

Jay Patel, MD, MPH Katherine E. Haga, DO

Practice Environment & Nichole L. Johnson MD, MPH Professional Development Committee Program Directors Committee Department Chairs Committee

Regina Bray-Brown, MD

Robert N. Agnello, DO, MHPE, FACOFP, FAAFP

NCAFP Foundation President Maureen Murphy, MD, FAAFP

And to my female colleagues — who too often are called “sweetheart,” “nurse,” or “Mrs.” instead of “Doctor” — I see you. To those who came from rural, urban, or low-income backgrounds, to foreign medical 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 120, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607

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The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 5 www.ncafp.com

Dr. Simmons takes the oath with his husband, Anthony, and past AAFP president Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize.

graduates and children of immigrants who fought against financial and social barriers — I see you too.

We have each defied gravity in our own way — pushing against the forces that said we didn’t belong, that we couldn’t make it, that we weren’t enough. And yet, here we are.

But now, the barriers we face aren’t just personal — they’re systemic. Our profession is under strain. We face: • Expanding scope-of-practice battles • Cuts to Medicaid • Vaccine hesitancy and outright refusal • Patient mistrust • Changing definitions of what a professional degree is • Recruitment shortages of CMAs, RNs, and physicians • Student loan debt burdens • Ever-increasing patient health complexities The result? We’re stretched thin emotionally, professionally, and spiritually.

But I am filled with hope. Because we are family physicians — and rising above challenges is what we do best.

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Our exam rooms are more than places of treatment: they are classrooms, prayer rooms, therapy rooms, playrooms, and sometimes even refuges. When the system feels broken, we show up anyway. When our patients lose faith, we restore it. When others see chaos, we create care. That is defying gravity.

Together, we are the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Together, we are a powerful voice, one that is heard in Raleigh and Washington. Together, we must continue to be the trusted voice of health care in our state.

Our patients remind us daily why we chose this calling and why we must continue to advocate for evidence-based, compassionate, and equitable care.

As your president, I am committed to making sure the NCAFP continues to equip you with everything you need to care for your patients, your communities, and yourselves. Because we rise higher when we rise together.

I represent about 3% of physicians in the United States which has not changed in 80 years despite African Americans being 12% of the population currently. Finding

mentors who looked like me has not been easy.

But this organization — the NCAFP — has been a place where I have always felt seen, valued, and supported.

To the mentors, past presidents, and colleagues who lifted me up, I stand on your shoulders as NCAFP President.

Thank you for your guidance and friendship.

Let us continue to lift as we climb, mentoring the next generation of Family physicians.

And to our students and residents: don’t limit your mentors to those who look like you. The best guidance can come from anywhere, if you stay open to it.

My friends, Family Medicine was made for moments like this. We have always been the foundation — steady, adaptable, and unshakable. We are the ones who meet people at every stage of life: from birth to death, joy to sorrow, sickness to healing. And even when the system feels too heavy, when the world feels divided, when hope

feels fragile, we keep rising.

Because we don’t do this for fame. We do it for faith — faith in people, faith in community, faith in the power of care.

As the song says, “I’m through accepting limits, ‘cause someone says they’re so.”

We will not accept limits on what Family Physicians can do — not in this state, not in this nation, not in our time.

We are defying gravity — and we are doing it together.

*This essay is adapted from Dr. Simmons’s installation speech at the 2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend Presidential Gala. You can listen to the full speech at https://www. buzzsprout.com/909250/episodes/18508840

Dr. Simmons delivers his installation address.

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ADVOCACY

The State Legislature

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Short Legislative Session As North Carolina heads into 2026, lawmakers and stakeholders are preparing for what is expected to be a consequential short session. The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) enters the new year with lingering policy disputes, an unresolved budget from 2025, and a slate of politically charged issues likely to dominate debate.

The NCGA is set to reconvene several times in the first three months of the year before beginning the official 2026 Short Session on April 21, 2026. While reconvened, the legislature is permitted to consider specific categories of bills ranging from budget adjustments to constitutional

By Shawn P. Parker, JD, MPA NCAFP Senior Vice President & General Counsel

amendments and redistricting-related matters. It is not anticipated that any substantive legislation will be enacted prior to the April short session.

Legislative Oversight committee meetings and preparatory work have been ongoing at the NCAFP, and, together with our contracted lobbyists at The Raleigh Group, we are closely monitoring and engaging with state and legislative leadership on matters such as the rural health transformation grant funding from the federal government, the importance of reestablishing the Primary Care Payment Reform Task Force, prior authorization reforms, and countless other issues that could impact your ability to practice Family Medicine and your ability to provide exceptional care to your patients and communities.

The State Budget Stalemate Still Looms Perhaps one of the defining issues heading into 2026 is the overall legislative impasse that is partially caused by the absence of a state budget. North Carolina is notable as the only state that entered 2026 without a newly passed fiscal plan. As we noted before, we technically have a budget, as North Carolina’s legal framework allows the state to continue operating under the previously approved budget of the prior legislative session. However, delays in enacting a new spending plan exacerbate funding gaps in areas such as Medicaid and public health, and they fail to account for inflationary increases affecting the cost of providing public services. Additionally, the lack of agreement on a comprehensive spending plan spills over into political negotiations on certain matters unrelated to the budget.

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Our Advocacy Priorities: Medicaid, Primary Care Investment, and More Beyond the funding gap related to the state's Medicaid "rebase" procress (see NCAFP Exec.

VP and CEO Greg Griggs's article on pg. 10), the state also faces a forthcoming gap in federal funding for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will require budgetary action. The NCAFP, along with a strong contingent of leaders from other health care organizations and the business community, will continue to push for funding to ensure Medicaid stability and support for maintaining the public health infrastructure.

ADVISORY CAPITAL INSURANCE

50 years behind us.

Your best future ahead.

We’re celebrating 50 years of enhancing the lives of those we serve. Discover our unwavering commitment to your success at curi.com/go/ncafp.

In addition to these efforts, as guided by the recently adopted advocacy agenda for the biennium by your Board of Directors, we will strategically focus on the following: • Greater investment in primary care • Administrative burden reduction, including prior authorization reform and quality metric alignment • Workforce initiatives • Protecting the unique training, education, and preparation of physicians

In Conclusion: This Short Session Could Be Pivotal The upcoming short session is unfolding against the backdrop of the 2026 midterm elections.

This highly contested environment may be the catalyst necessary for significant legislative activity, more than has been typical for a traditional short session. The 2026 North Carolina legislative session could be one of the most pivotal in recent years. North Carolina’s political, social, and economic priorities will be tested — and potentially reshaped — in ways that could reverberate well beyond 2026.

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

The NCAFP will continue our legislative advocacy efforts to advance reforms to improve health care delivery within the state and protect the professional environment for family physicians.

The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 9

CHAPTER AFFAIRS

Advocacy in All Branches of Government Led to Reversal of Medicaid Cuts

By Greg Griggs, MPA, CAE NCAFP Executive Vice President

But More Work Remains to Adequately Fund the Program Sometimes advocacy requires work in all three branches of government, and that’s exactly what the NCAFP had to do – along with our partners – to ultimately overturn Medicaid rate cuts enacted Oct. 1, 2025. Through our efforts in the General Assembly, the state executive branch, and the judiciary, Medicaid rate cuts were ultimately overturned.

But our work to ensure adequate funding for the state’s Medicaid program is not over.

What Happened and How the NCAFP Responded In late August, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced a plan to reduce Medicaid rates to providers effective Oct. 1, 2025. NCDHHS stated the cuts were necessary due to the substantial discrepancy between the amount appropriated by the NC General Assembly for the Medicaid “rebase” and the estimated need for the program based on the Departments projections.

