North Carolina Health Professional Supply Data

About the Health Professions Data System

The North Carolina Health Professions Data System (HPDS) collects and disseminates descriptive data on selected licensed health professionals in North Carolina. With annual files dating back to 1979, the HPDS is the oldest continuous state health workforce data system in the country.

The HPDS is maintained by the Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in collaboration with the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program (AHEC), and the state’s independent health professional licensing boards. Ongoing financial support is provided by the NC AHEC Program Office and the Office of the Provost at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Although the NC HPDS maintains the data system, the data remain the property of their respective licensing board.

Data include active, licensed health professionals practicing in North Carolina as of October 31 of each data year. County counts are based on primary practice location. Some providers may practice in additional locations not shown in primary practice location counts.

Note on Underrepresented Minorities

Underrepresented minorities include health professionals that self-identify as African-American/Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and/or Hispanic. Health professionals that self-identify as Asian are not included in this category. Both state ¹ and national ² data have shown that compared to the general population, Asians tend to be more represented in many (although not all) health professions, particularly those requiring a doctoral degree.

Spero JC. Does North Carolina’s health care workforce reflect the diversity of the state’s population? NC Med J. 2016; 77(2):141-145.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. Sex, Race, and Ethnic Diversity of U.S. Health Occupations (2010-2012), Rockville, Maryland; 2015.

HPDS Physician and Physician Assistant Primary Area of Practice Information

What is a Primary Area of Practice?

The NCMB annual licensure/reregistration forms request self-selected primary area of practice, defined as “ What you primarily do as a physician.” The forms note that “Primary area of practice may correspond to an ABMS/AOA certification or a generally recognized area of work, such as ‘hospitalist’ or ‘administrative medicine.’”

Why doesn’t the data visualization tool have Primary Area of Practice data prior to 2011?

The NCMB began to collect data on physician and PA primary area of practice in 2011. Data on primary area of practice are not available prior to 2011.

How are Primary Areas of Practice grouped in the data visualization tool?

The HPDS area of practice categories used in the data visualization tool group physicians and PAs by what they primarily do, not by how they trained. For example, adolescent medicine is categorized as general pediatrics, no matter whether the branch specialty was pediatrics, family medicine, or internal medicine.

The “Primary Care Physician” and “Generalist Physician” groups include counts of physicians from multiple areas of practice are not exclusive groups. For example, a physician who selects a primary area of practice of “pediatrics” is included in the Primary Care Physician, Generalist Physician, and General Pediatrics groups. General Pediatrics is an exclusive group, meaning that the physician is excluded from all other area of practice groups.

HPDS Primary Area of Practice Categories

Primary Care Physician (not exclusive category)

Adolescent Medicine (FM)
Adolescent Medicine (IM)
Adolescent Medicine (Peds)
Family Medicine
General Practice
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Pediatrics

Generalist Physician (not exclusive category)

Family Medicine
Adolescent Medicine (FM)
Adolescent Medicine (IM)
Adolescent Medicine (Peds)
General Practice
Hospitalist
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Pediatrics
Urgent Care Medicine
Geriatric Medicine (FM)
Critical Care Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Internal Medicine – Family Medicine
Internal Medicine – Geriatrics
Internal Medicine - Geriatrics
Medicine-OBGYN
Integrative Medicine
Student Health

Administrative Medicine

Legal Medicine
Medical Management

Allergy & Immunology

Allergy
Allergy and Immunology
Immunology
Clinical and Laboratory Immunology (Allergy & Immunology)
Clinical and Laboratory Immunology (Internal Medicine)
Clinical and Laboratory Immunology (Pediatrics)
Clinical and Laboratory Dermatological Immunology

Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology
Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (Anesthesiology)
Critical Care Medicine - Anesthesiology
Obstetric Anesthesiology (Anesthesiology)
Pediatric Anesthesiology (Anesthesiology)

