Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Celebrates 10 Years of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research

Celebrating 10 Years of the Smith Center: Advancing Research, Policy, and Patient Care at BIDMC

Boston, MA — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) recently marked the 10th anniversary of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research with a commemorative event that brought together the many individuals whose vision, scholarship, and support have shaped the Center’s success.

Over the past decade, the Smith Center has driven significant advances in cardiovascular outcomes research, health policy evaluation, and data-driven approaches to improving patient care. Established through the philanthropy of Richard A. and Susan F. Smith, the Center has grown from a small founding team into a nationally and internationally recognized program of 67 investigators and staff.

“Over the past 10 years, the Smith Center has become one of the most highly regarded research groups in the country,” said Pete Healy, president of BIDMC and divisional president, Metro Boston, Beth Israel Lahey Health. “What makes the Center so remarkable is the way their team combines extraordinary clinical care, innovative research, and the highest caliber of medical education, while constantly expanding the definition of each.”

At the event, Robert Gerszten, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Herman Dana Professor of Medicine, and Peter Zimetbaum, MD, associate chief and director of Clinical Cardiology and Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Professor of Medicine, spoke about what sets the Smith Center apart. They highlighted its integration of research and clinical care, recruitment of exceptional faculty across disciplines, strong culture of mentorship, and focus on solving real-world problems with global reach. Smith Center director Bobby Yeh, MD, Katz Silver Family Professor of Medicine, honored the impactful work and culture of excellence established by the faculty across a wide range of scientific disciplines. He also expressed gratitude for the Center’s strong partnerships with policy makers, leaders in health care, and regulatory agencies.

BIDMC trustee Debra Smith Knez, daughter of Richard and Susan Smith, was in attendance along with her brother Rob Smith and other members of the Smith Family. Debra joined Kevin Tabb, MD, president and CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health, for a conversation on stage reflecting on the impact of the Smith Center established through her family’s philanthropy.

“My parents believed in investing in people first, and then ideas,” said Debra Smith Knez. “The Smith Center represented an opportunity to approach traditional problems in non-traditional ways, something that continues to define its success. Looking ahead, as this work continues to shape outcomes research and policy on a national and global scale, the potential for impact will only continue to grow.”

Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Tabb noted, “The Smith Center faculty are truly exceptional and offer a unique combination of extraordinary clinical expertise, a deep commitment to research and innovation, and a passionate focus on each patient as an individual. That’s what sets our team apart.”

Building on the Smith family’s founding philanthropy, the Center’s continued growth has been supported by the generosity of many donors.

“The Smith Center is a powerful example of what’s possible when philanthropy and purpose align,” said Kristine Laping, chief development officer at Beth Israel Lahey Health. “By investing in people and bold ideas, our donors have helped accelerate discovery, develop future leaders, and drive meaningful, lasting improvements in patient care.”

“As we look forward to this next phase of the organization, we are excited to keep up the momentum we have built together,” said Dr. Yeh. “The work we do is more important than ever, and our tenth anniversary is the perfect occasion to renew our dedication to our team and to our mission.”

About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a leading academic medical center, where extraordinary care is supported by high-quality education and research. BIDMC is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a healthcare system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.