The rebase happens each year and is the process of recalculating costs associated with the Medicaid program using updated data to adjust earlier budget projections. Factors that impact the rebase include medical inflation, increasing enrollment, increased utilization, additional costs, and other unanticipated events. The amount of rebase needed is determined to maintain the Medicaid program at its current level of payments and services.

Early in 2025, when NC Gov. Josh Stein was proposing his recommended budget, the estimated rebase required

10 | The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026

to maintain services was between $600 and $700 million, but that number grew to as much as $819 million as the year proceeded. While the General Assembly has still not enacted a complete budget for fiscal year 2025-26, they did pass a mini-budget in July that included $600 million toward the Medicaid rebase amount. NCDHHS used $100 million of that funding for administrative expenses and applied $500 million toward the rebase amount, leaving an estimated gap of $319 million, although the actuaries within NCDHHS and the Legislative Fiscal Research Division disagreed on the exact amount needed to keep Medicaid whole.

Given the difference, NCDHHS announced cuts would be needed to balance the Medicaid budget, ultimately reducing rates for Medicaid providers by 3% to 10%.

Rates for primary care physicians were cut by 8%, and other physicians’ rates by 10%, with the reduced rates taking effect Oct. 1, 2025.

Throughout the summer and fall, the NCAFP advocated for additional funding at the General Assembly, with both the Senate and the House ultimately agreeing to provide about $170 million in additional funding to Medicaid while also eliminating funding for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss to further mitigate the funding gap (NCDHHS had also recommended that cut). However, other differences between the House and Senate kept the two chambers from agreeing on a legislative vehicle to approve the additional funding. Differences between the House and the Senate on other issues, such as tax cuts and funding

for a stand-alone children’s hospital, led to gridlock at the General Assembly.

The NCAFP joined numerous coalitions, wrote numerous letters, and had various legislative meetings to educate members of the General Assembly about the urgency of the need for adequate funding. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be brokered between the two legislative chambers.

Concurrently with those efforts, we worked tirelessly to get the state executive branch (the Stein administration and NCDHHS) to at least delay the cuts further into the fiscal year to give the legislature time to work out their differences. But the NCDHHS and Gov. Stein stood firm and indicated they had to implement the cuts to maintain a balanced budget.

Through our coalition work with the Medicaid Managed Care plans and their association, the Medicaid plans agreed to delay implementing the cuts until Nov. 1 to provide extra time for a potential solution, knowing the plans may have to recoup the difference between any claims paid at a higher rate.

The very next week, Dr. McNeill and I met with the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and senior health policy advisor for House Speaker Destin Hall, and one of the senior policy professionals for Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger. During all our meetings, everyone acknowledged a need for adequate funding, but other issues continued to get in the way of an agreement. Thus, we needed to advocate through the third branch of government: the judiciary.

In late November, the NCAFP joined the NC Medical Society, Benchmarks, and numerous other provider groups in filing a lawsuit against NCDHHS seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Medicaid rate cuts. At that point, two other smaller groups had already received TROs halting Medicaid cuts to autism services and personal care services. Filing a lawsuit was an action we did not take lightly, due to our good working relationship with the Department in so many other areas. However, NCAFP leaders believed we needed to take all steps possible to prevent such a large payment cut for our members and to mitigate the harm that would befall patients as well.

Simultaneously, we had collected data on what the cuts would mean to primary care physicians (in a joint effort with the NC Pediatric Society). That data, as well as data collected by Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) about independent practices, proved extremely useful as we tried to share the impacts of the cuts with policymakers.

For example, in our survey with the NC Pediatric Society, almost 30% of respondents said they would have to lay off administrative staff due to the cuts, and just over 20% said they would have to lay off clinicians. In a survey of independent practices conducted by CCNC after the cuts were implemented, 22% of respondents said they may need to close their practice while 50% said they might not be able to pay operating expenses.

As the impasse entered November, then-NCAFP President Dr. Mark McNeill (now immediate past president), along with representatives of four other provider groups, met personally with Gov. Stein to talk about the impact the cuts were having. NCAFP was the only physician group in the meeting. During the meeting, Dr. McNeill utilized these statistics as well as anecdotes about how the cuts were already impacting our members’ ability to provide care to Medicaid recipients and other patients.

NCAFP President Dr. Benjamin "Frankie" Simmons speaks at the December 2025 NC Medicaid press conference.

The week following our Winter Family Physicians Weekend, Gov. Stein and NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai announced that the Department would rescind the cuts due to the current litigation and based on the outlook of future litigation including ours. During the announcement press conference at the Governor’s Mansion, new NCAFP President Dr. Benjamin “Frankie” Simmons spoke about the impact that the cuts would have had on family physicians and your patients. But we only celebrated the victory for a short minute because Continues as “MEDICAID ADVOCACY” on back cover.

The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 11

2025 Annual Report 2025 in Review

By S. Mark McNeill, MD 2024-25 NCAFP President

In 2025, the Academy was busy doing what we do best: continuing our advocacy, providing CME, and working to grow the future Family Medicine workforce.

This year, we saw a staggering number of federal actions that threatened our patients, our communities, and the practice of Family Medicine. How did the NCAFP respond? We stayed focused on our strategic priorities and our established values. We also put our efforts where we can have the most impact, and that is here in North Carolina. At the same time, we remained flexible to support the AAFP and other national organizations when needed, especially when federal action directly impacted North Carolina.

At the state level, our advocacy efforts engaged with the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office. There were 200 health care bills introduced in the General Assembly this year, with 40 highpriority policy items that the NCAFP staff and lobbying team followed closely or engaged with.

NCAFP physician leaders were very much engaged as well. At our White Coat Wednesday event in March, 45 family physicians, residents, and medical students attended. We visited the legislative building and met with our representatives to discuss the need for greater investment in primary care and for administrative burden reductions, such as prior authorization reforms. I had the privilege to return to the legislature one month later to testify in the House Health Committee on behalf of prior authorization reform in support of the CARE FIRST Act. Our top legislative priority was the ongoing work and reinstatement of the Primary Care Payment

12 | The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026

Reform Task Force. Reinstatement of the task force appeared in both the House and Senate versions of the budget (though the two Chambers have still not adopted the final budget for this year at the time of writing). But because of our ongoing advocacy efforts, payment reform for primary care remains a top priority for our allies in the legislature in both parties and both chambers. We remain optimistic about the reinstatement of the task force in the future.

S. Mark McNeill, MD 2024-25 NCAFP President Dr. McNeill attended Appalachian State

In addition, we had numerous other policy victories this year around interstate medical licensing, pharmacy benefit manager reform, pharmacy collaborative practice, and physician assistants in team-based care. But the issue that held our attention in the fall was the 8% cuts to Family Medicine services as the state attempted to balance its budget without its desired Medicaid Rebase from the legislature. The Academy team worked tirelessly to advocate for solutions to these cuts. I attended a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion to make sure Governor Josh Stein understood the impact of these cuts on access to care in North Carolina and Family Medicine. I returned the following week and met with staff in Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger’s office and in Speaker Destin Hall’s office to stress the same impacts.

University for his undergraduate degree

Through our efforts in the General Assembly, the state executive branch, and the judiciary, Medicaid rate cuts were ultimately overturned. In December, we joined the NC Medical Society, Benchmarks, and numerous other provider groups in filing a lawsuit against NCDHHS seeking a temporary restraining order on

School of Medicine. He lectures

before completing medical school at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He completed his family medicine residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville before spending a year working as a physician in New Zealand. Dr. McNeill has served as an information technology (IT) champion for most of his career, leading numerous quality improvement initiatives.

