Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine names interim chair of surgery

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine has named Dr. R. Stephen Smith as the interim chair of the Department of Surgery.

He is a professor in the Department of Surgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and vice chair and the director of surgical education in the Department of Surgery at Carilion Clinic. Smith also serves on the Surgical Leadership Council at Carilion Clinic.

“I have really enjoyed working with Steve in his role as residency director for surgery. His expertise in medical education will serve the medical school well as we continue to build our innovative, patient-centered program,” states Dr. Cynda Ann Johnson, president and founding dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Prior to joining Carilion Clinic, Smith was professor of surgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and served as the director of trauma for 14 years.

"I am honored and feel incredibly fortunate to play a role in the development of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. It is a very rare professional opportunity to participate in the formative stages of what will become one of America's finest centers of medical education," states Smith.

Smith is board certified by the American Board of Surgery with a certificate of special qualifications in surgical critical care. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and also holds memberships in several academic societies, including the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Western Surgical Association, Western Trauma Association, Central Surgical Association, Southwestern Surgical Congress, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Pan American Trauma Society, and the Midwest Surgical Association.

Smith is currently the chairman of the American College of Surgeons National Ultrasound Faculty and is also involved with the ACS Committee on Trauma. Smith served as editor for a multimedia presentation of the basic ultrasound course for surgeons from the American College of Surgeons.

Smith earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in 1981. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita and subsequently performed a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care. Smith served as captain in the Medical Corps at the United States Naval Reserve.

Smith has authored more than 100 book chapters and peer reviewed publications and has served as a senior visiting surgeon in combat care at the Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. He has delivered more than 375 presentations and lectures at regional and national academic meetings.

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