Why Physicians Should Practice in North Carolina

General pediatrician Julie Schopps hails from Texas, where she also attended medical school, but works in Statesville, N.C., for a large private practice. Still, while there’s no place like home, there’s a lot to love about practicing in the coastal, geographically diverse state.

For you, what is the best part about practicing medicine in North Carolina?

One amazing benefit to practicing medicine in North Carolina is that the people are, by and large, warm, caring and generous. They take time to get to know you and still hold physicians in high regard without putting us on too high a pedestal. It is not at all uncommon that a mother or child recognizes me at the grocery store or brings excess garden produce to our office to share. I also appreciate the way our tertiary care centers are spread out with great accessibility and the way the specialists to whom I refer respect me and my opinion and expertise.

What, if anything, would you change about practicing in North Carolina?

The one thing I would like to see change in North Carolina is a significant decrease in illegal drug-related addictions, family disruptions, and their adverse effects on children. Every state has seen more problems with this, but my "grown-up Christmas wish" is for this to never be a detriment to a child's well-being. 

If you could practice in any other state, would you and why?

If I could practice in any other state, it would probably be my home state of Texas. I admire Texans' spirit of independence and their willingness to take care of each other and their own problems. But for now, I think I'll stay put in my adopted home state of North Carolina.

Get additional physician perspectives on these states:Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / South Carolina / Tennessee / Texas / Vermont / Washington, D.C. / Washington / Wisconsin

Return to the main Best States to Practice topic resource center.