His leadership in IT and his experience as a change agent led him to open his own patient-centric, portal-facilitated solo practice in 2012. In addition to his practice responsibilities, Dr. McNeill enjoys teaching rotating residents from MAHEC’s Family Medicine Residency Program and students from the UNC nationally on digital workflow-related topics for the AAFP, NCAFP and STFM. He is active with the Western North Carolina Medical Society serving as President in 2019. He and his wife reside in Asheville.

the Medicaid rate cuts. Shortly afterward, following our Winter Family Physicians Weekend, Gov. Stein and NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai announced that the NCDHHS would rescind the cuts due to the litigation even before our lawsuit was heard (although our suit would have likely prevailed).

But our work to ensure adequate funding for the state’s Medicaid program is not over. As of this writing, we have also continued our efforts to ensure that the Legislature ultimately passes a bill that includes the increased funding for Medicaid. As stated earlier, the two chambers already agree on an amount, but due to other issues have not agreed upon a vehicle to move the appropriation forward. Without a fix, cuts could still occur at a later date. (Make sure you read about the entire Medicaid rate cuts advocacy saga on pg. 10.)

In addition to all our NC advocacy, we also branched to Washington, DC. We undertook major efforts to opposing Medicaid and SNAP cuts included in the federal HR 1 Bill, including contacting every Congressional office. We had one of the largest, most experienced state contingencies at the AAFP’s Family Medicine Advocacy Summit in DC. We met with most of our Congressional delegation to express our concerns regarding HR 1. We were part of many who met with Senator Tillis’ office and were successful at convincing him to vote against HR 1. Ultimately, HR 1 passed.

We then worked with NCDHHS on the state’s application for the federal Rural Health Transformation Fund that was included in HR 1 – pushing for a significant amount of funding to be dedicated to rural primary care.

Outside of this advocacy (and all the CME events included in this annual report), your Academy was busy representing NC at numerous AAFP conferences, multiple NC Medical Society Events, and the Collaborative Family Health Association Policy Summit.

But the highlight of these meetings was the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

The beauty, culture and food of Portugal would’ve been well worth the trip for NCAFP leaders. The real impetus to go, however, was the installation of our own Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi as president of WONCA. It is amazing to have a NCAFP member and former board member now lead the world organization of family doctors. We are proud of Dr. Martinez-Bianchi and excited to support her presidency.

Despite every concerning change of 2025, the Academy remains strong and continues to nurture solutions for our specialty in North Carolina. We can hold our chins high as we head into 2026. It has been an honor and a pleasure to have served as your president the past year.

2024-25 NCAFP Board of Directors Executive Officers President S. Mark McNeill, MD, FAAFP

Academic Position R. Aaron Lambert, MD, FAAFP

President-Elect Benjamin “Frankie” Simmons, MD, MHA, FAAFP

Resident Director Stephanie P. Wilcher, MD, MPH

Secretary-Treasurer Deanna M. Didiano, DO, FAAFP

Resident Director-Elect Irina Balan, MD

Immediate Past President Garett R. Franklin, MD, FAAFP

Student Director Nicholas Wells

Executive Vice President Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE

Student Director-Elect Ryan Taylor

At-Large Directors D. Landon Allen, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP Stacey Blyth, MD Josh T. Carpenter, MD Lisa A. Cassidy-Vu, MD, FAAFP Kelley V. Lawrence, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAFP Amanda R. Steventon, MD, FAAFP Patrick S. Williams, MD, FAAFP Courtland D. Winborne, MD

AAFP Delegates & Alternates AAFP Delegate AAFP Delegate AAFP Alternate AAFP Alternate

Richard W. Lord, Jr., MD, MA, FAAFP Tamieka Howell, MD, FAAFP Rhett Brown, MD, FAAFP Thomas R. White, MD, FAAFP

The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 13

North Carolina FAMPAC NCAFP’s Political Action Committee (FAMPAC) ensures that North Carolina’s family physicians have a persistent and trustworthy voice in the state legislature. By supporting NCAFP advocacy efforts, FAMPAC impacts health policy at both the state level and the overall practice environments of our members.

Tactically, this impact comes through political fundraising and attending campaign events. Pragmatic and nonpartisan results at the legislature begin well before its session starts.

FAMPAC provides opportunities to attend events and start early conversations with lawmakers and other stakeholders.

We would like to extend appreciation for the following individuals who generously made one or more contributions to FAMPAC this year: Susan Alexander, MD, FAAFP D. Landon Allen, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAFP Amanda Austin, DO Mary-Emma Beres, MD, FAAFP Holly Biola, MD, MPH, FAAFP David Brendle, DO Makell Brown Rhett Brown, MD, FAAFP Dawn Caviness, MD Christopher Danford, MD Deanna Didiano, DO, FAAFP Deepak Gelot, MD Greg Griggs Michael Gross, MD, FAAFP

Katie Haga, DO, FAAFP Kenneth Herring, MD Mark Hester, MD Latonja Ivery, MD Kevin Johnson, MD Nichole Johnson, MD, FAAFP Ronald Johnson, MD, FAAFP Eugenie Komives, MD, FAAFP William Laffond, MD, FAAFP Ronnie Laney, MD, MPH, FAAFP Catherine Lok, DO Richard Lord, MD, FAAFP Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, FAAFP Alfred May, MD

2025 NCAFP Membership Summary Our Members By Status Active 2,609 Student 639 Life 567 Resident 417 Inactive 47 Supporting 8 Transitional 1 Total 4,288 (Data as of December 2025)

14 | The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026

Chiranj Modi, MD Frank Moyer, MD, FAAFP Alexander Newman, MD Carl Nordstrom, MD, FAAFP Shawn Parker David Rinehart, MD, FAAFP Catherine Sotir, MD Barbara Stagg, MD Robert Toborg, MD Jessica Triche Staton, MD Eugene Wade, MD, FAAFP Adam Wenzlik, MD, FAAFP Mark D. White, MD

The 2025 NCAFP Distinguished Family Physician: Dr. Warren Newton The Distinguished Family Physician Award is the Academy’s most prestigious honor, and Dr. Newton earned it for his unparalleled service to the specialty in North Carolina and far beyond.

Dr. Newton serves as President and CEO of the American Board of Family Medicine. Through this work, he has led major redesigns of every aspect of the certification portfolio for family physicians, including the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment, a new National Journal Club, Knowledge Self Assessment,

performance improvement activities, and a major revision of the Board’s Professionalism Guideline.

Dr. Newton’s past roles include UNC Family Medicine Residency Program Director, UNC Family Medicine Department Chair, Executive Director at the NC Area Health Education Center, and as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Along the way, Dr. Newton has authored and co-authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications.

National and International Family Medicine Leadership Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, FAAFP President, WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) Shannon Dowler, MD, FAAFP AAFP Board of Directors Andrea DeSantis, DO, FAAFP Chair of AAFP Commission on Federal and State Policy

Immediate Past President Dr. Mark McNeill and Dr. Warren Newton.

