Althea McBride Makes Her Mark in Columbus Through Healthcare Leadership and Community Service

St. Francis-Emory Healthcare marketing director brings more than 15 years of experience and a commitment to civic engagement

When Althea McBride relocated from Los Angeles to Columbus on Sept. 1, 2024, her primary goal was to be closer to extended family. With assistance from the Make My Move grant program, she embraced the opportunity to establish new roots in the Chattahoochee Valley.

Just over two years later, McBride has emerged as a rising professional and civic leader, making her presence felt through her work in health care marketing, community engagement and volunteer service.

McBride serves as director of marketing and communications at St. Francis-Emory Healthcare, where she oversees marketing, public relations, media relations, internal and external communications, and business development initiatives for the hospital, The Bradley Center and affiliated physician practices.

Since joining the organization in 2026, she has developed a comprehensive marketing strategy designed to strengthen the hospital's visibility and connection with the communities it serves.

Her initiatives include an integrated media campaign featuring television, streaming platforms, billboards, digital advertising, local publications and advertising at Columbus Metropolitan Airport. She is also directing a phased redesign of the hospital's website, MyStFrancis.com, while expanding opportunities for physicians to share health information through WTVM's "Wellness Wednesday" and "Health Break" segments.

McBride's efforts have also extended into Columbus' professional sports community.

She helped establish a partnership with the Columbus Lions for 2027 and expanded the hospital's relationship with the Columbus River Dragons, including an agreement to name the team's home rink St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Ice for the 2026-27 season.

Beyond advertising and sponsorships, she has coordinated health fairs, career fairs and other community initiatives aimed at connecting residents with health care resources and employment opportunities.

McBride brings more than 15 years of marketing experience spanning health care, consumer brands and business-to-business organizations.

Before relocating to Columbus, she directed paid media strategies for major health care organizations, including Montefiore Einstein, Crystal Run Healthcare and ENT and Allergy Associates. Her professional background also includes marketing initiatives for national consumer brands and business-to-business organizations.

While her professional responsibilities keep her busy, McBride has made community service an equally important priority.

She serves as corresponding secretary for the Columbus, Georgia, Section of the National Council of Negro Women, supporting the organization's mission and scholarship opportunities for young women.

As communications chair for the Urban League of the River Valley Young Professionals, she has helped promote civic engagement and community service initiatives, including "Cocktails and Candidates," an event designed to encourage political awareness and voter participation among young professionals.

Her involvement with the organization also includes membership recruitment activities, community service projects and a Thanksgiving turkey drive benefiting local families. She also developed the organization's digital booklet and community report to highlight its activities and accomplishments.

McBride is a member of the Chattahoochee Valley Young Professionals, the NAACP and the Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. She is also completing the Leadership Columbus program, further strengthening her understanding of the community and its leadership opportunities.

In addition, she volunteers with local food banks and participates in efforts to assist individuals and families facing hardships.

Her educational background reflects a commitment to professional development and leadership.

McBride earned a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Spelman College. She also holds a graduate certificate in acquisition and supply chain management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a graduate marketing certificate from Santa Monica College.

For McBride, professional achievement and community involvement are closely connected. She believes that becoming part of a community carries a responsibility to contribute to its growth and well-being.

Her guiding philosophy is straightforward: Pour into the community the way it pours into you.

"The impact I hope to make," McBride said, "is that people feel more informed, more connected, and more supported because of work I helped do."

It is a philosophy reflected in her approach to leadership — one that places equal importance on professional success, meaningful relationships and service to others.

What began as a move to be closer to family has evolved into a broader commitment to Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley, where McBride is building a career while helping strengthen the community she now calls home.