More of the best: As the state's reputation as a place to practice medicine grows, so does the list of top doctors.

• Author: Martin, Edward
• Position: FEATURE

Farmers once complained that the Sandhills were so poor that the dirt wouldn't grow dust. That dirt later sprouted golf courses that attracted retirees with lots I of money but also creaking joints, ailing hearts and bad gallbladders. They attracted physicians who would make FirstHealth Moore Regional in Pinehurst one of the state's best hospitals for cardiac care, orthopedics and general surgery.

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Health-care experts call such subspecial ties within a hospital "centers of excellence." They might also be called doctor magnets. Moore Country is a case in point. With the hospital's growing reputation has come a growing number of doctors practicing in the county, from about 190 in 2000 to more than 240 today. And the same trend can be spotted statewide.

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"North Carolina has long been a hub of medical advancement, and that's been accelerating over the last few years, with both home grown doctors and a lot of great doctors moving in from around the country," says Evan Falchuk, president of Boston-based Best Doctors Inc. "We're seeing hubs of medical excellence appear, and North Carolina has a growing number of them."

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That partly explains why this year's list of the state's best doctors has grown to more than 1,300, including those on the following pages and an unabridged list on the BusinessNC.com Web site. That's up nearly 50% from last year...