2025 Degree of Fellow Recipients Congratulations to the following NCAFP members who received the AAFP Degree of Fellow in 2025: • Shannon R. Banks MD, FAAFP • Carina Murphy Brown MD, FAAFP • Deanna Didiano DO, FAAFP • Narges Farahi MD, FAAFP • Shawn M. Hamm DO, FAAFP

Sara Martin, MD, FAAFP AAFP Commission on Federal and State Policy

• Mark Heffington MD, FAAFP

Joanne Fruth, MD AAFP Commission on Quality and Practice

• Brittany J. McIntyre MD, FAAFP

Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE AAFP Commission on Health of the Public and Science

• Amina Moghul DO, FAAFP

Robert “Chuck” L. Rich, Jr., MD, FAAFP FamMedPAC Advisory Board Member

• Kelly W. Philpot MD, FAAFP

Jessica L. Triche, MD AAFP Commission on Education

• Judy Roland Schauer DO, FAAFP

R.W. (Chip) Watkins, MD, MPH AAFP Representative to the COLA Board (Commission on Laboratory Accredidation)

• Anthony W. Martin MD, FAAFP • William M. Moeller DO, FAAFP • Ryan Paulus DO, FAAFP • Louis P. Rotkowitz MD, MPH, FAAFP • James R. Stevens MD, FAAFP • Elizabeth J. Trout MD, FAAFP • Kodanda Ramulu Shalini Valusa MD, FAAFP • Genevieve Verrastro MD, FAAFP

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Continuing Medical Education Recap

The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians Foundation 2025 Foundation Leadership President Maureen E. Murphy, MD Vice President Eugenie M. Komives, MD Secretary-Treasurer Kyle Melvin, MD Exec. VP & CEO Greg Griggs, MPA, CAE Physician Trustee Amir H. Barzin, DO Physician Trustee Christopher P. Danforth, MD Physician Trustee Vickie A. Fowler, MD Physician Trustee Michael J. Harris, MD Physician Trustee Kenneth Herring, MD Physician Trustee Franklin Niblock, MD, MPH Physician Trustee Cecile Robes, DO

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Resident Trustee Resident Trustee Student Trustee Student Trustee Corporate Trustee Corporate Trustee Academy President Academy President-Elect

Atif Mahmood, MD Claire Namboodri, MD Shiela R. Romanick Julia Wood Steven Parker (Curi) Tom Wroth, MD (CCNC) S. Mark McNeill, MD, FAAFP

Benjamin F. Simmons, MD, FAAFP

2025 NCAFP Foundation Contributors NCAFP members and supporters of the Academy are encouraged to make gifts of ongoing significance or annual contributions to the NCAFP Foundation. The following individuals and organizations contributed to the Foundation in 2025: CAPSTONE DONORS: BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation • Novant Health • Community Care of North Carolina TRUSS DONORS: Towne Bank CORNERSTONE DONORS: WellCare • Novo Nordisk BLUEPRINT DONORS: Belmont Savings Bank • HomeTrust Bank • Triangle Wealth Management MENTOR DONORS: Dr. Allen Dobson • Dr. Mary Hall & Dr. David Hall • Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Koinis ADVOCATE DONORS: Drs. Eugenie Komives & Rex Bentley • Dr. Robert L. (Chuck) Rich, Jr. AMBASSADOR DONORS: Dr. Christopher P. Danford

Dr. & Mrs. William A. Dennis Dr. Dimitrios Hondros

Mr. Greg Griggs Dr. Alisa Nance Dr. Shauna Guthrie Dr. David Rinehart Dr. Bradley Propst & Mrs. Ashley Sedlak-Propst

ALLY DONORS:

Dr. Johnny Bagwell Dr. Amir Barzin Dr. Rhett Brown Dr. Joshua Carpenter Dr. Lisa Cassidy-Vu Dr. Deanna Didiano

Dr. Allison M. Evanoff Dr. & Mrs. J. Carson Rounds Dr. Jim Jones & Dr. Michelle F. Jones Dr. Christopher Street Dr. Rich Lord & Dr. Pat Lord Dr. Erin Wagner & Mr. Sean Wagner Dr. S. Mark McNeill Dr. Tom Wroth Dr. & Mrs. Tommy Newton The Pennings Family Charitable Fund

PLANNED GIVING DONORS: Dr. Conrad L. Flick and Dr. Vickie A. Fowler FRIEND DONORS: Dr. Natalie Abernathy Dr. Vanessa Adamson Dr. Robert Agnello Dr. Brandy Aguilar Dr. Kira Alatar Dr. Susan Alexander Dr. D. Landon Allen Dr. Amber Anderson Dr. Leah Anderson Dr. Amber Anderson Dr. Jessica Anewalt Dr. Amanda Austin Dr. Irina Balan Dr. Elizabeth Ball Dr. Robert Barnabei Dr. Kathleen Barnhouse Dr. Ted Bauman Dr. Susannah Bauman Dr. Teah Bayless Dr. Daniel Bellingham Dr. Mary Bengtson Dr. Mary-Emma Beres Dr. Holly Biola Dr. Mott Blair Dr. Brianna Blake Dr. Stacey Blyth Dr. Victoria Boggiano Dr. Sandra Bohnstengel Dr. Lisa Bowling Dr. Regina Bray Brown Dr. David Brendle Dr. Makell Brown

Dr. Michele Browne Dr. Austin Bush Ms. Sarah Cabrera Dr. Donna Capps Dr. Dawn Caviness Dr. Ann Chelminski Dr. Eric Chen Dr. Holly Clemons Dr. Ronald Cottle Dr. Vanessa Crerar Dr. Ashten Crosby Dr. Clayton Davis Dr. Wiley Davis, Jr Dr. Sreevalli Dega Dr. Andrea DeSantis Dr. Matthew Drake Dr. Paige Driver Dr. Kawanta Durham Dr. George Durst Dr. Fernando Escabi-Mendez Dr. Walter Ezeigbo Dr. Christopher Felton Dr. Bert Fields Dr. Theresa Flynn Dr. Michell Francis-Browne Dr. Garett Franklin Dr. Ashleigh Freeman Dr. Mia von Gal Dr. Christina Garcia Dr. Deepak Gelot Dr. Charles Glover Dr. Cecilia Gordon

Dr. Ashly Gottschalk Dr. Larry Greenblatt Dr. Alexa Greenwood Dr. Kevin Griggs Dr. Michael Gross Dr. Eva Guyer Dr. Katherine Haga Dr. Jeff Ham Dr. Shawn Hamm Dr. Mary Hampe Dr. Michael Harris Dr. Richard Hedrick Dr. Kit Helm Dr. Kenneth Herring Dr. Milton Hester Dr. Melissa Hicks Dr. Jennifer Hill Dr. Michael Hoben Dr. Rachael Hollifield Dr. Derrick Hoover Dr. Tamieka Howell Dr. Eva Imperial Dr. Latonja Ivery Dr. William Jennings Dr. Kevin Johnson Dr. Ronald Johnson Dr. Nichole Johnson Dr. Jason Jones Dr. David Kaplan Dr. Victoria Kaprielian Dr. Krista Kozacki Dr. William Laffond

Dr. Patricia Lage Dr. Aaron Lambert Dr. Sarita Lavani Dr. Kelley Lawrence Dr. Katherine Lee Dr. Catherine Lok Dr. Tiffany Lowe Clayton Dr. Shelly Lowery Dr. Yvonne Lowne-Chase Dr. Catherine Lynn Dr. Atif Mahmood Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi Dr. Alfred May Dr. Brian McCollough Dr. Cheryl McGowan Dr. Wendy McNeill Dr. Megan Mikkelson Dr. Celeste Miller Dr. Chiranj Modi Dr. William Moeller Dr. Amina Moghul Dr. Suzanne Montgomery Dr. Frank Moyer Dr. Jennifer Mullendore Dr. Moneika Murphy Dr. Stephen Musial Dr. Claire Namboodri Dr. Alexander Newman Dr. Kimberly Newton Dr. Franklin Niblock Dr. Carl Nordstrom

