Women's Health Equity Institute

The Madie Smith Women’s Health Equity Institute will provide inclusive opportunities for women's health (mind, body, spirit & emotional wellbeing) to promote women's empowerment over their health and well-being. We envision learning and focusing where we see some of the biggest gaps in health outcomes and embracing strategies that pivot fixing people to fixing systems that advantage some communities and disadvantage others.

Mrs. Madie Smith is being honored as a trailblazer who has made significant contributions to the field of public health nursing. More than fifty years ago, Madie Smith broke down a barrier in Mecklenburg County Public Health that marked the beginning of Black women advancing to leadership roles in the department.