The next edition of “Salem Voices: A Conversation with Salem Alumnae” will debut Tuesday, February 16 at 12:30 p.m. Join us on the Salem Voices page of our website for a wonderful discussion with Dr. Jennie Smith McLaurin, C'81. But remember, if you are not able watch that day and/or time, the conversation will be available to view on our website after it has aired.

Jennie is a pediatrician, writer, and public health expert with particular interests in culture, bioethics, and theology. After Salem she received an MD from Wake Forest University, an MPH from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MA in theology and ethics from Regent College (Vancouver, BC). She has worked with marginalized and underserved communities in the US for over 30 years, caring for migrant, homeless, indigenous, and special needs populations. Nationally, she is a consultant for the federal Health Resources Services Administration and for the National Association of Community Health Centers. In these capacities, she has led programs to advance food security, reduce childhood obesity, improve immunization access, and reduce health disparities. As a federal consultant, she provides technical assistance and training to many of the nation's 1,400 community health centers. Her work has taken her to all 50 states, several territories, and a number of countries.

She also serves as a mentor and teacher of health professions students as well as graduate students, with faculty appointments at medical schools and at Regent College, where she was Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Bioethics. Clinically, Jennie is currently the medical director at two sites, one serving at-risk adolescents and one providing multidisciplinary early intervention services to 0- to 3-year-olds with special needs.

Writing has always been a part of Jennie's life, whether academically or creatively. She is looking forward to the publication of her first book, Designed to Heal: What the body shows us about healing wounds, repairing relationships and restoring community. The book is scheduled for release in August 2021. Jennie lives in Northwest WA state with her husband Andrew and a changing assortment of her five young adult children.

Salem Voices is a series of virtual conversations with Salem Academy and College alumnae hosted by Lucy Rose, C'76, Vice Chair of the Salem Academy and College Board of Trustees. Salem Voices will post on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 12:30 EST and remain archived on the website for viewing after they air initially!