Dr. Steve North Dr. Tambetta Ojong Dr. Onyenyechi Onyeanuna Dr. Russell Pace Mr. Steve Parker Dr. Pulak Patel Ms. Elizabeth Perez Dr. Gerardo Pérez Dr. Phillip Peterson Dr. Elizabeth Peverall Dr. Ginia Pierre Dr. Timothy Plaut Dr. Tim Plaut Dr. Adebowale Prest Ms. Perry Price Dr. Elizabeth Provost Dr. Rebecca Putnam Dr. Dawn Quashie Dr. Deepa Ramaswamy Dr. Melissa Ratliff Dr. John Ray, Jr Ms. Shiela Marie Romanick Dr. Raleigh Rumley Dr. Helen Saenz Dr. Bailey Sanford Dr. Jonathan Sappington Dr. Heather Saxby Dr. Margaret Shanley Dr. Elllen Shannon Dr. Allen Shepard Dr. Angela Shupert Dr. Frankie Simmons

Dr. Jasmin Singh Dr. Nadine Skinner Dr. John Smith Dr. Allison Smith Dr. Richard Smits Dr. Catherine Sotir Dr. Barbara Stagg Dr. Sheila Stallings Dr. Amanda Steventon Dr. Ada Stewart Dr. Lynetta Stiltner Dr. Kiersten Swayne Dr. William Taylor Dr. Michael Taylor Dr. James Thompson Dr. Jessica Triche Staton Dr. Ching Tu Dr. Eugene Wade Mr. Garrett Wedge Dr. Amelie Weems Dr. Joseph Wehby Dr. Michael Weizman Mr. Nicholas Wells Dr. Adam Wenzlik Dr. Jessica Whelan Dr. Donna Whitt Dr. Sondra Wolf Ms. Julia Wood Dr. Danielle Woody Dr. Jessica Worriax Dr. Lisa York Dr. Christopher Zagar

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MEMBERSHIP

Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Warren Newton Received 2025 NCAFP Distinguished Family Physician of the Year Award On Dec. 5, 2025, NCAFP member Dr. Warren Newton received the 2025 NCAFP Distinguished Family Physician of the Year Award. This annual award recognizes NC family physicians who demonstrate leadership, ingenuity, and commitment to Family Medicine. Dr. Newton earned the award for his unparalleled service to the specialty in North Carolina and far beyond.

By Kevin LaTorre NCAFP Communications & Membership Manager

Dr. Newton rose to leadership in the NCAFP, NC Family Medicine, and national medicine.

After completing his undergraduate degree at Yale and medical school at the Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1984, Dr. Newton arrived in North Carolina after enrolling at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Family Medicine Residency. There, he rose through the ranks after completing residency in 1987: Dr Newton served as Residency Program Director, Department Chair, and Chief Academic Officer. But his service in North Carolina reached beyond UNC: Dr. Newton later worked as Executive Director at the NC Area Health Education Center and as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services. Along the way, Dr. Newton advanced his own learning by completing “It is clear that this the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars year’s winner likes a Dr. Warren Newton receives the award during the 2025 Winter Meeting.

Program and earning his master’s of challenge, and no one public health at the UNC Gillings School can ever accuse him of of Global Public Health. His constant scholarship helped not working hard,” Immediate Past President Dr. Mark him produce the 180+ peer-reviewed publications that he McNeill said while announcing the award during the has authored and co-authored in his career.

2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend. “Those who have worked with him have received a middle-of-theSince 2019, Dr. Newton has occupied a crucial national night email or had a very early morning conference role: President and CEO of the American Board of Family call or meeting.”

Medicine. Through this work, he has led major redesigns of every aspect of the certification portfolio for family When he received the award, Dr. Newton expressed physicians, including the Family Medicine Certification gratitude to his peers and mentors in the NCAFP. “I have Longitudinal Assessment, a new National Journal Club, learned so much from all of you,” Dr. Newton said.

Knowledge Self-Assessment, performance improvement “This is home. It’s good to come home.” activities, and a major revision of the Board’s Continues as “2025 Distinguished Family Physician” on back cover.

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Tools for Members

New Resource for Loan Repayment Now Available Through the NCAFP

By Tork Wade NCAFP Rural Health Consultant

I am excited to have joined the Academy as a consultant in order to help members explore opportunities to pay off their medical school debt while serving in communities that need family physicians. As a former director of the NC Office of Rural Health (ORH) and Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), I have worked with the NCAFP for over 30 years in improving health care in our state's underserved communities. That work has included developing more than 25 community-owned and operated primary care centers in those communities, as well as piloting and designing North Carolina’s first medical home program, Carolina Access. That program later became the foundation for CCNC.

to care. Interested applicants must commit to two years of full-time work at an approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), which are generally outpatient facilities providing primary care including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), FQHC look-alikes, Rural Health Clinics, private practices, and health departments. Selected program participants receive $75,000 for their loan repayments.

Tork Wade has served as ORH Director, CCNC Executive Director, CCNC Exec. VP for Business and Provider Partnerships, and other positions throughout his career. He currently serves as Rural Health Consultant at the NCAFP.

The NCAFP is excited to be working alongside the Office of Rural Health to promote the Primary Care Physicians Initiative (NC PCPI), a new loan repayment program for private practices that is sponsored by ORH. Under this program, a family physician with student loans can receive loan repayment awards of up to $100,000 for a four-year commitment to practicing in a private practice owned by an independent physician and located in one of NC’s 80 Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. You must be employed and providing services when the application is submitted. Funding is limited, and awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once the funding is exhausted, the PCPI will end unless the NC General Assembly appropriates new funding to continue it.

Similarly, the Community Care Recruitment (CCRP) and Practice Start-Up Programs (PSUP) help support a more robust primary care delivery system in rural and vulnerable communities. The CCNC Center for Community-Based Primary Care created the programs to positively impact the primary care workforce pipeline. CCRP is aimed at residents specializing in Family Medicine, pediatrics, or general internal medicine willing to commit to practice in an independent Community Care Physicians Network practice. It awards a scholarship of up to $150,000 with an additional $20,000 for practicing in a region with a HPSA score higher than 14. Funds are distributed as one $30,000 payment per year for five years.

The PSUP, on the other hand, is designed to support clinicians seeking to start their independent practices. Requests will be assessed and funded on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Other North Carolina loan repayment programs include:

This is just the newest loan repayment option, and there are several existing programs worth mentioning.

• The North Carolina Loan Repayment Program • The North Carolina High Needs Service Bonus • The North Carolina Medical Society Community Practitioner Program

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSCLP) is an option worth sharing for its versatility in urban, rural, and tribal communities. It offers family physicians loan repayments while earning a competitive salary in communities with limited access

For more information on these programs as well as assistance in exploring these options and connecting to the relevant parties, please contact me at twade@nc.rr.com or by phone at (919) 608-2309. I look forward to speaking with you!

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MEMBER NEWS Dr. Janine Scott Opens Free Community Clinic Near Burlington In September 2025, NCAFP member Dr. Janine Scott opened TriUnity Healthcare in Burlington, NC! “We had our grand opening on Sept. 28,” Dr. Scott said in a statement. “Lord willing, we’ll start seeing patients in January 2026.” TriUnity will provide “free, compassionate quality care for the whole body,” according to its Facebook page. (The picture above shows Dr. Scott in her office.) Congratulations to Dr. Scott! We wish her team the best of luck in caring for Burlington!

Dr. Michael Hoben Advocates for Value-Based Care Before Congress On Nov. 19, 2025, NCAFP member Dr. Michael Hoben testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee to discuss care coordination and value-based care. Dr. Hoben appeared as a witness at the Health Subcommittee Hearing on Modernizing Care Coordination to Prevent and Treat Chronic Disease. “Coordinated care is a cornerstone of the care we deliver,” Dr. Hoben said. “We stand ready to support efforts based on solutions that work: team-based care and community-based medicine.”

