Dr. R. Stephen Smith, a 1977 graduate of Arkansas Tech University, has been hired to serve as the director of the new West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) Division of Acute Care Surgery.
Smith, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Arkansas Tech, will assume his new duties on Feb. 1, 2011.
“I am excited to join the West Penn Allegheny Health System and to work within this physician-led organization to establish an integrated acute care surgical division,” said Smith in a news release from WPAHS. “The system has a long and distinguished history of providing the western Pennsylvania region with exceptional trauma and burn care and I look forward to helping continue that tradition. Providing compassionate, personalized care of the highest quality and innovation will always be our goal.”
Smith has 25 years of experience in acute care surgery. His areas of expertise include critical care, trauma and advanced trauma life support.
A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Smith is joining WPAHS after serving on the faculty of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
His duties at Virginia Tech included professor of surgery, department vice chair, interim chair of the Department of Surgery and director of surgical education.
Before his time at Virginia Tech, Smith served as professor of surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine at Wichita. He also worked as medical director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Trauma Department at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita during that time.
Smith began his medical career in the U.S. Naval Reserve Medical Corps. He served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and retired at the rank of captain.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Smith has authored nearly 500 book chapters, scientific articles, presentations and abstracts.
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