Dr. McElmurray was the first Medical Director for the Community Medicine Foundation, doing business as the John A. Martin Primary Health Care Center, in Winnsboro. He served in this capacity for over three decades. His professional medical care had a profound impact on generations of families in Fairfield County. During his time at the center, he has helped to train more than 1,400 health professional students, providing them with the opportunity to learn about working in a rural health care setting and providing services to a community that is in dire need. In 2019, he received the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award from the School of Medicine at the University of South Carolina to recognize his excellence in service, leadership, advocacy, and professional accomplishment.
Dr. McElmurray was also a founding member of the Upper Midlands Rural Health Network (UMRHN) and called the first meeting on March 25, 2004. He had an innate understanding of the benefits of collaboration and worked to bring the Chester and Fairfield County hospitals and health department to the table to enhance partnerships. UMRHN went on to become a 501 (c)(3) organization and later expanded to include Lancaster County.
Over the years, UMRHN has been involved with several projects related to chronic conditions, transitional care, physical activity, and tobacco use. As an organization, UMRHN has brought in nearly $3.2 million to the region in direct grants. In addition, the Network has worked collaboratively on other projects such as Healthy People Healthy Carolinas, community health workers, and mental/physical integrated care, resulting in an additional $1.3 million to partner agencies and coalitions.
In 2019, Prisma Health purchased the John A. Martin Primary Health Care Center. It took several years to close out the Community Medicine Foundation’s books and records. In 2024, the Board of the Community Medicine Foundation approached UMRHN to receive the remaining funds for the purpose of establishing the Dr. Charles McElmurray Scholarship Fund. This fund will be administered by UMRHN for the benefit of its three-county service area in South Carolina. Dr. McElmurray believed strongly in education, both for future healthcare professionals as well as for patients who could be empowered to make better decisions for their own health.
To access the Scholarship Guidebook, click here. To access the application form, click here.