Dr. Hoben currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Population Health Services at Novant Health. He testified alongside three other national health care experts in population health and chronic disease management. In addition, Dr. Hoben taught “Coding for Success in Value Based Care” at the Hybrid Winter Family Physicians

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Weekend during the Practice Management Seminar! To sum it up: he’s an expert at the federal level, not just here in North Carolina.

Dr. Cristy Page Named UNC Health CEO On Nov. 20, 2025, NCAFP member Dr. Cristy Page became the CEO of UNC Health! “She will also serve as Dean of the UNC School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” UNC Health announced in a statement.

Dr. Page had served in these positions on an interim basis since July 2025. She then assumed them permanently after being elected by the UNC Board of Governors following recent action by the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and the UNC Health Board of Directors. Her expertise in rural primary care includes broadening access to care for patients through growing rural residency programs.

Meanwhile, Dr. Page has become a leader at UNC Health and at UNC, serving as distinguished faculty and executive dean at the medical school and as president of UNC Health Enterprises in 2024-25.

“Page will lead UNC Health at a critical time for the state’s leading academic health system and school of medicine,” UNC Health stated.

Dr. Chuck Rich Installed as NC Medical Board President-Elect On Nov. 20, 2025, past NCAFP president Dr. Robert L. “Chuck” Rich, Jr. (pictured above) was installed as the new president-elect at the North Carolina Medical Board

(NCMB)! He has served on the NCMB since 2022 and will now begin his second term on the NCMB board as president-elect.

Dr. Rich was first appointed to the NCMB by then-Governor Roy Cooper in 2022. He practices at Bladenboro Medical Associates in Elizabethtown and also serves as the first head of the Family Medicine Division at the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley School of Medicine in Fayetteville. Congratulations to Dr. Rich!

Dr. C.J. Atkinson Named to New Novant Health Leadership Role Late in 2025, Novant Health announced that NCAFP member Dr. C.J. Atkinson (pictured, right) was named the Senior Vice President of Physician Enterprise Operations and Network Development! “Leveraging nearly 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Atkinson will serve as a key executive leader with enterprise-wide responsibility for Novant Health’s physician operations,” said Novant Health Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Gizdic. “We look forward to his leadership in helping to recruit physicians while overseeing the development of our network and services.”

Dr. Atkinson previously served as the deputy chief physician executive for Novant Health Enterprises. In his new role, he will help lead Novant Health’s partnership and regional capacities to better support the system’s patients around the state. Congratulations to Dr. Atkinson!

members like you who accept leadership roles that we can accomplish our goals,” AAFP President Dr. Sarah Nosal wrote to Dr. Mensah. “I look forward with pleasure to working with you during this year while I am serving as President.”

The Commission members serve as AAFP representatives on the national programs that guide new health policies to define standards of medical care, among other responsibilities. Dr. Mensah began his important new role on Dec. 15 and will serve in it until Dec. 14, 2027 (with the chance for a two-year reappointment). Congratulations to Dr. Mensah!

Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi Addresses UN Session for WONCA! On Dec. 16, 2025, NCAFP member and World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) President Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi spoke before the United Nations! She addressed the Inaugural Global Meeting of the Global Commission for 21st Century Healthcare on behalf of WONCA, where she shared familiar and urgent insights with global leaders: “We won’t fix health systems with technology alone,” Dr. Martinez-Bianchi commented in a LinkedIn statement. “The future of healthcare depends on strong primary care, trusted relationships, and family doctors who know their patients, families, and communities over time. Digital tools should clear the path for care — not clutter it. As we design new health systems, we must also redesign medical education so future doctors truly understand continuity, prevention, and community-based care.”

Congratulations to Dr. Martinez-Bianchi, who continues to lead promising work in global Family Medicine!

Dr. Llewelyn Mensah Appointed to Key AAFP Commission NCAFP member Dr. Llewelyn Mensah was named to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Commission on Health of the Public and Science! “It is through the hard work of dedicated

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CME OPPORTUNITIES

NCAFP Members Enjoyed CME and Belonging at the 2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend

By Kathryn Atkinson, CMP NCAFP Director of CME & Events

From Dec. 4 through Dec. 7, the NCAFP hosted the 2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Over 930 guests participated in the conference either in person or virtually and gained new insights during the continuing medical education (CME) lectures and workshops.

Each year, the Winter Weekend reflects the very best of Family Medicine, and this year was no exception! The commitment to learning, the generosity in sharing expertise and experiences, and the genuine support among colleagues and peers created an atmosphere that was productive, inspiring, and energizing.

“This year, the presentations were exceptional,” said one attendee in a post-event survey. “The speakers were engaging, topics were very pertinent to practice. This was by far one of the best NCAFP conferences I have attended.

Exceptional job to those who organized this event!”

NCAFP Winter Meeting Attendees Enjoyed the CME They Can Use Thanks to the work of Program Chair Dr. Katie Haga and Program Vice Chair Dr. Amir Barzin, attendees of the meeting enjoyed four days of CME from top-notch guest faculty. Their subjects included Alzheimer’s diagnosis, comprehensive obesity care, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, neuromuscular disorders, RSV prevention, pediatric care, menopause, bipolar disorder, and many others in both the mainstage lecture hall and in the handson workshop and seminar settings. The sessions included “How Policymakers Hope to Improve Healthcare in North Carolina,” where Sen. Julie Mayfield, Rep. Dr. Tim Reeder, Sen. Amy Galey, and Sen. Benton Sawrey joined a panel to discuss future legislative plans to support primary care in our state.

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While many attended in person, the meeting also offered a virtual option, allowing more than 150 attendees from across the country to join online and enjoy all the meeting’s mainstage lectures. “The NCAFP virtual conference experience continues to excel in quality and ease of use,” said one attendee, “and surpasses that of other virtual conference experiences I’ve had.”

These CME sessions gave attendees the applicable insights they need to constantly improve their patient care. “Every person attending likely found something of interest that could be applied to their practice,” said one attendee. “The topics were very pertinent to my work.”

The Meeting Also Offered Social Belonging in the NCAFP Network of Family Physicians While education was an important component of the weekend, attendees received more than clinical insights.

They also enjoyed meaningful professional connections with colleagues from across the state and beyond. On Friday evening, the medical students and residents joined new physicians and NCAFP leaders at a social mixer to talk career advancement and residency choices over refreshments. And then on Saturday, dozens of attendees participated in the Health Heroes Roundtables Networking Lunch and enjoyed discussing maternal health, primary care investment, solutions for administrative burden, and other key topics where the NCAFP is working to help family physicians overcome obstacles to their work.

The event schedule intentionally built in time for connection, including daily mid-morning breaks, the NCAFP Awards Lunch on Friday, and the Presidential Gala on Saturday evening.

Congratulations to the Incoming NCAFP Board Members and to the NCAFP Award Winners!

Congratulations to the following members who took office during the installation ceremony which past American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) President Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize conducted during the Presidential Gala: • Dr. Benjamin “Frankie” Simmons as the 2025-26 NCAFP President • Dr. Deanna Didiano as the 2025-26 NCAFP President-Elect • Dr. Amanda Steventon as the 2025-26 NCAFP Secretary-Treasurer • Dr. Mark McNeill as the 2025-26 Immediate Past President • Dr. Eric Chen as an NCAFP At-Large Board Member • Dr. Katherine Haga as an NCAFP At-Large Board Member • Dr. Jay Patel as an NCAFP At-Large Board Member • Dr. Robert Agnello as an NCAFP Academic Board Member • Dr. Thomas White as AAFP Delegate • Dr. Jessica Triche as AAFP Alternate Delegate

• Dr. Irina Balan as the 2025-26 NCAFP Resident Director • Dr. Claire Namboodri as the 2025-26 NCAFP Resident Director-Elect • Ryan Taylor as the 2025-26 NCAFP Student Director • Taylor Ellis as the 2025-26 NCAFP Student Director-Elect (You can read Dr. Simmons’s presidential installation address on page 4.)

