Hello! My name is Erin Smith. I am one of the core faculty members here at LVHN and am grateful to be working within the LVHN Department of Family Medicine. I am originally from Charleston, WV and grew up in Pikeville, KY. After high school, I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a BS in Biology and double minors in Dance and Biochemistry; then attended medical school at the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). I graduated from the LVHN Family Medicine Residency in 2016 and served as co-chief resident and volunteered at the national governmental organization IIMC in Kolkata, India. Embracing the generalist nature of Family Medicine, I enjoy working with underserved populations, inpatient hospitalist work, women’s health and maternity care, medication assisted therapy for substance use disorder, osteopathic manipulation, and teaching and growing along with medical learners. As a Family Medicine physician, meeting the needs of the communities we serve is an evolving but central part of my calling, career joy, and purpose. Currently, I am enrolled in the UNC Faculty Development Fellowship in the 2021-2022 academic year to further pursue education in my passion for teaching and learning. In addition, I have enthusiasms for dance and yoga, and have plans for obtaining a yoga teaching certification when the time is right. My spouse, Derek Fikse, is an Emergency Medicine physician and Toxicology Fellow at LVHN. We enjoy spending time with family, our four animals, scuba diving, back packing, gardening, laughing, home improvement projects, and reading outside of medicine.