Dates have been set in 2011 for two popular televised programs designed to promote access to physicians by allowing viewers to talk with a physician at no charge.

The annual WWAY-TV Health Hotline will air live from Independence Mall in Wilmington on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 12:00noon – 8:00pm. Since the program first aired in the early 90s, between 50 and 60 physician volunteers from the greater Wilmington/New Hanover area have participated each year, answering questions from hundreds of callers throughout the day. The event is jointly produced by WWAY-TV, the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society and the NCMS.

The annual WITN-TV Doctors on Call will air from the WITN-TV studio in Greenville on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 12:00noon – 6:00pm. Jointly produced by WITN, the Pitt County Medical Society and the NCMS, more than 40 physicians from Greenville and surrounding communities take part in the six-hour call-in each year.

Both Health Hotline and Doctors on Call are open to all physicians who would like to volunteer their time to help promote access. Physicians will be receiving invitations to participate in the next few weeks. You can also sign up at the NCMS Annual Meeting, October 22-24 in Winston-Salem.

Questions about the programs may be directed to Lyric Wohlgemuth (NCMS), [email protected] or call 800-722-1350; Bonnie Brown (New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society), [email protected] or call 910-790-5800; or Karen Bean (Pitt County Medical Society), [email protected] or call 252-758-8833.