HAMPTON ROADS, Va.—The University of Virginia Children's Hospital/Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters' regional collaborative for cardiac care has appointed Dr. Philip Smith as chief of cardiac surgery at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.

Dr. Smith comes to CHKD from Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, where he was the clinical director of The Heart Center and chief of cardiac surgery from 2001 to 2016. From 1998 to 2001, he was chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland.

In addition to his surgical skills, Dr. Smith brings extensive experience in program development, process and outcomes improvement and leadership to his new role. He developed the organizational blueprint for the integrated cardiovascular medicine and surgery program at Akron Children’s Hospital, bringing specialists in cardiology, neonatology, anesthesiology, critical care and cardiothoracic surgery together to collaborate as an interdisciplinary team. He chaired the hospital's surgical services governance council, which maintained clinical and administrative oversight of operative services. He also helped Akron Children's establish a collaborative affiliation for pediatric and adult congenital surgery with Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Smith is board certified in thoracic surgery and congenital cardiac subspecialty surgery. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed post graduate training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the University of Minnesota and Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Dr. Smith is based at CHKD’s main hospital in Norfolk. To reach him, please call 668-8850.