Dr. Edith F. Smith Rayford is the Region III Chair of the National Medical Association and immediate past treasurer for Region III. She completed her chief residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Albert Einstein in Philadelphia, PA. She received her M.D. degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN where she also completed her internship and started residency. Her undergraduate education was at Tougaloo College in MS with scholastic internships at Yale University in New Haven, CT and The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Her passion for advancement in the business and administration area of medicine inspired her to acquire a physician executive MBA from University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, a Distinguished Alumni at Meharry and a Hall of Fame Alumni Inductee at Tougaloo College.
Post training, Dr. Smith Rayford decided to return to her home in Mississippi. She has devoted her professional career to community health. She serves as the Director of Central MS Community Health Services Southwest location. She also serves as Section Chief for Woman’s Health Services at Merit Central Hospital in Jackson MS; where she also serves on the Medical Executive Committee. Within the medical community, she is a tireless advocate for the underserved population and enjoys proctoring / attending / mentoring residents and students.
Dr. Smith Rayford is married to Richard Rayford, M.D., Ph.D. (Cardiologist). They have two children: Richard II & Margie (Meharry Medical College 2020 M.D. graduate), a daughter-in-law Simeona and two grandchildren – Richard III and Meona.
📻 Tune In Today!
Join us on The Midday Break Room with Tiffany Bacon as Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., 126th President of the National Medical Association, goes live at 12:25 PM ET on WURD Radio.
Dr. Mitchell will share insights on the NMA’s mission, health equity, and the critical issues impacting Black communities nationwide.
📺 Watch & Listen:
🔹 900AM / 96.1FM
🔹 wurdradio.com
Let’s keep the conversation going on advancing health equity.
#NMA #HealthEquity #BlackHealth #PublicHealth #VaccinesWork
We were proud to stand alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and national health leaders to deliver one powerful truth: vaccines protect us all. 💉
Our very own Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, 126th President of the National Medical Association, joined voices representing tens of thousands of physicians and public health experts nationwide.
This isn’t just about science, it’s about protecting families, saving lives, and making sure every community has access to trusted care.
#NMA #HealthEquity #VaccinesWork #ScienceNotPolitics
📢 Happening Today!
At 10:30 a.m. ET, join Sen. Bernie Sanders and leading public health experts — including Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., 126th President of the National Medical Association — for a press conference making clear: Vaccines work. 💉
Together, we’ll highlight the lifesaving importance of vaccines in protecting children, families, and communities, and push back against dangerous misinformation.
📺 Watch it live on X: https://x.com/SenSanders
#VaccinesWork #PublicHealth #ScienceMatters #NMA
NMA 126th President Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD had the pleasure of meeting the community in First State / Delaware at the Blue Rocks Game in Wilmington on Saturday, September 6, 2025. ⚾️
We thank everyone who came out and shared in this special moment of connection and community spirit.
#NMA #CommunityEngagement #Delaware #BlueRocks
Join the National Medical Association and Senator Sanders for a powerful public press conference:
📅 Tuesday, September 9, 2025
🕙 Doors Open: 10:00 AM | Program Begins: 10:30 AM
📍 Dirksen Room G-50 (Tentative, subject to change)
Together with leading clinicians, scientists, and public health experts, we’ll show strong support for vaccines and highlight their vital role in protecting our communities.
Clinicians, scientists, and advocates: we encourage you to attend, wear your scrubs or white coats, and stand united in demonstrating the strength of science and medicine.
💉 Stand up for science. Stand up for vaccines.
#VaccinesWork #StandUpForScience #PublicHealth #NMA
Join a community of over 50,000 dedicated African American physicians and professionals committed to making a positive impact on healthcare. Discover the benefits of NMA membership, access professional development opportunities, and become a part of a network dedicated to advancing health equity.
National Medical Association
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 800
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: 202-347-1895
Fax: 301-495-0359
