Thomas M. Smith on Virginia Commonwealth University's Patient Safety Fellowship. Interview by Michelle Horvath and Pamela Scarrow.

Abstract

Following his clinical nursing career that included adult and pediatric intensive care, cardio-thoracic surgical, education, teaching, consulting, and management, Thomas M. Smith moved into the utilization management and quality improvement field. Currently, he is director of operations and education for The American Health Quality Association (AHQA), based in Washington, DC. AHQA represents Quality Improvement Organizations and professions working to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. At the time of this interview, he was director of Virginia operations for the West Virginia Medical Institute (WVMI), Inc., Richmond, VA. Smith is the immediate past president of the Virginia Association for Healthcare Quality, serving on the board of directors for 6 years. His other appointments include a seat on the School Health Advisory Board for Hanover County and Virginia's Improving Patient Care & Safety, as well as his appointment to the Governor's Task Force for the Evaluation and Monitoring of the Comprehensive Services Act by the Commonwealth of Virginia Secretary for Health and Human Services. He also currently serves as the cochair for the NAHQ Conference Planning Team. Smith received his MA degree in administration/education from West Virginia University, Morgantown, and his BSN in nursing/biology from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon. A member of Sigma Theta Tau and Omicron Delta Kappa, he is a certified professional in healthcare quality. He completed his executive fellowship in patient safety from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, in May 2003.