Clinical operations VP, executive director retires after 40 years

On Dec. 31, 2012, W. Stuart Smith, vice president for clinical operations and executive director of the medical center, retired after 40 years of dedicated service.

Smith, who joined MUSC as a hospital administrative resident in 1973, has been instrumental in numerous activities from establishing the medical center's first comprehensive strategic plan to the opening of Ashley River Tower, phase one in the Medical University Hospital Authority's (MUHA) hospital replacement project.

Stuart Smith receives South Carolina's Order of the Palmetto award at a board of trustees dinner. Joining him is his wife, Barbara.

In the past four decades and since leading the medical center enterprise, Smith has witnessed and contributed to many of the medical center's milestones and accomplishments:

• Helping the hospital's number of inpatient days through facilities and services grow from 155,669 (1994) to 216,590 (2012)
• Helping the hospital grow net revenue by 895 percent in the past 25 years (1987 to 2012)
• Working with state legislators to approve the formation of the MUHA (2000), which allowed the medical center to enhance its revenues, reduce expenditures and use efficiencies
• Establishing MUSC Excellence (2006)
• Reorganizing clinical services to 11 service lines (2008)
• Opening of Ashley River Tower (2008)
• Providing capital improvements in the renovation of 21 operating rooms and two emergency rooms
• Leading the medical center in receiving awards including: University Healthsystem Consortium Rising Star Award, National Research Corporation's Hospital of Choice Award, U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Ranked in Specialties (cardiology & heart surgery, ENT, gastroenterology and nephrology), U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital in S.C. & Top 25 percent (13 clinical areas), U.S. News & World Report's Best Doctors, National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Score "A" rating for patients, and HealthCare's Most Wired Hospitals by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine

I have great respect for Stuart. He embodies integrity and values. Last fall, I presented Stuart with a commemorative baseball bat and items welcoming him to The Studer Group's "Healthcare Hall of Fame." Stuart's heart and values lay there as well as with MUSC. Every day he went to bat to make MUSC a better place for employees, volunteers, physicians, patients and families.
—Quint Studer, President and CEO, The Studer Group

Smith receives a commemorative bat.

Much of S.C. Hospital Association's (SCHA) success in improving quality and patient safety can be attributed to the strong foundation laid down by board members like Stuart Smith. From improving the patient experience to progressing critical quality initiatives, Stuart has dedicated his life to making South Carolina's health systems more efficient and effective.
—Thornton Kirby, President and CEO, SCHA

Stuart has been intimately involved in the extensive expansion and renovation of the medical center's facilities. He spearheaded the first comprehensive long-term clinical enterprise strategic plan in the early 1990s, and this plan was recently updated to take MUSC into the future. Stuart has led by his behaviors, not his words. He has taken care of people who take care of people. He implemented a cultural transformation through MUSC Excellence. Stuart has fulfilled his mission in an exemplary fashion.
—James B. Edwards, DMD, President Emeritus, MUSC

Stuart Smith accomplished a great deal during his 40 years at MUSC. Under his leadership, the hospital authority was established, MUSC Excellence transformed our patient satisfaction and quality measures, and the Ashley River Tower was designed, financed, constructed and occupied. Stuart's greatest legacy, however, is who he is as a person – caring, honest, sincere, patient and loyal. We are all grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him.
—Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC President

Stuart Smith, left, joins Hal Curry and Dr. Howard Evert during the opening of Ashley River Tower in 2008.

Stuart's greatest accomplishment during his tenure is the construction of Ashley River Tower. It took a lot of guts to do that at a time when the institution struggled financially, but he had the foresight and vision to know that was the right thing to do. He pushed forward in spite of many of us trying to convince him otherwise.
—Lisa P. Montgomery, VP for Finance and Administration

I'd like to thank Stuart for his many years of excellent service to MUSC. He has been a committed leader for this institution for many years, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his tireless service. On a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed working with Stuart and will miss having him as a colleague.
—Etta D. Pisano, M.D., VP for Medical Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine

When I look around and see the many employees Stuart's mentored and guided through the years, one can see how he's impacted how health care is delivered throughout South Carolina. Many of our former employees who have gone on to work in health care in other states and institutions have utilized the leadership skills that he's taught. He really has impacted health care throughout the state.
—Annette Drachman, J.D., Legal Affairs

I've worked with Stuart for 22 years. In the 1990s, when I arrived to become the College of Medicine dean, then— hospital director, Charlene Stuart, Stuart Smith and I got together to create a hospital strategic plan. We accomplished that, and it is one of the monumental things that has happened to this institution. It's been an honor to work with Stuart throughout these many years.
—Layton McCurdy, M.D., Dean Emeritus, College of Medicine

I've admired Stuart for more than 20 years. As a former health care "marketer," Stuart was not the norm. He was (and continues to be) a "quiet doer." His humility and respectful nature meant that he didn't sound his own gong, but rather deflected praise and recognition to others. Bright, accomplished, and very thoughtful, he's left a huge legacy at MUSC.
—David McNair, Excellence

One of Stuart's greatest accomplishments is bringing aboard MUSC Excellence, which, to me, really transformed the culture here. He's leaving that legacy for us at MUSC.
—Marilyn Schaffner, Ph.D., R.N., Clinical Services Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer

I think the MUSC Excellence Program has done wonders for our academic medical center, our patients, faculty and employees. I want to thank Stuart for adopting MUSC Excellence.
—Dave Neff, Ambulatory Care Services

Stuart gave me my first opportunity as a resident more than 30 years ago and, before that, as a Citadel undergraduate student exploring the field of hospital administration. Stuart has been an outstanding mentor and great friend.
—Al Nesmith, Safety, Security, Volunteer & Guest Services

Stuart Smith, center, hosted a number of hospital administrative residents during his tenure.

Stuart has had to juggle the demands that come with having to work with our complicated health care system. Balancing all of this is a significant, praise-worthy accomplishment.
—Steve Hargett, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart has always focused on patient care and what's best for the patient. If you look around at the organization over the last 30 years and compare it to where we are now, it's an incredible change. The way we serve our community is so much different than what it used to be.
—John Sanders, Children's Hospital

Stuart's been an extraordinary and skillful guide through many transformations in health care including our journey with the electronic health record. Thank you for your vision, wisdom and leadership.
—Bob Warren, M.D., Chief Medical Information Officer and Professor of Pediatrics

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Friday, Jan. 25, 2013