Cardiology

Cardiovascular Disease
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Interventional Cardiology
Vascular Medicine

Critical Care Medicine, General

Critical Care Medicine (Internal Medicine)

Dermatology

Dermatology
Dermatologic Surgery
MOHS Micrographic Surgery
Micrographic Surgery
Internal Medicine - Dermatology
Procedural Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medicine
Critical Care Medicine (Emergency Medicine)
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medicine/Family Medicine
Internal Med/Emergency Med/Critical Care Med
Internal Medicine - Emergency Medicine
Medical Toxicology (Emergency Medicine)
Sports Medicine (Emergency Medicine)
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Emergency Medicine)

Endocrinology

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Diabetes

Family Medicine

Family Medicine, Family Practice
General Practice
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology
Hepatology
Transplant Hepatology (Internal Medicine)

General Surgery

General Surgery
Abdominal Surgery

General Surgery, Specialty

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Proctology
Surgical Critical Care (Surgery)
Transplant Surgery
Trauma Surgery

Geriatrics

Geriatric Medicine (FM)
Internal Medicine - Geriatrics

Hematology/Oncology

Hematology/Oncology
Hematology
Hematology (Internal Medicine)
Hematology (Pathology)
Oncology
Medical Oncology
Neoplastic Disease

Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Hospice & Palliative Care (OBGYN)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Anesthesiology)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Emergency Medicine)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Family Medicine)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Radiology)
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Surgery)
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Palliative Medicine

Hospitalist

Hospitalist

Infectious Disease

Infectious Disease

Internal Medicine, General

Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine – Family Medicine

Nephrology

Nephrology

Neurological Surgery

Neurological Surgery
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (Neurological Surgery)
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (Neurology)
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (Radiology)
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Neurological Critical Care

Neurology

Neurology
Brain Injury Medicine (Neurology)
Brain Injury Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
Clinical Neurophysiology
Epilepsy
Internal Medicine - Neurology
Movement Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Psychiatry & Neurology)
Neurology (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
Neurology/Nuclear Medicine
Neurology/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Neuromuscular Medicine (Neurology)
Neuromuscular Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
Spinal Cord Injury/ Physical Medicine and Rehab
Electrodiagnostics
Neuropathology
Neuropsychiatry
Psychiatry - Neurology
Vascular Neurology

Obstetrics & Gynecology, General

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Gynecology
Obstetrics
Medicine-OBGYN

Obstetrics & Gynecology, Specialty

Critical Care Medicine (OBGYN)
Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (OBGYN)*
Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (Urology)*
Gynecological Oncology
Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery

Orthopedic Surgery
Adult Reconstructive Orthopedics
Foot and Ankle Orthopedics
Musculoskeletal Oncology
Orthopedic Trauma
Orthopedic Surgery Of The Spine
Sports Medicine (Orthopedic Surgery)

Other Specialty

Other Specialty
Bariatric Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Global Health
Integrative Medicine
Pharmaceutical Medicine
Student Health

Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
Neurotology (Otolaryngology)
Otoneurotology
Otology
Otorhinolaryngology
Rhinology
Laryngology
Bronchoesophagology
Plastic Surgery Within The Head & Neck (Otolaryngology)

Pain Medicine

Pain Medicine
Pain Management
Pain Medicine (Anesthesiology)
Pain Medicine (Neurology)
Pain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
Pain Medicine (Psychiatry)

Pathology

Anatomic/Clinical Pathology
Anatomic Pathology
Laboratory Medicine
Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine
Chemical Pathology
Clinical Biochemical Genetics
Clinical Cytogenetics
Clinical Genetics
Clinical Informatics (Pathology)
Clinical Molecular Genetics
Clinical Pathology
Cytopathology
Dermatopathology (Pathology)
Forensic Pathology
Internal Medicine-Medical Genetics
Medical Biochemical Genetics
Medical Genetics
Medical Microbiology
Molecular Genetic Pathology (Medical Genetics)
Molecular Genetic Pathology (Pathology)
Pediatric Pathology
Phlebology
Radioisotopic Pathology
Selective Pathology

