Karen E. Smith is the Associate Director of Integrated Care at Piedmont Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As a licensed clinical social worker, she brings extensive experience in both direct care and leadership across healthcare and behavioral health settings, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations. Her commitment to whole-person care is grounded in kindness and compassion, and she is strongly dedicated to fostering diverse, inclusive organizational cultures where connection and belonging are core values.
Karen believes community work is vital for strengthening support networks, fostering connections, and empowering individuals to address shared challenges. She values collaboration within communities as a means of creating inclusive spaces, promoting well-being, and driving positive change that benefits everyone. Over the course of her personal life and career, Karen has volunteered with numerous community organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Board of Directors for the Harrisburg Jewish Community Center, high school tutor at the Graduaté program of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, and the School of Social Work Advisory Board at North Carolina State University.
Karen holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College.
Though she now calls North Carolina home, Karen spent 19 years living in Honduras. She has been married to her husband for 20 years, and together they have a blended family of six children and a playful dog.