UMMS physician named health system’s executive VP for community health

The University of Maryland Medical System announced Oct. 22 the promotion of one of its longtime leaders, Dr. Thomas Smyth, as the organization’s inaugural executive vice president for its Community Health Division. 

Smyth served as president of the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, a member organization of UMMS, since 2016 and was previously the medical director of the UM St. Joseph Medical Group.

The announcement followed a decision earlier this year to elevate Dr. Bert O’Malley to executive vice president of the Academic Health Division, with responsibility for strategic academic partnerships across UMMS. O’Malley served the past five years as president of University of Maryland Medical Center, the system’s flagship academic hospital with two campuses in Baltimore City.

“These executive-level changes are important steps forward for UMMS as we pursue our core mission, vision and values and continue transforming how we deliver the very best health care to our patients and communities,” said Dr. Mohan Suntha, president and CEO of UMMS, in a media release. “We have more opportunity and more responsibility than ever before to align our organization around the evolving needs and expectations of our patients, communities and colleagues.”

Under Smyth’s leadership, UM SJMC has become a national leader in patient safety and quality. Trained as a urologist, he led the formation of Maryland Urology Associates, PA, and served as its president ahead of a merger that formed Chesapeake Urology Associates, where he served as vice president.

In his new role, which he will begin in late November, Smyth will lead UMMS’ network of seven community member organizations and their affiliated locations, including clinics, and other patient-facing facilities. Presidents of UMMS’ member organizations will report to Smyth and will continue to remain as the senior-most executives responsible for providing outstanding care and efficient operations at their local facilities.

“I am excited to work with the UMMS leadership team and our community member organization presidents to advance the system’s mission and vision through transformative change, enhanced operational integration and improved financial performance,” Smyth said in a media release.

As a result of Smyth’s promotion, Robin Luxon has been named interim president of UM SJMC and will serve in this role during the search for a new permanent leader of the Towson hospital. Luxon joined UM SJMC in October 2020 following more than two decades at UMMS member organization UM Upper Chesapeake Health in Harford County and has worked to position UMMS and UM SJMC for critical strategic growth, according to the news release. Luxon has served in several roles at UM SJMC, most recently as senior vice president for clinical integration.

UMMS provides 25 percent of hospital-based care across the state.

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