Eric L. Smith, M.D., former Chief of Arthroplasty and Medical Director of the Orthopedic Specialty Practice at New England Baptist is now that institutions’ new Chair of Orthopedics.
As New England Baptist’s new Chair of Orthopedics, said David Passafaro, President of New England Baptist, “Dr. Eric Smith will bring a new perspective to the operation and direction of the Department during exciting times for New England Baptist Hospital Orthopedics. His appointments represents new leadership for the Orthopedics Department.”
New England Baptist
Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital is the highest volume center for orthopedic care in New England. The 131-year-old institution was modeled in many respects, beginning in the 1920s under legendary Frank H. Lahey, M.D., on the approach of Dr. Lahey’s good friends, Will and Charlie Mayo who founded the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Like the Mayo brothers, Dr. Lahey recruited experts from all branches of medicine to single location.
New England Baptist today is a 141-bed adult medical-surgical hospital which specializes in orthopedic care and complex orthopedic procedures. Like the Mayo clinic, New England Baptist is an international leader in the treatment of all forms of musculoskeletal disorders and diseases.
In 1995, New England Baptist established the New England Baptist Bone & Joint Institute, which specialized in all aspects of musculoskeletal health. In 1996, in an effort to detect cardiac abnormalities in the professional, student, and recreational athlete, the Hospital created the Thomas W. Nessa Center for Sports Cardiology.
Eric Smith, M.D.
Dr. Smith earned his undergraduate degree from University of California at Davis, his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, and completed residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Smith is also a graduate of the New England Baptist Hospital Otto Au Franc Fellowship program.
Dr. Smith was an active duty member of the U.S. Army for 10 years during which time he was deployed to Afghanistan as an orthopedic surgeon in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
About his new duties, Dr. Smith told OTW, “As the chief of the busiest service at New England Baptist Hospital and the medical director of the Orthopedic Specialty Practice, I gained insight into the personnel and processes at New England Baptist Hospital to navigate the hospital and take care of patients. Ultimately, health care is about people, both patients and the professionals that take care of them, and being able to communicate and work with people allows a health care system to succeed. I felt that my previous experience allowed me to communicate with a broad number of people in our system.”
“My leadership philosophy is to communicate early and often. Communication within a group allows individuals to work out solutions to problems, not just one individual stating the answer. My leadership philosophy is also shaped by my time in the U.S. Army and will be characterized with compassionate enforcement of the rules and regulations that govern New England Baptist Hospital.”
“My first steps as I move into my new role is to meet with section chiefs and individuals in my department to confirm my commitment to solving the challenges that they, and the hospital, face. With communication, there is often a mutually beneficial solution to challenges that benefits patients, the health care professionals and the hospital system.”
