A Position Transition for Dr. Craig R. Smith
Dear Colleagues,
We write to share that Craig R. Smith, MD, the Johnson & Johnson Distinguished Professor in the Department of Surgery, Valentine Mott Professor of Surgery, and surgeon-in-chief for NewYork-Presbyterian, will be stepping down from his role as chair of the Department of Surgery in the coming year. While his 15-year tenure as chair will come to an end, we are grateful that he will remain part of our community and continue to contribute to our shared mission.
We cannot overstate the extraordinary impact Dr. Smith has had on this institution. An internationally renowned cardiac surgeon for his pioneering work in transplantation and transcatheter valve therapies, he shaped the department into one of the country’s premier surgical programs. As a key institutional voice, his counsel to deans, presidents, and board members influenced our collective work in immeasurable ways.
Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, the department significantly expanded its clinical offerings and created innovative programs in areas like neonatal surgery, acute care surgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, and robotics. His recruitment of top-tier faculty strengthened the department’s overall expertise, while his strategic vision extended access to top surgical care locally and around the globe.
Dr. Smith fostered a culture of curiosity and innovation in the department. He championed research from bench to bedside, leading to the department’s dramatic rise to the top 10 in NIH funding rankings. His long-term investment in surgical sciences supported breakthroughs across multiple disciplines that will benefit patients for years to come. His commitment to education led to a fully funded resident position dedicated to curriculum development, the launch of an integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency program, and the establishment of an in-house CME team.
From navigating the department through natural disasters and labor shortages to guiding it through the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been a source of clarity and resilience in times of crisis. His daily updates during the height of the pandemic provided reassurance and humanity to thousands within and beyond our institution. These missives ultimately became the foundation of his 2023 memoir, Nobility in Small Things.
Throughout his time as chair, he maintained his busy personal practice, treating local Washington Heights residents and world leaders with equal care and compassion.
We thank Ali Gharavi, MD, the chair of the Department of Medicine and physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who has agreed to chair the search committee to identify a successor who can build upon Dr. Smith’s extraordinary legacy.
Please join us in expressing our appreciation to Dr. Smith for his innumerable contributions to our institution and his dedication to our mission.
With gratitude,
James McKiernan, MD
Interim Dean, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Acting Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences
Steven J. Corwin, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer
NewYork-Presbyterian