MedNorth Health Center recently announced the addition of two new board members. 

The center in Wilmington is a federally funded community health center "that provides comprehensive health care that is accessible, culturally and linguistically competent, community-directed, and patient-centered," according to a news release.

The new board members are Betty Murphy-Jacobs and E. Denise R. Smith.

Murphy-Jacobs (pictured at right) is a minister, entrepreneur, notary and seamstress.  A veteran of the Army Reserves, she retired from the medical field in 2014 but uses her medical skills to help in the community.  Her education was acquired through CFCC, Miller-Motte Business and Wilson Tech. She is presently attending Positive Impact School of Ministry for a theology degree. 

In her leisure time, she enjoys gardening and reaching out to her family, and friends.

Smith (pictured below) is in her third career as an assistant professor in the health care administration program at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, according to the release.

"After careers in both public accounting and healthcare financial administration, Dr. Smith entered academia to help shape the financial understanding and knowledge of healthcare administrators and managers," the release stated. "Having experience in not-for-profit and for-profit, rural and urban healthcare settings, she brings a wealth of practical experience to MedNorth Health Center’s board."

Smith is a certified public accountant (CPA) and has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and postgraduate accounting certifications from Gardner-Webb University and Clemson University, an MBA from Brenau University, with certifications in healthcare administration and nonprofit leadership. She also has a doctorate in healthcare administration from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.

Being a lifelong learner, Smith has also completed postgraduate coursework in human resources and business analytics and is currently in a gerontology program, the release stated.

She resides in Wilmington, is married to George and has two children and two grandchildren.