Director
Dr. Smith is a global business leader, medical doctor, author and entrepreneur who has held various C-Suite and board positions in the biopharmaceutical industry. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Spiritus Therapeutics, which she co-founded, the International Board of Sanford Health, and is the Chairman, President and founder of the Cura Foundation, a nonsectarian public charity dedicated to improving human health and well-being and increasing quality of life globally.
Dr. Smith has also had extensive experience serving on multiple private and public companies boards of directors and board committees, including audit, nominating, governance, compensation and science and technology committees in healthcare services, biotechnology, AI, technology and consumer products. Dr. Smith has founded numerous companies in regenerative medicine and is a managing partner of BRM Holdings family office. From 2006 until 2015, Dr. Smith was chairman and chief executive officer of Neostem, Inc., where she pioneered the company’s innovative business model, combining proprietary cell therapy development with successful contract development and manufacturing organization.
Dr. Smith has been recognized for her extensive leadership in the biopharmaceutical industry, winning an array of industry awards and business recognitions. She received the Regenerative Medicine Foundation (RMF) 2019 Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Action Award for International Diplomacy, the 2018 HEALinc Future Health Humanitarian Award, the Business Intelligence Group’s Woman of the Year Award in 2018 and the 2018 Gold Stevie® Award for Woman of the Year (Government or Non-Profit). In April 2016, Pope Francis awarded Dr. Smith Dame Commander with Star Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester Pope and Martyr and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Healthcare and Science by The National Museum of Catholic Art and Library.
She received her B.A. degree from Yale University and her M.D. degree from the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Smith holds an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School of Business and completed the Stanford University Directors Program and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College.