North Carolina Physician Receives Outstanding Achievement Award
L. Allen Dobson, Jr., MD, Recognized for Leadership, Service, and Patient-Centered Care
Mount Pleasant, NC – Family practice physician L. Allen Dobson, Jr. of Mount Pleasant, NC, was awarded The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence’s (CCME) 2020 T. Reginald Harris, MD Memorial Award in recognition for his outstanding achievements in health care quality and service to the medical community and underserved populations. Dr. Edwards, President, NC Medical Society, presented the award on October 16, 2020, at the NC Medical Society virtual business meeting.
A graduate of NC State University and Wake Forest University’s Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Dr. Dobson completed his residency in family medicine at East Carolina University. He founded Cabarrus Family Physicians in 1983. This practice was also the site of one of the first family practice residency programs in the state. Dr. Dobson grew the program into a multi-site system with multiple practices serving thousands of patients in Cabarrus and neighboring counties. It is a testament to his personal commitment to the critical role primary care plays in population health improvement.
Before the term “population health” became popular, Dr. Dobson launched Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), a statewide infrastructure that made it possible for physicians to efficiently work together, test ideas, compare outcomes and share best practices. That infrastructure ensured physicians had the support they needed to successfully support their patients with complex needs and, as well, to work together and with other local organizations to support those in need and to improve the overall health of their communities. Its data-driven, physician-led clinical teams located from the mountains to the coast, link children and adults, and those with multiple, chronic health conditions to a medical home located in their community. It is a national model for improving patient outcomes and lowering costs.
Dr. Dobson also secured funding from the NC Legislature to support care for the aged, blind and disabled and to establish the Health Net program for the uninsured which provided low-income citizens access to coordinated health care.
Clinical programs such as Pregnancy Medical Home and care management for foster children are among many successful CCNC programs aimed at improving the quality of care delivered in our state. Nine out of ten primary care physicians in the state now accept Medicaid. Currently CCNC is at the forefront in helping the state manage the pandemic and in providing primary care physicians with the information and skills they need to keep their doors open and their practices financially solvent.
