FLORENCE, S.C. – Three new members have been appointed to the McLeod Health board.

Allie E. Brooks Jr., Dr. James C. H. Smith, and Amy F. Urquhart are the new members on the 23-member governing board, which includes eight physicians as well as nine emeritus members.

“We are extremely appreciative of the dedication and very hard work of these volunteer board members who embrace the mission of McLeod Health in service to the community and providing the delivery of excellence in health care,” said Rob Colones, president of McLeod Health.

Brooks served Florence-area public schools for 40 years, including four years as the superintendent of Florence School District One and 31 years as the principal of Wilson High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics at S.C. State University in 1968 and a master of education administration from the University of South Carolina in 1974. Before his retirement from Florence School District One in June of 2014, Brooks earned an education specialist degree from USC.

Brooks and his wife, Barbara, continue their involvement with the school system by mentoring and tutoring 17 students in eight Florence One schools each week. Brooks is a member of BB&T’s advisory board and Family Promise. He also has served on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area board, The School Foundation board, the Francis Marion University Foundation board and the House of Hope Ministries board.

Brooks was named the 2009 Champion for Youth by the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of the Pee Dee Area and the recipient of the 2009 South Carolina State Board of Educators’ Volunteer Award. He also received the 2011 South Carolina Retired Educators Association’s Educator of the Year Award as well as the United Way of Florence County’s 2011 Ashpy P. Lowrimore Award for Community Service. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Brooks served in Korea and Oklahoma.

“I’m looking forward to serving on the McLeod Health Board of Trustees,” Brooks said. “In serving our community in education for more than four decades, I have seen firsthand how many families are touched daily by McLeod Health, and it is indeed an honor and a privilege to be part of this calling.”

Smith, a native of Sumter, has cared for patients at McLeod Regional Medical Center since 2006. A medical oncologist, Smith treats patients in the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research and in his office, McLeod Oncology and Hematology Associates.
Smith is a magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wofford College with a bachelor of science in biology. He earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Smith also completed his residency and fellowship at MUSC and served as chief resident for the Department of Medicine.

Board certified in oncology, hematology and internal medicine, Smith has served as past president of the Florence County Medical Society as well as a member of the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the Southeast Cancer Control Consortium and as a sub-investigator for the Hollings Cancer Center Clinical Trials.

Smith received the Ethical – Do the Right Thing Pillar of Professionalism in 2018 from the McLeod Regional Medical Staff. He also was named a Top Performer for Overall Quality of Physician Care in 2016 by Professional Research Consultants (PRC). The Top Performer recognition indicates a physician ranks at or above the 100th percentile.

“I am pleased to serve on the McLeod Health Board of Trustees,” Smith said. “As a physician, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn, grow and promote health care while contributing to the goals of delivering quality patient care.”

A certified public accountant and certified financial planner, Urquhart is the president/chief executive officer with WebsterRogers LLP. She also serves as the managing partner for WebsterRogers Financial Advisors LLC.

Urquhart graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in finance and accounting. In addition, she completed a master of taxation from USC, graduating magna cum laude.

Urquhart has served on the McLeod Health Foundation board since 2007.

Urquhart has given of her time to support All Saints Episcopal Day School, Women in Philanthropy-Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, the Florence Area Humane Society and Young Professionals of Florence. She is also a member of the Liberty Fellows Class of 2020.

“I feel privileged to serve with the McLeod Health organization and contribute to its continuous goals of providing quality in patient care,” Urquhart said.

Article Source: scnow.com