FSMB 2024 Annual Report: Message to Our Stakeholders

Each year presents unique challenges and opportunities for medical regulators. This past year was no exception. We proudly recognize the state medical and osteopathic board community’s unwavering commitment to public protection despite numerous issues facing medical regulation and healthcare.

We are highlighting key achievements from FSMB’s 2023-2024 fiscal year – our 112th year of service. Please explore our Annual Report website to learn more about FSMB’s activities and accomplishments during the past year.

FSMB renewed its focus on supporting our state and territorial medical boards. Andrea Ciccone, JD, FSMB’s Vice President for Engagement and Member Services, worked with several FSMB staff to collaborate with board executive directors to provide targeted operational support. We also partnered with Administrators in Medicine (AIM) leadership to enhance the professional development of board staff, an ongoing priority.

Significant investments in technology continue to benefit medical boards. FSMB’s Physician Data Center and Information Systems teams, led by Chief Operating Officer Mike Dugan, MBA, enhanced multiple services across departments and initiated a pilot project to migrate several member boards to a new user interface, streamlining workloads and improving staff experiences.

 FSMB focused on developing new policies and approaches to several critical issues:

• Physician workforce shortages and migration

• Advances in technology, including in artificial intelligence

• Challenges to professional regulation

• Additional licensing models that streamline licensure for IMGs

On that last item, this past year saw a rapid increase in states (nearly a dozen) adopting legislation to improve access to care for underserved communities in their jurisdictions by provisionally licensing international medical graduates (IMGs) who already completed their specialty training overseas. These laws transition provisional licenses to a full unrestricted license if certain criteria are met and require the state medical boards to implement new rules.

To guide best practices for regulating physicians licensed through this streamlined pathway, FSMB is co-chairing an Advisory Commission on Alternate Licensing Models, working alongside the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and Intealth (which oversees ECFMG).

During the 2024 House of Delegates meeting in Nashville, FSMB adopted several significant reports and best practice recommendations:

• Updated guidance on opioid pain care prescribing, drafted by the FSMB Workgroup on Opioid and Addiction Treatment, aiding state medical boards in evaluating pain management practices.

• Recommendations for regulatory oversight of physicians in postgraduate training, drafted by the FSMB Workgroup on Regulation of Physicians in Training.

• Ethical principles and regulatory considerations for the use of Artificial Intelligence in clinical practice, drafted by the FSMB Ethics and Professionalism Committee.

FSMB’s future is bright, driven by collaboration, engagement and partnership. It is a privilege to have worked closely with you – the members and staff of our nation’s state and territorial medical boards.

Jeffrey D. Carter, MD                                        
Chair, Board of Directors

Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MACP
President and CEO