Nurse Practitioner Joins FirstHealth Internal Medicine-Pinehurst
| Date Posted: 7/11/2022
PINEHURST — Family Nurse Practitioner Nancy Smyth recently joined the practice of Ronald Walters, M.D., and Brianne Evans, PA-C, at FirstHealth Internal Medicine in Pinehurst.
Smyth moved to North Carolina from Florida and brings several years of experience in primary care, hospice care and dermatology. Smyth said she knew from a young age that she wanted a career in health care.
“My initial plans were to pursue a medical degree,” she said. “Unfortunately, three quarters of the way through my bachelor’s program in biology, I became very sick and needed to take time off.”
Smyth was later diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and went through a couple years of medical treatments to get into a maintenance state.
“I decided at that time the stress of medical school would be too much for me,” she recalled. “A friend suggested I switch focus to become a nurse practitioner.”
Smyth said she quickly knew that her heart was pulling her toward nursing.
“I was so impressed by the nursing care I received during my illness,” she said. “My nurses helped me learn to live and cope with the disease instead of just treating me.”
She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Saint Petersburg College in Pinellas, Fla. and a Master of Science degree in Nursing from The University of Tampa.
She brings many years of experience in acute care nursing, hospice and palliative care, home health and primary care to her new role with FirstHealth.
Smyth said she fell in love with Moore County when visiting her brother who is stationed at nearby Fort Bragg.
“We moved to the area to be closer to my brother as he is in his last two years of military service before her retires,” said Smyth. “He has a two-year-old son and five-year-old stepdaughter to whom we wanted to be closer.”
As a new resident to Moore County, Smyth did a lot of research about the medical care and facilities available in the Sandhills. “I was so impressed with the availability of services and care that FirstHealth offers the community,” she said.
At FirstHealth Internal Medicine-Pinehurst, Smyth is committed to working with her patients to be the best version of themselves.
“I love teaching and giving my patients the tools they need to be the best and healthiest version of themselves—whatever that definition is for them,” she said. “I love to focus on the patient and build a rapport with them to really get to know them and provide the best overall care.”
Smyth and her husband have two sons, one is 24 years old and the other is 19 years old. Outside of work, their family is currently spending a lot of time landscaping and working to make their new house in Carthage feel like home. She also enjoys camping, hiking, reading, quilting, attending music venues and playing with her two rescue dogs.
Smyth is currently accepting new patients at FirstHealth Internal Medicine, 293 Olmsted Blvd., Suite 1, McCormick Building, Pinehurst. For appointments, call (910) 715-8541.