In addition to honoring Dr. Warren Newton with the NCAFP Distinguished Family Physician of the Year Award, the NCAFP also recognized other members: • Nuri Park (MS3, Wake Forest University School of Medicine), who won first place in the Medical Student Research Poster Contest • Anna Caffrey-Bottoms (MS4, University of North Carolina School of Medicine), who was first runner-up in the Medical Student Research Poster Contest • Dr. Madeline Diaz (Atrium Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency), who won first place in the Resident Research Poster Contest • Dr. Sofia Gkoulgkountina (Novant Health Family Medicine Residency), who was first runner-up in the Resident Research Poster Contest • Dr. Michael Harris (Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University), who won an Outstanding Community Teaching Award • Dr. Stephanie Alm (Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine), who won an Outstanding Community Teaching Award • Dr. Lauren Irizarry (Duke University School of Medicine), who won an Outstanding Community Teaching Award • Dr. Modjulie Moore (University of North Carolina School of Medicine), who won an Outstanding Community Teaching Award • Dr. Jay Patel (Wake Forest University School of Continues on next page.

The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 23

Medicine), who won an Outstanding Community Teaching Award

Care, NC-PAL, Millennium Healthcare, MDVIP, and NC Area Health Education Centers.

Thank You to Everyone Who Attended the 2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend!

And be sure to mark your calendars now for the 2026 Hybrid Winter Family Physicians Weekend in Asheville on Dec. 10-13, 2026. Whether you attend in person or online, make sure you look for registration information about the 2026 event this coming summer.

We were glad to host all our attendees, guest faculty, sponsors, and exhibitors throughout the event. I am extremely proud of the quality of CME we delivered, and I am very grateful to everyone — from the attendees, the faculty, the vendors, and our Asheville friends — who helped make the weekend such a wonderful success. I’m especially grateful to our Program Chairs, Dr. Katie Haga and Dr. Amir Barzin, for their thoughtful leadership and the care they put into shaping such a strong and rewarding educational experience.

We’d like to thank the sponsors who made the 2025 Winter Family Physicians Weekend possible: Novant Health, Community Care of North Carolina, Healthy Blue NC, Curi, Novo Nordisk, Humana, WellCare of North Carolina, Alo/Avance Care, Carolina Complete Health, Molina Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Aetna Health, AmeriHealth Caritas of NC, Hopscotch Primary

Here Are the Winning Posters from the 2025 Research Poster Contest!

By Perry Price Workforce Initiatives Manager

Thank you to everyone who submitted stellar Research Posters in the 2025 NCAFP Research Poster Contest and to the judges who reviewed them all. Here are the winners!

Dr. J. Seaborn Blair (center) and other guests.

Attendees in the Networking Lounge.

NCAFP President Dr. Benjamin "Frankie" Simmons poses with guests.

Past NCAFP President Dr. Mott Blair.

Dr. Blake Fagan (right) speaks with an attendee.

Dr. Irina Balan and Abigaile Manzaro.

First Place in the Medical Student Research Poster Contest: Nuri Park MS3, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

First Place in the Resident Research Poster Contest: Dr. Madeline Diaz, Atrium Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency

Medical Student Research Poster Winner Nuri Park.

Attendees at the NCAFP Awards Lunch.

Past AAFP President Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize address the Presidential Gala.

Dr. Bailey Sanford and other attendees dance at the Presidential Gala.

Dr. Rich Lord meets with attendees.

Dr. Kyle Melvin.

Dr. Cristy Page, Dr. Warren Newton, and Dr. Margaret Helton.

Attendees dance at the Presidential Gala.

An attendee practices in Dr. Brian Rayala's dermatology workshoop.

DJ Marvy Marv at the Presidential Gala.

A Winter Meeting attendee with Dr. Victoria Boggiano

Program Vice Chair Amir Barzin, Dr. Thomas White, Dr. Karen Smith,

and Hannah Rayala.

and Dr. Cheryl Walker-McGill.

Dr. Clare Namboodri, Ryan Taylor, Collette Cambey, and Drew Griggs.

Attendees in the Networking Lounge.

Attendees at the NCAFP Awards Lunch.

Attendees in the Practice Seminar during the Winter Meeting.

Guests enjoy dinner at the Presidential Gala.

Dr. Kelley Lawrence and Dr. Narghes Farahi lead the Women's Health Potpourri Workshop.

Attendees at a reception during the Winter Family Physicians Weekend.

Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize, Dr. Mark McNeill, and the 2025 AAFP Degree of Fellow receipients.

Dr. Taiwona Elliott and other attendees near the NCAFP Research Posters.

Dr. Akhila Boyina, Natalie Collier, and Dr. Atif Mahmood.

The 2025-26 NCAFP Board of Directors being installed during the Presidential Gala.

Attendees at the Winter Family Physicians Weekend.

RESIDENTS & STUDENTS

Students in the News

Andrea Augustine and Hannah Rayala Named 2025 Pisacano Foundation Scholars On Sept. 19, 2025, the Pisacano Foundation (PF) named the recipients of its 2025 scholarship. NCAFP members Andrea Augustine and Hannah Rayala (pictured below) both received this prestigious scholarship! “Each recipient is noted as an outstanding medical student who has made a commitment to enter the specialty of Family Medicine,” the PF states. Along with a $28,000 scholarship, the “program provides educational programs, leadership training, and funding for outstanding 4th-year medical students who have been identified as the future leaders in the field of family medicine.” Only 10 scholars were named in 2025, with two from North Carolina (both of whom are very active with the NCAFP!).

Andrea is a fourth-year medical student at the Duke University School of Medicine on the Primary Care Leadership Track. She serves on the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Board and completed the 2025 NCAFP summer programs in a rural community near Boone. According to the PF, Andrea moved to Atlanta, GA, after being born in Kerala, India. “Growing up as a low-income, first-generation immigrant, uninsured for much of her life and intimately familiar with the fear of needing medical care, shaped Andrea’s path to medicine,” her biography page states.

“My goal is to practice as both a clinician and an effective leader at the intersection of medicine, public health, policy, and community engagement — working to improve health outcomes and expand access to care for the most vulnerable among us,” Andrea says. “I am confident that the Pisacano Program will provide the mentorship,

28 | The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026

By Perry Price NCAFP Workforce Initiatives Manager

structure, and community needed to help me grow into that role.” She looks forward to how she can learn and grow through the program: “Pisacano also offers protected space to think critically about leadership: how we lead, how we sustain ourselves in this work, and how we develop the skills needed to create meaningful, lasting impact over time. Beyond the mentorship, I’m especially excited to grow alongside my cohort: learning with and from peers who will challenge me, ground me, and become lifelong collaborators as we enter the workforce together.”

Hannah is a fourth-year medical student at the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine and previously served on the NCAFP Advocacy Committee. Her PF biography page also shows how her commitment to the specialty began early: “Her commitment to Family Medicine is deeply personal, rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of two dedicated family physicians,” the page states.

“These early experiences instilled in her a deep respect for the specialty and a desire to follow in her parents’ footsteps.”

Accordingly, Hannah has high hopes for the Piscatano scholarship. “I hope to gain mentorship, structured leadership development, and a community of peers who share a deep commitment to advancing Family Medicine,” she says. “This program fits seamlessly into my long-term vision as a family physician committed not only to patient care, but also to systems-level change. I plan to pursue additional training through preventive medicine residency or health policy fellowship and dedicate my career to strengthening primary care through advocacy, policy reform, and investment in prevention.”

