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Independent Physicians of the Carolinas
Independent Physicians of the Carolinas is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) CelVebrVate V
membership organization whose mission is to create public awareness
of medical doctors not employed by a network or hospital system and to PAs
provide educational programs and resources to physician members and NATIONAL PA WEEK
their administration. Visit us at ipcarolina.org.
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is an independent National Physician Assistant Week
specialty practice with a staff of twenty-two highly skilled physicians.
National Physician Assistant Week is celebrated every year
Its doctors have been October 6-12. Treating patients in today’s complex healthcare
serving the Charlotte region settings takes an entire team of professionals. Among these
for more than 45 years. medical workers are physician assistants, broadly trained in
They are board-certified
in gastroenterology and a wide spectrum of conditions and tasks. Their education
offer special expertise in advanced biliary endoscopy and liver disease. focuses on patient education, preventive care and chronic care
They offer six conveniently located offices, four endoscopy centers, two management. They can help patients improve their quality of life
infusion centers and a research division. and manage chronic conditions. Physician assistants are unsung
heroes and deserve their moment in the limelight, so this week
Southern Oncology Specialists is pleased to announce its medical
director, William Mitchell, MD, was chosen as a top doctor in oncology is to celebrate them and be thankful for their efforts.
by Charlotte Magazine’s 2020 Top Doctors. Dr. Mitchell provides care
in oncology and hematology for patients 2000PAs in All 50 States
in north Charlotte, Huntersville and the
Lake Norman area. He founded SOS in Mississippi becomes the last state to authorize PA
July 2010; the practice celebrated its 10-
year anniversary this summer. 1988practice, making it legal in all 50 U.S. states.
First Master’s Degree Awarded
Congratulations to Justin P. Favaro, MD, PhD, medical director
of Oncology Specialists of Charlotte (OSC) on being named a top Duke University awards the first master’s degree for
doctor in Charlotte Magazine’s 2020 Top Doctors in two 1973physician assistant education.
categories: oncology and hematology. First PA Certification Exam
OSC is proud to recognize Clinical Supervisor, The National Board of Medical Examiners administers
Christine Buchanan, RN, OCN for having obtained
her certification as an OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse), 1968the first PA certification exam.
Buchanan has AAPA Forms
Justin P. Favaro, MD, PhD been a chemo
nurse at OSC The American Association of Physician Assistants
for 10 years. (now known as the American Academy of Physician
She had taken
the course and studied for the OCN certification exam 1967Assistants) is incorporated in North Carolina.
in Charlotte this spring, but the exam was cancelled due First Class of PAs
ChristineBuchanan,RN, to COVID-19. When the next exam in Charlotte was
OCN rescheduled for November, Buchanan decided not to wait Duke University Medical Center graduates the first
that long with the fresh material studied. She traveled to Virginia to take class of physician assistants in the country. The
the exam and is now a certified OCN. program was started to alleviate shortages of primary
care doctors.
16 | October 2020 • Mecklenburg Medicine
