Just the Facts:

ONSMS Physicians Discuss COVID-19

The physicians of the Old North State Medical Society presented a virtual Zoom webinar session discussing and answering your most important questions about:

When: Thursday, February 24 at 7:00 pm

Where: Virtual Session with Live Q&A on Zoom Webinar

Watch The Webinar Replay:

Meet the Presenters:

Umar Bowers, MD
The History of ONSMS and COVID-19 & COVID-19 and Health Equity

Dr. Bowers is Dawson Med’s Medical Director and Attending Physician. A former Gates Millennium Scholar, he completed training in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. There, Dr. Bowers participated in health disparities research at the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity. After completing his training, Dr. Bowers worked in a large multi-specialty hospital-owned practice in Charlotte. After approximately 3 years there, he changed gears and took on the role of Medical Director for an independent primary care practice in southeastern North Carolina. Dr. Bowers currently serves as a Medical Director for Kindred at Home in addition to being a Local Medical Director for Aledade.

Karyn Hargett, MD
COVID-19 and Undertold Impacts on Children

Dr. Karyn Hargett is the acting medical director for the Old North State Medical Society. Dr. Hargett earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical School, an HBCU located in Nashville, TN. After completing her pediatric residency at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, NY, she relocated to Jacksonville, where she is an independent practitioner, traveling pediatrician and part-owner of the inventive telemedicine organization RoweDocs, where she is one of many physicians who provide telemedicine services. Currently, Dr. Hargett has pivoted from pediatrics to dedicating her energy, resources and platforms to mitigating COVID-19, ensuring equity in its prevention and treatment among marginalized communities and among children.

Karen Smith, MD
COVID-19 and the Economic Impact on Households

Dr. Karen Smith specializes in family medicine in Raeford, North Carolina. For more than 20 years, Dr. Karen Smith has provided treatment for the Hoke County residents of all ages through a family medicine practice that she owns and operates. Dr. Smith is an avid supporter of social service efforts that address rural citizens such as food-related health disparities, afterschool programs and guidance, substance use issues and sharing pertinent health information. She successfully implemented electronic health records with telehealth as a part of her delivery of care, which provides acute, chronic, and preventive services to the region’s diverse patient population.

Tracei Ball, MD
COVID-19 and Mitigation, Reflection, and What’s Next?

Dr. Tracei Ball works in the Belmont and Charlotte regions. She is an internist, pediatrician, and chief medical officer of OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness, a mobile medical service available for house calls 24 hours a day, seven days per week. In 2012, Dr. Ball created OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness where she and her colleagues bring doctor appointments to the patient and treat them in their home. During these house visits, Dr. Ball provides adult primary care, pediatric care, and treatment for opioid and other drug addictions. In addition to the mobile medical practice, Dr. Ball is also a medical consultant and member of the Tobacco-Free Mecklenburg Network’s leadership team. Dr. Ball also served as the president of the Charlotte Medical Dental Pharmaceutical Society, on the board of the Mecklenburg County Medical Society and as an executive board member of Old North State Medical Society.