The Greene County Board of Directors has named COO Melissa Torres to the CEO’s position.

Greene County Health Care CEO Doug Smith announced his retirement from the organization he has led for 26 years. His retirement is effective May 6, 2022.

Under Mr. Smith’s direction, Greene County Health Care (GCHC) has grown into a network of community health centers in Greene, Pitt and Pamlico counties, serving 17 counties in eastern North Carolina. GCHC’s services have expanded to include providing care to thousands of migrant farmworkers and high school and elementary school students through mobile services programs. Mr. Smith also developed and operated a system of health center-controlled networks. These networks provide health and dental records and a practice management system all intended to centralize patient data and improve the care process.

Mrs. Torres joined Greene County Health Care in September 2013 as an enrollment specialist.  In July 2014, she accepted the position as Outreach and Enrollment director and in 2018 the position of COO. Mrs. Torres assumed the role of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Greene County Health Care in July 2021.

Under her leadership in outreach and enrollment, GCHC’s program evolved into a national leader in health insurance enrollment among farmworkers. As COO, she has led the organization through the operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and to expansion to a larger, state-of-the-art medical facility in Snow Hill.

“Greene County Health Care is where we are today because of Doug Smith’s leadership and devotion to caring for the people in our communities,” says GCHC Board Chairman Bobby Nimmo.

“Melissa’s commitment to Greene County Health Care is clear,” Nimmo says. “We expect Melissa will continue moving us forward in serving our community and our staff. We know she is passionate about giving back to the community and building relationships inside and outside our organization. We trust that Melissa will position Greene County Health Care as an employer and a provider of choice in our community.”