Texas Children's Pediatric Associates Appoints Its First Chief Medical Officer

HOUSTON - (Sept. 21, 2009) - Dr. Elizabeth R. Smith has been named Chief Medical Officer of Texas Children's Pediatric Associates (TCPA). The position is the first of its kind for the organization. The appointment is effective Monday, September 21, 2009.


As chief medical officer, Smith will coordinate clinical operations in all 44 locations, ensuring high quality care in each TCPA practice. She will guide the medical policies, practices and programs of TCPA by working closely with physician groups, researching and implementing cost effective best practices and facilitating communications across the organization.


"We are excited to have Dr. Elizabeth Smith join our TCPA family," says Kay Tittle, president of Texas Children's Pediatric Associates. "Her primary focus will be on strengthening our clinical quality improvement programs so that we can continue to provide the highest level of healthcare to the children and families of Houston."


Dr. Smith comes to Houston from Concord, NH where she was the Medical Director of Dartmouth Hitchcock Concord and served as a member on the Concord Hospital Board of Trustees. She previously served in leadership roles at Pediatric and Medical Associates in New Haven, CT and Community Health Care Plan and Community Health Care Physicians in New Haven. She completed her Master's Degree in Medical Management at Tulane University in 2009.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.