Martha Tyner’s interest in helping others started when she worked for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Western North Carolina, providing vital nutrition to those in need. Seeing so many of her neighbors struggle inspired her to become a social worker, and her desire to serve others further expanded after she and her husband, Harrison, started their family.

“When I had our first child and was cared for so beautifully at Spruce Pine Hospital,” said the Asheville native and Western Carolina graduate, “that’s when I really became passionate about supporting health care in our community.”

That passion includes past service as chair of the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Board of Directors. From 2003 to 2007, she also served on the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital Foundation Board.

Throughout that time she also held a variety of roles for her family’s business, Tyner Construction, while also raising her family in the shadow of Mount Mitchell.

“We live in a beautiful part of the world, but it can also be challenging,” said Martha. “The mountainous terrain can make things like transportation, broadband access and economic development more difficult, and that in turn can negatively impact people’s health and well-being.”

Martha says she feels privileged to be working with Dogwood Health Trust to help improve the lives of those living in Western North Carolina.

“It’s a real honor to work with such an outstanding group of people,” she said. “We all bring different skill sets, but we’re all determined to embrace bold ideas than can completely change the course of our region.”