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WWW.NCAFP.COM/FAMDAY The NCAFP is thrilled to once again host Family Medicine Day! We invite medical students to join us for an action-packed, fun-filled day of hands-on clinical skills workshops taught The NCAFP is thrilled to once again host Family Medicine Day! We invite medical students

by NC Medicine Residency Programs, followed a Residency Recruitment Fair! to Family join us for an action-packed, fun-filled day of hands-onbyclinical skills workshops taught

by NC Family Medicine Residency Programs, followed by a Residency Recruitment Fair!

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PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING RESIDENCY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS Atrium Health CMC Atrium Health CMC Atrium Health Cabarrus Atrium Health Cabarrus Cone Health Cone Health Duke Duke Duke Rural Duke Rural ECU Health ECUHarnett HealthHealth Harnett Health MAHEC Asheville MAHEC Asheville

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The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 29

PATIENTS & PRACTICE

New CMS Models: What Family Physicians Need to Know Family physicians approach Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) value-based models with understandable caution: the promises are big, while the day-to-day reality can be added administrative burden with only modest upside. Even so, CMS’s newest Innovation Center models — ACCESS, ACO LEAD, and MAHA ELEVATE — may meaningfully reshape the care team, chronic disease supports, and care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries.

Knowing the basics now can help practices protect continuity, set expectations with partners, and leverage these new opportunities to benefit their patients.

Quick Summaries of the New Models ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) is a voluntary Original Medicare model that tests Outcome-Aligned Payments (OAPs) for technology-supported chronic condition management.

ACCESS starts with four tracks: early cardio-kidney-metabolic (eCKM), cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM), musculoskeletal (MSK) chronic pain, and behavioral health (BH) (depression/anxiety).

Participating organizations receive recurring prepayments for enrolled patients and an annual quality payment tied to whether patients meet measurable health outcomes such as A1c and blood pressure targets. This payment model indicates a significant shift for Medicare towards paying for clinical outcomes rather than a fee-for-service model. The model’s first performance period begins July 5, 2026; to be considered for that start date, applications must be submitted by April 1, 2026.

ACO LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) is a new 10-year Medicare ACO model running Jan. 1, 2027 to Dec. 31, 2036. The model provides targeted support for rural, smaller, and independent practices, through lower

30 | The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026

Tom Wroth, MD, MPH CEO, Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC)

beneficiary alignment minimums, flexible prospective payments, rural infrastructure payments, and improved benchmarking methodology. A significant new component of this ACO model is CARA (CMS Administered Risk Arrangements), which allow ACOs to create episode-based risk arrangements with specialists to align primary care and specialty incentives and address “specialty leakage.”

New beneficiary benefits to encourage patient engagement in preventive care also feature prominently in this model. Over the long term, ACO LEAD will create formal Medicaid-Medicare coordination frameworks to enable ACOs and practices to manage dual-eligible patients more effectively. ACOs can apply beginning in March 2026.

MAHA ELEVATE (Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle and Evaluating Value-based Approaches Through Evidence) funds organizations that can deploy evidence-based prevention programs (including nutrition and physical activity interventions) and aims to build evidence for approaches not currently covered

by Original Medicare. CMS plans to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in early 2026, with a model launch of Sept. 1, 2026.

Why ACCESS Matters Most to Family Physicians Right Now ACCESS is the most immediate “practice-level” disruptor because it creates a pathway for external entities to provide continuous, technology-enabled chronic care and because it pays based on outcomes. If implemented well, it could help more Medicare patients achieve meaningful improvements in blood pressure, glycemic control, pain/function, or depression/anxiety — especially those who need support between visits.

At the same time, it’s reasonable for primary care clinicians to be wary: many “innovation” models have promised alignment but delivered extra workflow and unclear accountability. ACCESS raises a different concern: continuity risk. CMS notes that beneficiaries may enroll “on their own or upon referral,” meaning chronic care support could occur outside the primary care practice unless collaboration is strong.

CMS has built in mechanisms meant to keep primary care connected. The model anticipates sharing updates with referring clinicians and includes a separate co-management payment for primary care/referring clinicians who review updates and coordinate care. CMS includes no beneficiary cost-sharing for that co-management payment. Whether these safeguards work will depend on partner behavior and real-world interoperability.

CCNC’s Recommendation: Protect Continuity with Primary Care If your patients are considering ACCESS — or you are asked to refer — choose partners that strengthen (not compete with) the primary care relationship: • Define roles in writing: who adjusts medications, orders labs, manages adverse effects, and escalates care

• Demand usable information flow: timely updates that fit your EHR workflow and arrive before major changes, not after • Require warm handoffs for material changes: direct clinician-to-clinician communication for medication starts/titrations or significant symptom changes • Use co-management intentionally: build a simple internal process to review updates, document actions, and close the loop with the patient ACCESS can improve outcomes, but only if it functions as an adjunct to primary care, preserving trust and continuity for patients.

Selected References 1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ACCESS Model webpage (updated Dec. 30, 2025).

2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ACCESS Technical Frequently Asked Questions (updated Dec. 18, 2025).

3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. LEAD Model webpage (updated Dec. 18, 2025).

4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. MAHA ELEVATE Model webpage (updated Dec. 11, 2025).

The NC Family Physician - Winter 2026 | 31

“2025 DISTINGUISHED FAMILY PHYSICIAN” Professionalism Guideline.

However Dr. Newton worked to advance Family Medicine and equip family physicians, he remained involved in the NCAFP. He has become a familiar leader in most NCAFP events and, together with his wife, a consistent supporter of future family physicians through the NCAFP Foundation. “[He] is certainly multi-dimensional, having impacted the specialty of Family Medicine well beyond our own state lines,” Dr. McNeill said of Dr. Newton. “[He] has led practice transformation efforts at the state, regional and national levels and has also had tremendous influence on both undergraduate and graduate medical education.”

Congratulations to Dr. Newton! The NCAFP thanks him for his leadership, service, and commitment to improving Family Medicine. *A version of this article appeared at ncafp.com in January 2026.*

"MEDICAID ADVOCACY" underlying issues still need to be resolved.

While the cuts are now being reversed, there is still a likely budget shortfall prior to the end of the fiscal year.

As the state and Medicaid plans work to update rates to the previous level, we are urging the Managed Care plans to make practices whole as soon as possible. The state released the updated fee schedule with the restored rates on Jan. 5, setting a deadline for plans to begin paying the updated rate and then start sending increased payment for all claims that were paid at the reduced rate between Oct. 1 and the time that claims start paying at the original rate again. In almost all cases (approximately 98%), physicians will automatically receive an increased payment without having to refile a claim that was paid at the lower rate.

As of this writing, we have also returned to our efforts to ensure that the legislature ultimately passes a bill that includes the increased funding for Medicaid. As stated earlier, the two chambers already agree on an amount.

Without a fix, cuts could still occur at a later date.

Moving forward, we hope the General Assembly and NCDHHS will agree on a long-term process to develop a consensus forecast for the Medicaid rebase, so that there will not be debates about exactly what is needed to adequately fund the program. And all of this is also occurring at a time when federal funding for Medicaid will likely decrease. The NCAFP will continue to update our members on this process as the year progresses.

As your Academy leaders, we will continue to work to educate lawmakers and other policymakers regarding the value that family physicians bring to the health care system: how you save money and improve outcomes. Cutting primary care simply does not make sense and only leads to delayed care that ultimately occurs in a much higher-cost setting.

But in an environment of fiscal austerity, we cannot sit on our laurels. We must redouble our work to show the value you bring to your patients and communities every day.