In this episode, Dr. John Pagan introduces PACN's newest partner, Curi — a physician-founded medical professional liability company with deep roots in the medical society movement. Dr. Damian McHugh, a former emergency physician turned physician advocate, shares the story of Curii's origins, what makes it different from conventional malpractice carriers, and why the partnership with PACN is a natural fit for independent physicians across Pennsylvania.

Key Highlights

Dr. McHugh's Path from Emergency Medicine to Curi Dr. McHugh practiced emergency medicine for 21 full-time years in the UNC system in North Carolina after completing a second emergency medicine residency at Chapel Hill. Originally from Britain, he came to the U.S. in 1997 and over time grew increasingly involved with what was then the Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina — the company that would rebrand as Curi in 2018. What drew him in wasn't just the liability product, but the company's culture: a genuine dedication to physicians at a time when physicians have fewer and fewer advocates. As his clinical career wound down, the move to Curi was a natural evolution. He now serves as Senior Vice President and Physician Liaison, working to bring a physician's perspective into the company's leadership and strategy.

What Is Curi? Curi is a physician-owned medical professional liability company — a mutual organization owned by its approximately 14,000 physician members, roughly 1,700 to 1,800 of whom practice in Pennsylvania. It was born in 1975 out of crisis: when malpractice providers began exiting the market en masse, the North Carolina Medical Society brought concerned physicians together and rapidly formed Medical Mutual to protect, support, and indemnify them. That physician-society origin is not just history — it continues to shape Curi's culture and priorities today. The company is selective about which practices it works with, deliberately associating itself with patient-centered, safety-focused physicians who prioritize quality and customer service.

Natural Synergy Between Curi and PACN Both organizations trace their roots to state medical societies — Curi to the North Carolina Medical Society, PACN to the Pennsylvania Medical Society — and both exist to serve the independent physician community with tools, advocacy, and support that larger institutions don't provide. Dr. McHugh described PACN's membership as precisely the kind of practice Curi wants to work with: hardworking, patient-centered physicians who also attend to the wellbeing of their partners, their staff, and themselves. He noted that practicing in an environment that prioritizes safety and service is not just ethically right — it actively reduces the risk of burnout.

Why Curi Over Other Carriers? In a market with many malpractice options, Dr. McHugh pointed to Curi's mutual ownership structure as the defining differentiator. As a physician-owned mutual, Curi's interests are aligned with its members — not with outside shareholders. Its mission explicitly extends beyond liability protection to improving the lives of physicians not just in medicine and business, but in life overall. That mission aligns directly with PACN's own goal of reducing barriers and restoring the joy of medical practice.

The Broader Stakes: Choice and Burnout Both Dr. McHugh and Dr. Pagan reflected on the connection between physician autonomy and burnout. When independent practice is not a viable option, even employed physicians lose leverage — and the sense of helplessness that comes with no meaningful alternatives is itself a driver of burnout. Curi and PACN share a belief that supporting independent practice is not just good for independent physicians, but for the entire physician community.

Key Takeaways

• Curi is a physician-owned mutual liability company — not answerable to outside shareholders, but to its 14,000 physician members, including roughly 1,700–1,800 in Pennsylvania.
• Its origins in the North Carolina Medical Society's response to a malpractice crisis give it a physician-first culture that has remained consistent through its evolution from Medical Mutual to Curi.
• The PACN–Curi partnership is rooted in shared values: both organizations were born from medical societies, both serve independent physicians, and both are committed to reducing the burdens of practice.
• Curi is selective — it works with practices that demonstrate a commitment to quality, safety, and patient-centered care, which aligns naturally with PACN's membership.
• Physician autonomy and physician wellness are connected. Preserving the option of independent practice protects not just those who choose it, but the entire physician workforce.