Murphy Medical Center Foundation’s Board of Directors recently welcomed Turner Guidry, Melanie Hughes, and Jeff Martin, M.D. as members.  At the board’s Annual Meeting on May 6, Hughes was also elected Treasurer.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors performs the important function of providing overall direction for the hospital’s development program designed to attract friends and funds to assist Murphy Medical Center in providing quality healthcare services. 

“Each of these respected individuals contributes to our community in numerous ways, and we are privileged to have them join the hospital’s Foundation board,” said Andrew Reichman, Chairman of Murphy Medical Center Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Guidry is the school psychologist for Clay County Schools and operates a private practice in Hayesville.  He has worked with children since he moved to the mountains in 1974. Guidry grew up in Louisiana and attended Centenary College at Louisiana State University and Stephen F. Austin University to obtain degrees in Clinical Psychology.  He is a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Hayesville.  His wife, Georgia, works with handicapped students at Clay County Schools.  They have six grown children and nine grandchildren.  Guidry enjoys riding both street and dirt motorcycles. Through this hobby he said has “supported Murphy Medical Center from time to time by visiting our fine Emergency Room.”

Melanie Hughes is a native of Murphy.  She earned a degree in Business with a double major in Management and Marketing from Appalachian State University.  She’s been in banking for 23 years and is the Manager of Community Banking at Chatuge Bank Shares.  She is married to David Hughes who runs the family's King’s Leathercraft business west of Murphy.  Their three children are ages ten to 21.  Melanie and David “spend a lot of time in the gym and ball fields watching our children play volleyball, softball, basketball, and baseball.”

Dr. Jeff Martin, a Urologist, was recently elected Murphy Medical Center’s Chief of Medical Staff.  After earning a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at North Carolina University, where he also minored in Genetics, Dr. Martin received his MD from East Carolina University School of Medicine, and performed his general surgery and urology residencies at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.  He and his wife, Lori, have four children, ages two to nine.  Dr. Martin, a native of Murphy, enjoys playing golf.

Hospital CEO Mike Stevenson said, “Our newest Foundation board members will be valuable assets to Murphy Medical Center Foundation.  Their respective intelligence, community involvement, and support of the hospital’s mission will benefit both the Foundation and the hospital. I’m appreciative of all of our board members’ time and efforts on our behalf.”

In addition to the new members and Chairman Reichman, other members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors include:  Vice Chairman Johnny Burch, Dale Cable, John Carringer, Jean Coleman, Robert Hay, Bill Hughes, Mary Hughes, David Liden, Richard Steinbronn, Mike Stevenson, and Charles West, Jr.

Kathi Osborne holds the staff position of Murphy Medical Center’s Foundation Director.

Jeff Martin, M.D.

Turner Guidry

Melanie Hughes