Pediatric Non-Surgical Specialties

Child Abuse Pediatrics
Child Neurology
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Hospice & Palliative Medicine (Pediatrics)
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Pediatrics)
Pediatric Allergy
Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine)
Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics)
Pediatric Endocrinology
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Pediatric Medical Toxicology
Pediatric Nephrology
Pediatric Pulmonology
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Pediatric Rheumatology
Pediatrics – Sports Medicine
Pediatric Transplant Hepatology
Pediatrics - Medical Genetics
Pediatrics/ Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Pediatrics/Dermatology
Pediatrics/Emergency Medicine
Sleep Medicine (Pediatrics)

Pediatric Surgical Specialties

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Pediatric Ophthalmology
Pediatric Orthopedics
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Urology

Pediatrics, General

Pediatrics
Adolescent Medicine (FM)
Adolescent Medicine (IM)
Adolescent Medicine (Peds)

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Physiatry
Internal Medicine - Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation
Sports Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)

Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic Surgery
Craniofacial Surgery
Facial Plastic Surgery
Hand Surgery
Hand Surgery (Orthopedics)
Hand Surgery (Surgery)
Hand Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
Ophthalmic Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic Surgery - Integrated
Plastic Surgery Within The Head & Neck
Plastic Surgery Within The Head & Neck (Otolaryngology)
Plastic Surgery Within The Head & Neck (Plastic Surgery)

Preventive Medicine

General Preventive Medicine
Aerospace Medicine
Clinical Informatics (Preventive Medicine)
Epidemiology
Family Medicine/Preventive Medicine
Internal Medicine/Preventive Medicine
Medical Toxicology (Preventive Medicine)
Nutrition
Occupational Medicine
Industrial Medicine
Public Health and General Preventive Medicine
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine (Preventive Medicine)

Psychiatry, Addiction

Addiction Medicine
Addiction Psychiatry

Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Pediatrics - Psychiatry

Psychiatry, General

Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry
Geriatric Psychiatry
Internal Medicine - Psychiatry
Psychiatry - Family Practice
Psychoanalysis
Psychosomatic Medicine
Hypnosis

Pulmonology

Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Radiology

Radiology
Abdominal Radiology
Cardiothoracic Radiology
Diagnostic Radiology
Body Imaging
Diagnostic Ultrasound
Diagnostic Roentgenology
Internal Medicine/Nuclear Medicine
Musculoskeletal Radiology
Neuroradiology
Neurology/Diagnostic Radiology/Neuroradiology
Nuclear Cardiology
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Radiology
Pediatric Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Radiological Physics
Therapeutic Radiology
Vascular & Interventional Radiology

Rheumatology

Rheumatology
Rheumatology

Sleep Medicine

Sleep Medicine
Sleep Medicine (Anesthesiology)
Sleep Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Sleep Medicine (Otolaryngology)
Sleep Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology)

Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine (FM)
Internal Medicine – Sports Medicine

Surgical Oncology

Surgical Oncology
Advanced Surgical Oncology

Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery
Congenital Cardiac Surgery (Thoracic Surgery)
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery
Cardiovascular Surgery
Thoracic Surgery - Integrated

Urgent Care Medicine

Urgent Care Medicine

Urology

Urology
Urological Surgery
Endourology

Vascular Surgery

Vascular Surgery
Vascular Surgery - Integrated

Funding & Acknowledgements

The HPDS is maintained by the Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in collaboration with the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program (AHEC), and the state’s independent health professional licensing boards. Ongoing financial support is provided by the NC AHEC Program Office. Although the NC HPDS maintains the data system, the data remain the property of their respective licensing board. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by NC AHEC. To learn more about NC AHEC please visit: https://www.ncahec.net.