“Our association also supports physicians having a national medical license,” Dr. Harner says. “During the pandemic, our rheumatologists often provided care to patients in neighboring states, such as Virginia and West Virginia, that also have a shortage of rheumatologists.”
Dr. Harner would like to continue to emphasize educational opportunities for NCRA members and hopes to offer more workshops via Zoom as well as in person, so rheumatologists and rheumatology providers across the state can participate.
He praises Tammy Bulger, the NCRA’s administrative director, for her hard work in developing meeting agendas, securing venues for events and applying for grants to fund activities.
“Tammy is a senior lecturer in communication studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and has been working with the NCRA for over 15 years,” Dr. Harner says. “She does a terrific job keeping the NCRA organized and helping make our annual conference an event everyone looks forward to attending.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCRA canceled its 2020 academic conference and held a virtual conference in 2021. The 2022 NRCA conference is planned for March 19–20, 2022 at the Washington Duke Inn, Durham.
Linda Childers is a health writer located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
References
- Blue Cross NC extends pandemic telehealth policy through 2021. BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina. 2021 Apr 13.
- DeVane S. Cape Fear Valley to build center to train doctors. Here’s what that means for Cumberland County. The Fayetteville Observer. 2021 Feb 15.
