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Medboard Matters Podcast

This episode of MedBoard Matters, dives into the first part of a two-part series on N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-5.4 (aka, Duty to Report). This update to the NC Medical Practice Act took place in 2019 and requires medical professionals licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board to report: 1. Any sexual misconduct by a licensee of the Board; and 2. Any fraudulent prescribing, drug diversion or theft of controlled substances by a licensee of the Board. Host, Jean Fisher Brinkley talks with the medical board's two legislative liaisons, Thom Mansfield and Evelyn Contre, and also Deputy General Counsel Brian Blankenship about the statute and what it means for the licensees of the North Carolina Medical Board.

Posted February 22, 2023 | 
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Duty to Report information and resources

N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-5.4 requires medical professionals licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board to report:

1. Any sexual misconduct by a licensee of the Board

2. Any fraudulent prescribing, drug diversion or theft of controlled substances by a licensee of the Board.

Medical professionals need not have definitive evidence of misconduct to make a report. The law specifies that licensed medical professionals should submit a report if they “reasonably believe” that misconduct has occurred. Licensees who report suspected misconduct in good faith are granted civil immunity.

Submit a report to NCMB

Hosts and Guests

Jean Fisher Brinkley

Communications Director, North Carolina Medical Board

Jean Fisher Brinkley

Jean Fisher Brinkley is NCMB’s Communications Director, a role that involves developing and overseeing production of communications materials and strategies needed to enhance public and professional awareness and understanding of the Board and its mission. She joined NCMB in 2008, after an 11-year career in newspaper journalism, most of it dedicated to reporting on medicine, health policy and the business aspects of health care.

Brinkley earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mills College in Oakland, CA, and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters.

You can reach Jean at podcast@ncmedboard.org

Thom Mansfield

Chief Legal Officer and Legislative Liaison, North Carolina Medical Board

Thom Mansfield, Chief Legal Officer for the North Carolina Medical Board

Thom is Chief Legal Officer and Legislative Liason for the North Carolina Medical Board. He serves on the executive team and leads the Legal Department. He is general counsel to the Board, CEO, and staff on various legal and policy matters and directly manages all outside litigation for the Board.

Evelyn Contre

Chief Communications Officer and Legislative Liaison, North Carolina Medical Board

Evelyn Contre, Chief Administrative and Communications Officer/Legislative Liaison

Evelyn Contre is the Chief Administrative and Communications Officer/Legislative Liaison for the North Carolina Medical Board. She leads communication strategy for the organization and is responsible for communication planning including messaging, social media, public outreach, identity development, and developing programs to position NCMB as a trusted resource for the public and licensees. Her goal is to build broader awareness of NCMB’s mission and constituent support for the organization.

With more than 19 years of professional experience, Evelyn’s work includes communication strategy, sustainability consulting, corporate social responsibility, project management, and community outreach. Prior to joining NCMB, Evelyn founded and led a communication strategy firm for 8 years. She graduated with honors from North Carolina State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Evelyn lives in Raleigh with her husband and two young daughters.

Brian Blakenship

Deputy General Counsel, North Carolina Medical Board

Brian Blakenship, Deputy General Counsel for the Board

Brian serves as Deputy General Counsel for NCMB where he supervises three attorneys and manages the prosecution and defense of all cases handled by Board attorneys. Prior to joining NCMB in 2002, Brian served as an Assistant Attorney General with the North Carolina Department of Justice where he was responsible for prosecuting law enforcement officers accused of misconduct. Brian has served for more than 24 years in the United States military, first as a member of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) and, since 2001, as a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard.

Brian is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences on Medical Board investigations and prosecutions. In 2018, Brian was a presenter at the FSMB Board Attorney Workshop on Prosecuting Professional Sexual Misconduct Cases and in 2019, Brian served as a panel member of the General Session presentation, Sexual Boundary Violations: What State Medical Boards Need to Know.