Dr. Jennifer Smith says family medicine is about developing relationships. 鈥淕et to know your patients. Meet them where they are [in their health journey]. Give them facts to make the best choices for their health.鈥�
Smith, a resident of Fryeburg, Maine, joins the staff at Memorial Hospital鈥檚 Mt. Washington Valley Rural Health Primary Care practice in August.
鈥淚 am excited to get started and meet my patients,鈥� she says. In addition to seeing patients of all ages, Dr. Smith will become involved in Memorial鈥檚 addiction recovery and treatment efforts.
Memorial Hospital鈥檚 Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Dunn says Smith is a well-respected family practitioner with years of experience and deep local ties. 鈥淲e are fortunate to welcome a provider with Dr. Smith鈥檚 credentials and reputation.鈥�
A Michigan native and born into a family of nurses, Dr. Smith started college at Michigan State University with health care in in mind. 鈥淚 was a medical technology major,鈥� she says, before deciding about 鈥渉alfway through college鈥� to pursue a career as a physician.
Since graduation from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Smith came to New England where she completed an internship and residency at Maine Dartmouth Family Practice in Augusta. She says a large part of her practice is working with patients so they can make informed choices regarding their health care and lifestyles.
Another important aspect of family medicine, according to Smith, is helping patients 鈥渘avigate and organize鈥� their health care through a system that often includes multiple providers and services. This will be made easier at Memorial, Smith says, with the hospital鈥檚 growing specialty practices located on the campus. 鈥淭here are benefits to patients to having specialists right here鈥� where specialists and primary care physicians work together to provide a cohesive health care team.
In addition to her family practice, Dr. Smith will also share her time assisting in Memorial Hospital initiatives such as substance abuse treatment and women鈥檚 health, especially as they impact family health. She has been interviewed numerous times on medication-assisted opiate use disorder treatment.
Smith was also a Captain of the Army National Guard, serving in the Medical Command Center in Manchester, N.H., where she provided physicals for deploying and returning troops.
In her free time Dr. Smith enjoys hiking, travelling, relaxing at the river with her girls, gardening, and her chickens. She is looking forward to completing the New Hampshire 4000 Footers hikes.