Dr. Susan Mims (MD, MPH, FAAP), President and CEO of Dogwood Health Trust, a respected healthcare leader with over 20 years of clinical and administrative experience, will deliver McDowell Technical Community College’s annual commencement address to the Class of 2023 when the college convenes next month for graduation exercises. The ceremony will be held in the William H. Long Memorial Auditorium at Nebo Crossing on May 12 at 6 p.m.
Mims is the visionary behind Dogwood Health Trust’s creative and innovative team focusing on factors that affect individual and community health outcomes, including Dogwood’s strategic priority areas of housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. In all of its endeavors, Dogwood is committed to equitable opportunity for all.
Dogwood Health Trust and Marion-based Gateway Wellness Foundation, have entered significant partnerships with McDowell Tech over the past two years to improve conditions and outcomes in housing, workforce education and early childhood education in McDowell County, funding over $1.2 M of direct support in program, operational, staffing and support costs in these areas. Additional leverage funds from Dogwood have resulted in an approximately $3.6 M in grants to the college from other funding sources, for a total of almost $4.8 M. Responding to critical shortages in affordable housing in McDowell County, Dogwood is also actively working with Gateway Wellness on affordable housing opportunities throughout the county and adjacent to the campus and Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center. Gateway Wellness also partners with the college to provide work-based learning opportunities to students in the college’s Construction Trades Academies.
“It is fortunate that the college’s strategic vision and mission priorities are closely aligned with Dogwood’s purpose and priorities,” said Dr. Brian S. Merritt, MTCC President. “We are appreciative of Dr. Mims’ leadership of Dogwood Health Trust and look forward to the message she will send to our 2023 graduates. Through mission-aligned collaboration, we are building a better future for our graduates, their families and their children. Our community and our economy will reap the benefits of these efforts for generations to come.”
About Dr. Mims
Prior to becoming President and CEO at Dogwood Health Trust, Dr. Mims worked with Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), leading the Department of Community and Public Health for UNC Health Sciences Asheville campus. Before joining MAHEC, Dr. Mims served in several roles with Mission Health Systems over 14 years, including Vice-President for Children’s Services, Chief of Pediatrics and Vice-Chief of Staff. Following her family’s move to western North Carolina in 2000, Dr. Mims was medical director of the Buncombe County Health Department for six years. Prior to that she lived in the triangle area where she completed her medical and public health training at UNC Chapel Hill.
According to Dogwood’s website, “Dr. Mims attended college at the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship. After college, she volunteered in Guatemala for a year in community development before returning to UNC in Chapel Hill to earn a Master of Public Health and MD degrees. She continued her medical training at UNC Hospitals in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Public Health and attained board certification in all three disciplines.
Dr. Mims is active in national, state and WNC regional community organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, NC Pediatric Society (Past President), and the Buncombe County Commission on Early Childhood Education.”
Graduation Details
Commencement exercises will take place at Nebo Crossing at 263 Barnes Road in Marion. The beautiful, spacious, high-tech auditorium at Nebo Crossing was chosen for its seating capacity, large foyer, ample parking and other amenities.
The college will continue its new tradition of having a student speaker this year, with Student Government Association President, Jose Rico Martinez, delivering a graduation address on behalf of the Class of 2023.
“As an institution, our mission extends far beyond the borders of our campus,” said Dr. Merritt, the MTCC President. “We aim to learn and grow as individuals and as an institution, and we are uniquely focused on growing our economy, building a strong workforce and collaborating with our partners to create a vibrant community that we will be proud to pass on to our children and their children. Dr. Mims and her staff and board members have proven their commitment to Western North Carolina and our people—all people—and we are delighted that she has accepted our offer to speak to this year’s graduates. I am certain that she and Mr. Martinez will inspire and challenge graduates as they take the next steps in their educational and professional journeys. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!”
About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Working with grantees, partners, researchers and scholars, Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.
