Lawrence G. Smith, M.D.

Dean, Hofstra University School of Medicine
in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System

On March 26, 2008, Hofstra University, after formalizing our partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System, announced the appointment of Lawrence G. Smith, MD, as the founding dean of the Hofstra University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System. As founding dean, Dr. Smith will be responsible for leading the strategic planning to develop the curriculum, facilities and programs of the new medical school, as well as facilitating the accreditation process and recruiting administrators and faculty.

In addition to serving as dean of the new medical school, Dr. Smith will continue in his role as chief medical officer at the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Lawrence G. Smith. MD, is the 15-hospital health system’s senior physician, responsible for the overall professional management of clinical, education, research and operational issues related to all medical and clinical affairs throughout North Shore-LIJ. Dr. Smith had held this position since September 1, 2006.

Dr. Smith joined North Shore-LIJ in May 2005 as chief academic officer and senior vice president of academic affairs. In this capacity, Dr. Smith strengthened the health system’s graduate medical education programs and expanded medical school affiliations, significantly enhancing North Shore-LIJ’s ability to recruit medical students and residents. In addition, Dr. Smith was responsible for overseeing the 15-hospital health system’s medical student education programs and academic faculty appointments. Dr. Smith was also accountable for establishing close relationships with doctors and hospitals throughout North Shore-LIJ that enhanced the health system’s partnerships with staff and community-based physicians and improved physician recruitment efforts.

Before joining North Shore-LIJ, Dr. Smith was at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, where he served as dean (beginning in 2002) and chairman of medical education, founder and director of the school’s Institute for Medical Education, professor of medicine and an attending physician. He joined the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1994 as vice chairman of the Department of Medicine and residency program director. Prior to his career at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Smith practiced general medicine at the State University of New York’s Stony Brook University Hospital, where he became a full-time faculty member, director of education and program director of the hospital’s residency program in internal medicine.

Dr. Smith is a former president of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, a Regent of the American College of Physicians, and he is on the executive committee of the Organization of Program Directors Association. Dr. Smith began his career practicing general internal medicine in Huntington, NY, and then serving as residency program director in the Department of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center. Dr. Smith has held senior leadership positions in national societies for medical education and residency training, authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in the area of medical education, and received awards and honors from national and international organizations.

Dr. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Fordham University and a M.D. from the New York University School of Medicine. His residency in Internal Medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital was followed by military service as captain in the Army Medical Corps, at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver.