As part of the Foundation’s Physician Leadership blog series, we recently sat down with Docia Hickey, MD, President of the North Carolina Medical Society. Dr. Hickey, a neonatologist with more than 30 years of experience working across an array of practice settings, shares her thoughts on the current state of medicine, advice for young physicians and the competencies and qualities needed to become a physician leader today.

This is the first in a series of posts focused on physician leadership. The Foundation’s goal is to begin a dialogue with practicing physicians, state medical societies and other key stakeholders on the role of physician leadership, its various components and how best the medical community can work together to maximize our success.

The Physicians Foundation awarded a grant in 2012 to the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to launch a Chief Medical Officer Leadership Series, a core focus area for both organizations. Heather Wilson, Executive Director of the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, who leads their physicians’ health programs, shares her thoughts on the success of the program.