Lawrence G. Smith

Lawrence G. Smith, MD, MACP, is executive vice president and physician-in-chief of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the senior physician on all clinical issues. In addition, Smith is the founding dean of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, whose first class of students began its studies in August 2011.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Fordham University and a medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital, followed by military service as a captain in the Army Medical Corps at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

Smith began his career practicing general internal medicine in Huntington, New York. Subsequently, he practiced general medicine at 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. In 1994, he joined the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, New York as vice chairman of the Department of Medicine and residency program director. He served as dean (beginning in 2002) and as chairman of medical education, founder and director of the school’s Institute for Medical Education, professor of medicine, and attending physician.

Smith joined North Shore-LIJ in May 2005 as chief academic officer and senior vice president of academic affairs. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing the health system’s medical student education programs and academic faculty appointments. Smith was also accountable for establishing close relationships with doctors and hospitals throughout North Shore-LIJ to enhance the health system’s partnerships with staff and community-based physicians, and improve physician recruitment efforts.

Smith is member-at-large of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a member of the Board of Visitors of Fordham College. Also, he is a former regent of the American College of Physicians and former member of the board of directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine. In April 2011, Smith was elected to Mastership of the American College of Physicians.

Smith is the first recipient of the Lawrence Scherr, MD, Professorship of Medicine at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He was honored with the 2008 Dema C. Daly Founders Award by the Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine, of which he is a former president. He was also awarded the Solomon A. Berson Alumni Achievement Award in Health Scienceby the New York University School of Medicine.