Healthcare Innovation and Holistic Well-Being
Welcome to my world of healthcare innovation and holistic well-being. I'm Dr. Yolanda G. Smith, a passionate, experienced healthcare executive, visionary leader, and Well-Being advocate. With an extensive background in nursing leadership, clinical operations, and corporate wellness, I've dedicated my life's work to shaping the future of healthcare and nurturing the well-being of individuals and organizations.
About Dr. Yolanda G. Smith, DNP, MSN, RN
Dr. Yolanda G. Smith is a transformational visionary executive nurse leader with proven success in transforming clinical operations, process redesign, and achieving organizational strategic goals. With a distinguished career that spans acute care, community care, academia, insurance, and legal sectors, Dr. Smith has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing care delivery models, stimulating business growth, applying evidence-based methodologies, and spearheading change management initiatives, all of which have significantly contributed to the sectors she has served.
Educational Foundation:
Dr. Smith completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Chamberlain University, specializing in Healthcare Systems Leadership. She also holds a Master of Science in Nursing from CUNY Hunter College, with a focus on Medical-Surgical Nursing - Clinical Nurse Specialist, Specializing in Cardiothoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit.
A Time of Crisis: The Impact of COVID-19
Leadership During COVID-19 Pandemic:
In a time marked by crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Smith's leadership was pivotal. As Deputy Executive Director/Chief Nursing Officer, she was entrusted by the CEO with the task of leading Clinical Operations for the COVID-19 Isolation Hotel Program in New York City. We successfully established six hotels between April 2020 and January 2022, comprising 800 clinical team members while providing exceptional care to 35,000 individuals with chronic disease and behavioral health issues, remarkably achieving zero fatalities/adverse outcomes. Her actions during this period were not just a testament to her leadership but also her profound commitment to patient care and safety.
Commitment to Clinician Well-being:
The pandemic highlighted the extreme stress and challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Recognizing the emotional and physical toll and the increased risk of burnout among her colleagues, Dr. Smith has been a vocal advocate for the well-being of healthcare workers. Her dedication to this cause is evident in her efforts to promote optimal, safe, and quality patient outcomes by prioritizing the health and wellness of nurse leaders, frontline nurses, and clinical teams.
Career and Consultancy Roles:
Dr. Smith’s career trajectory has seen her in numerous key leadership roles, each providing her with invaluable insights into healthcare delivery, quality improvement, and patient safety. Leveraging her vast knowledge, clinical expertise, and interpersonal skills, Dr. Smith is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of:
- Leader Well-Being Collaborative LLC (Established June 2023): To Enlighten, Inspire, Inform, and Educate nurses by enhancing their well-being, nurturing exceptional leadership, and contributing to the advancement of nursing practice.
- Workforce Transformation LLC (Established October 2011): To Enlighten, Empower, Engage, and Educate nurses by creating a culture of wellness and productivity through self-care™.
- YGS Medical-Legal Consulting (Established June 1997): Legal Nurse Consultant services and Nursing Expert Testifying Witness for attorneys specializing in medical malpractice, personal injury, and product liability cases.
Publications & Awards
Jordan-Martin, N.; Madad, M.; Alves, L.; Wang, J.; O'Gere, L.;
Smith, Y. G.; Pressman, M.; Shure, J. & Cosmi, M. (2020). Isolation Hotels: A Community-Based Intervention to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic. Health Security, 18(5), 1-6.
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/hs.2020.0123
September 10, 2015 - Yolanda G. Smith received the "Values in Action Award" for excellence in work | Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
Smith, Y. G. (2013). How to love and care for yourself unconditionally. American Nurse Today, 8(1), 30-33.
February 24, 2012 - Yolanda G. Smith received the African American Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship at NYC Health Hospital Corporation Queens Hospital Center's Black History Month Celebration – "Celebrating Black Women in History & Culture."
Smith, Y. G. Stakeholder Expert Reviewer (©2011). Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guidelines – "Preventing and Mitigating Nurse Fatigue in Health Care" by Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO).
