Steward Health Care, the nation’s largest private, for profit physician led health care network, today announced Lindsay Smelser as the company’s new Vice President of Marketing. Smelser brings nearly 15 years of domestic and international marketing experience working with global brands including American Express and American Airlines.
“Lindsay is a respected leader in the marketing field, bringing world-class skills and analytical expertise to the Steward team,” said Brian Carty, Chief Marketing Officer, Steward Health Care. “As we continue to expand, Lindsay will be instrumental in helping accelerate our growth and telling the story of how Steward is building the health care system of the future.”
Smelser joins Steward after spending over eight years with American Express, most recently serving as the Director of Marketing Innovation & Strategic Projects for the company’s billion-dollar marketing division. Throughout her time at American Express, she helped significantly improve marketing strategy, investment efficiency, and led her teams to develop dynamic customer marketing and enhance the customer experience through data analysis and new engagement strategies. Smelser began her career in marketing at American Airlines and spent several years working with many of New York’s top creative marketing agencies, where she advised clients including British Airways, Chase, and Verizon.
“I’m thrilled to join Steward at this transformational moment in our journey to improve the well-being and vibrancy of the people and communities we serve,” said Smelser. “We’re entering a critical juncture for health in the U.S. and around the world, and Steward is at the forefront of driving meaningful change. I’m honored to be part of that mission.”
Smelser will lead the strategy and orchestration for Steward’s marketing function in the United States and abroad. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Sociology from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario – one of Canada’s leading universities. She also earned a Certification in Leadership Excellence from Harvard Business School.
Smelser’s appointment is effective today. She will be based at the company’s Dallas headquarters and report to Carty.
About Steward Health Care
Steward Health Care is the nation’s largest private, for profit physician led health care network in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Steward operates 36 hospitals in the United States and the country of Malta that regularly receive top awards for quality and safety. The company employs approximately 40,000 health care professionals. The Steward network includes multiple urgent care centers and skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,900 beds under management, and approximately 2.2 million full risk covered lives through the company's managed care and health insurance services. The total number of paneled lives within Steward's integrated care network is projected to reach three million in 2018.
The Steward Health Care Network includes five thousand physicians across 800 communities who help to provide more than 12 million patient encounters per year. Steward Medical Group, the company's employed physician group, provides more than six million patient encounters per year. The Steward Hospital Group operates hospitals in Malta and nine states across the U.S., including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.