IMPACT
REPORT

In June, FSMB launched a national public awareness campaign—Care Matters—to spotlight the critical role state medical boards play in protecting patients and supporting quality care.

The campaign features a series of short video ads on Instagram and Facebook, aimed at primarily reaching women ages 18–55. These videos highlight the vital role physicians play in life’s most important health moments—while also emphasizing how state medical boards work behind the scenes to support safe, ethical, and high-quality care. By reinforcing the connection between trusted care and effective regulation, the campaign builds public understanding of the value medical boards bring to the healthcare system.

A Lifetime of Care You Can Trust

FSMB partnered with the nationally recognized branding agency Mekanic to develop CareMatters.org—an easy-to-use resource where the public can:

• Learn about the mission and work of state medical boards
• Look up their physician’s credentials through DocInfo.org
• Find contact information for their state board

Since launch, the campaign has generated more than 19 million views across social media and driven over 20,000 website visits to CareMatters.org.

FSMB is also making campaign videos available for boards to use on their own websites and social channels. Additional resources are in development based on member feedback and will be available in the coming months.

Want to learn more or use these resources?
Visit www.carematters.org or email jknickrehm@fsmb.org for information about how your board can participate.

John Bremer, Managing Director, Advocacy & Policy; Lisa Robin, Chief Advocacy Officer; and Dr. Jorge Alsip, FSMB Board/Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, met with the Alabama congressional delegation in June to voice FSMB support for the SHARE Act.

FSMB continues to advocate for solutions to support a strong and flexible health care workforce—most recently through support of the SHARE Act (States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment Act). The SHARE Act would reduce barriers to health care licensure across states by streamlining how state licensing boards access federal criminal background check information. It would authorize the FBI to share this information directly with state boards for individuals seeking licensure through interstate compacts, such as the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) and the PA Licensure Compact (PA Compact). FSMB has formally endorsed this legislation and is actively working to secure passage of the SHARE Act in both the U.S. House and Senate.

By improving access to essential background check data, the SHARE Act would help:

• Speed up the licensure process for health care professionals practicing in multiple states
• Improve workforce mobility, helping to address health care shortages—especially in underserved communities
• Strengthen patient safety by ensuring licensing boards have the information they need to make informed decisions

In recent months, FSMB’s advocacy staff, members of our Board of Directors, and representatives from state medical boards, have met with legislators in Washington, DC, to voice strong support for the bill and emphasize the importance of improving licensure pathways in today’s rapidly evolving health care environment.

FSMB will continue to work with policymakers and member boards to advance legislation that supports safe, efficient licensure across state lines.

FSMB has released the latest edition of its biennial census of licensed physicians, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the U.S. physician workforce.

As of 2024, there are 1,082,187 licensed physicians across the United States and the District of Columbia—a 27% increase since the census was first published in 2010. State medical boards issued a record 146,000 new licenses last year alone, representing a 13% increase over 2022 and 43% more than in 2020.

Key findings from the 2024 census include:

Physicians represent:

Women now represent:

Most physicians hold a license in a single state, but IMGs are more likely to be licensed in multiple states, often practicing in underserved areas. This trend is contributing to growing legislative interest in alternative licensure pathways for internationally trained physicians—particularly those who have practiced abroad but haven’t completed a U.S. residency.

These developments reflect broader shifts in health care delivery and demand, and the census continues to be a valuable resource for state and federal policymakers, regulators, and workforce planners.

View Census licensing data by state or read the full Census article in the Journal of Medical Regulation (link to come).

Trailer: Educational Series on Physician Professional Boundaries

FSMB, in collaboration with the FSMB Foundation and Administrators in Medicine Foundation, has launched a new educational video series designed to help physicians navigate complex situations involving professional boundaries in clinical practice.

Maintaining appropriate boundaries is essential for protecting patient trust, upholding ethical standards, and ensuring safe, respectful care. This series offers real-world scenarios that highlight where those boundaries can sometimes become blurred.

The video series explores three common situations:

• Writing prescriptions for friends or family members
• Pursuing inappropriate romantic relationships with patients, their guardians, or close contacts
• Conducting intimate examinations without clear communication and patient consent

Each scenario is followed by expert commentary offering guidance on how to recognize, manage, and prevent boundary violations—reinforcing the importance of professionalism, ethical conduct, and trust in the physician-patient relationship.

This educational resource is intended for a wide audience, including:

• Medical students and residents
• Practicing physicians
• State medical and osteopathic board members and staff
• Patients and others in the medical regulatory community

By addressing these often difficult but critical topics, the series aims to support safe, ethical care and strengthen patient-physician interactions.

The video series is available online, and participants are eligible to receive continuing medical education (CME) credit upon completion. For more information, email edu@fsmb.org.