A seasoned health care executive with deep experience in both clinical care and administrative operations, Marshall E. Smith has been Direct Care and Treatment's Health Systems CEO since 2016.
In his role, Smith provides strategic, operational and executive leadership and oversight across the state-operated behavioral health care system. Leading a 15-member executive team, he is responsible for ensuring high-quality care, safety, regulatory compliance, operation of more than 150 sites, overseeing more than 5,000 employees, and managing the system's $1.4 billion biennial budget. He brings expertise in strategic partnerships, health equity, compliance, and performance excellence aligned with the Malcolm Baldrige Framework.
Before coming to DCT, Smith spent more than 30 years working as a health care leader, serving as chief executive officer, chief operating officer and in other top executive roles in a variety of public, nonprofit and for-profit hospitals and health care systems across the country. His dual administrative and clinical backgrounds are an asset when it comes to working with boards and executive teams, driving strategic change, enhancing acute care and behavioral health systems, and building accountable and patient-centered cultures. He has been recognized for his success in implementing sustainable financial and operational models, strengthening clinical and operational leadership, and transforming large-scale health care organizations.
Smith has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Winona State University and a master’s degree in hospital and health care administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a registered nurse, and a Licensed Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administrator in the state of Minnesota. He is a Six Sigma black belt.
In 2017, he was awarded the Regent’s Award (Sister Generose Award) from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in recognition of significant contributions to the organization and the advancement of health care management excellence.
