FSMB Foundation Past Projects and Initiatives

The FSMB Foundation has provided numerous grants directly to state medical boards and other recipients to support research and educational initiatives that advance best practices in medical regulation and strengthen the safety and quality of healthcare. Projects and initiatives supported by the FSMB Foundation include: 

2025

Professional Boundaries Educational Video Series

The FSMB Foundation's Professional Boundaries Educational Video Series was launched to help physicians, regulators, and patients better understand and prevent professional boundary violations in healthcare. Developed in collaboration with FSMB and the Administrators in Medicine Foundation, the series uses realistic, scenario-based videos to illustrate common boundary challenges. Topics include prescribing medications for friends and family, navigating inappropriate personal relationships with patients, and conducting intimate examinations appropriately and respectfully. The series offers CME credit.

Continued Technology Modernization Grants

The FSMB Foundation continued to provide funding opportunities to state medical boards seeking to improve their technology and innovation strategies. It awarded nearly $262,000 in grants, with approximately half the grants focused on improving technology used in licensing, discipline, and public communication and the other half focused on license portability initiatives.

2024

Innovations and Upgrades of Technology Resources and Programs

The FSMB Foundation concentrated on technology modernization for state medical boards, making the largest grants in its history and increasing its grant pool to more than $384,000. The overarching goal was to help boards improve licensing, discipline, public communication, and emergency preparedness through technology.

2022-2023

Foundation Grants Related to Complaint Data

The FSMB Foundation’s grantmaking shifted significantly in 2022-2023 from pandemic-response projects towards strengthening the effectiveness of medical regulation. It launched a new initiative focused on how state medical boards collect, analyze and use complaint data to improve patient protection and regulatory decision-making.

2021

COVID-19 Response Grants

The FSMB Foundation awarded four COVID-related grants totaling $100,000.  The projects focused on areas such as physician workforce shortages, health equity during disasters, physician well-being, and telehealth policy.

2017-2020

Foundation Mini-Grants and General Project Grants

The FSMB Foundation awarded 10 mini-grant and general project grants totaling $148,000 to support various educational and research efforts. Award recipients represented the state medical board community, academic medical centers, and other nonprofit organizations.

2016

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Mini Grants

The FSMB Foundation awarded several grants to support projects associated with the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which is an agreement among participating U.S. states and territories to work together to significantly streamline the licensing process for physicians who want to practice in multiple states. The purpose of the grants is to support the Compact, its Commission, and state medical boards in their readiness to participate and implement the Compact.

2014

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Grants to the State Medical Board Community

The FSMB Foundation awarded 26 grants for a combined total of $250,000 to state medical boards. Funded by the ER/LA Opioid Analgesics REMS Program Companies, grant recipients used these funds to host prescriber educational programming in their respective states on extended-release and long-acting opioids.

2013

Journal of Medical Regulation Article: Exposure to Violent Threats

A final summary of the S.A.V.E. (Safety and Violence Education) project conducted from 2010 to 2012 was published in the Journal of Medical Regulation.

First FSMB Foundation Luncheon

Since 2013, the FSMB Foundation has hosted its annual fundraising luncheon in conjunction with FSMB’s Annual Meeting. The funds raised from the event further the FSMB Foundation’s mission to support research and educational initiatives that strengthen, support and advance the work of the state medical board community.

2010-2012

Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) Survey

The S.A.V.E. (Safety and Violence Education) project was initiated by the FSMB Foundation after a tragic attack on a board member within the state medical board community. Results from the survey showed that threats of violence against state medical board members and staff are prevalent and diverse. As a response to heightened attention to this issue, many medical boards have initiated steps to respond to threats and potential violence, and to safeguard members and staff.

2010

Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission Metrics Project

The FSMB Foundation supported a grant request from the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission to help fund a systematic analysis and review of the Commission’s data collection relevant to the performance management of its current medical board model as compared to the other health professional boards in Washington State. The analysis drew upon the experiences and best practices of other state medical boards.

2009

Medical Professionalism Project

The FSMB Foundation launched an educational outreach program intended to help physicians and the public better understand the unique role state medical boards play in the nation’s healthcare system. This program consisted of vital information on licensing, discipline and general professionalism in medicine and included outreach and special presentations to medical students, residents, medical staff coordinators, physician groups, medical societies, hospital medical staffs, clinic managers, and many other groups.

2007-2016

Responsible Opioid Prescribing Guide

Among the FSMB Foundation’s educational initiatives during this decade was the development and distribution of a guidebook intended to help physicians recognize the risks of opioids and practice responsible and safe prescribing standards. The first edition, “Responsible Opioid Prescribing: A Physician’s Guide,” was released in 2007. Written by one of the nation’s leading experts in pain medicine, Scott M. Fishman, MD, the book offered practical steps for reducing the risk of addiction, abuse and diversion of opioids and for achieving improved patient outcomes.