Karen Louise Smith, MD

Executive Medical Director, Global Services

Hospitalist

Karen Smith, MD, MEd, is the executive medical director of Global Services and professor of Pediatrics at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Smith is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine. Her career began as an army nurse at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. As an officer in the U.S. Army, she earned several awards including two Army Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals. Her experience in the military inspired her to attend medical school at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. After graduation she completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National and was recruited to be one of the founding members of the Division of Hospital Medicine at Children’s National.

Dr. Smith is a master teacher and a member of the Children’s Academy of Pediatric Educators. She obtained her master’s degree in education from George Washington University and was awarded the Nadler Leadership Award at graduation. Throughout her career she has held several 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, chief of hospital medicine, and president of the medical staff at Children’s National.

Dr. Smith has held several national leadership roles within the Academic Pediatric Association, including as co-chair of the 2015 Pediatric Hospital Medicine conference. The conference is a collaboration of three pediatric societies: the American Association of Pediatrics, Society of Hospital Medicine and Academic Pediatric Association. In honor of her contributions to hospital medicine, Dr. Smith received the 2020 Excellence Award in Clinical Leadership by the Society of Hospital Medicine. 

As the chief of hospital medicine, Dr. Smith established several pediatric inpatient units in community hospitals around the Washington, D.C., area and facilitated the expansion of telehealth services to these locations. Dr. Smith also served as the medical director for school telehealth and led the creation of telehealth services in over 200 Washington, D.C., public and charter schools. 

In 2020, she was appointed medical director of Global Services at Children’s National where she oversaw the clinical care of all international patients. In 2025, Dr. Smith was appointed executive medical director of Global Services at Children’s National. In this role she is committed to strengthening our international partnerships and collaborations to provide all children with access to innovative medical care.

• Hospital Medicine