Karen Louise Smith, MD

Karen Smith, MD, MEd, is the medical director of Global Services at Children’s National Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dr. Smith is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine. Her career began as an army nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Her service as an officer in the U.S. Army earned her several awards including the Army Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals. This experience inspired her to attend medical school at The George Washington University School of Medicine. After graduation she completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National Hospital and was recruited to be one of the founding members of the hospital medicine division at Children’s National. She is a master teacher and obtained her Master’s in Education from The George Washington University. At graduation she was awarded the Nadler Leadership Award. Throughout her career she has held many leadership positions to include chief medical officer at The HSC Pediatric Center, chair of the District of Columbia Children with Special Healthcare Needs Advisory Board, medical director of School-Based Telehealth Programs, chief of Hospital Medicine and president of the medical staff at Children’s National Hospital. In honor of her contributions to hospital medicine she was awarded the 2020 Excellence Award in Clinical Leadership by the Society of Hospital Medicine.  

• Hospital Medicine