Spangler Elected Chair of Interstate Compact
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2021
Contact:
Mark A. Spangler, MA
Executive Director
(304) 558-2921
Mark.A.Spangler@wv.gov
Spangler Elected Chair of Interstate Compact
Charleston, WV __ Mark A. Spangler, MA, LPC-R, executive director of the West Virginia Board of Medicine, has been elected chair of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC). The Commission oversees the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), an organization which provides an expedited pathway to licensure for physicians who want to practice in multiple states.
Spangler’s election took place Tuesday during the IMLCC’s annual meeting in Denver, CO. He and other commissioners newly elected to leadership positions assumed their positions at the conclusion of the meeting. Other new officers include: Commissioner Christine Farrelly (Maryland), vice chair; Commissioner Karen Silas (Alabama), treasurer; and Commissioner Jesse Cushman (Nebraska), immediate past chair.
“The IMLC continues to grow at a remarkable pace, and with the expansion of telemedicine technologies, we expect that growth to continue,” Spangler said. “The IMLC helps to expand access to care, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while preserving public safety through state-based medical regulation.”
The Compact provides an expedited process for physicians to obtain a full, unrestricted license from other member states. The physician’s state of principal licensure must be a Compact member. Participating state and territorial medical boards have issued nearly 26,000 medical licenses through the end of October.
The West Virginia Board of Medicine, through Oct. 31, has issued 596 medical licenses through the IMLC, as well as 95 initial Letters of Qualification for West Virginia physicians seeking to also practice in other states.
West Virginia was the fifth state in the country to join the Compact, in March 2015, and has played a key role in the IMLC’s development, implementation, and expansion. The Compact now includes 33 states, the District of Columbia, and the territory of Guam as member jurisdictions. Legislation currently is pending in four states – Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina.
Spangler has served as executive director of the West Virginia Board of Medicine since January 2017. The Board of Medicine is the regulatory, licensing, and disciplinary authority for more than 7,000 active allopathic medical doctors and surgeons (MDs), podiatric physicians (DPMs) and physician assistants (PAs) who collaborate with MDs.
Spangler is a staff-fellow of the Federation of State Medical Boards and serves on the State Board Advisory Council to the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination. Previously, he has served as an IMLC commissioner and as chair of the IMLC’s Communication Committee.
Spangler also was recently appointed vice president of Administrators in Medicine’s Board of Directors. AIM a national not-for-profit organization for state medical and osteopathic board members, whose focus on education, research and online services has resulted in development of programs for licensure analysts, a certification program for medical board investigators, and a certified medical board executive training program.
Spangler previously served as executive director, chief executive officer and treasurer at Davis-Stuart, Inc., in Lewisburg, WV, from 1999 through 2016, a child welfare organization that served hundreds of families each year throughout West Virginia.
Spangler is a licensed professional counselor (retired). He is a former president of the West Virginia Child Care Association and West Virginia Alliance for Children and is a certified trainer in family centered practice. A former volunteer leader in local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops.
Spangler is also a singer-songwriter and band member, who enjoys recording and performing original music when opportunity allows. He and his wife, Tracy live in Charleston, West Virginia and enjoy traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.
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