LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Lawrence G. Smith for receiving the
Physician of Distinction Award from the Nassau Physicians Foundation

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those individuals within the medical field who distinguish
themselves through professional excellence and who have made significant
contributions to the quality of life of citizens in the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr.
Lawrence G. Smith for receiving the Physician of Distinction Award from
the Nassau Physicians Foundation on Friday, April 16, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Smith is the founding dean of the Hofstra
University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health
System; as chief medical officer at the North Shore-LIJ Health System,
he is the 15-hospital health system's senior physician, responsible for
the overall professional management of clinical, education, research and
operational issues related to all medical and clinical affairs through-
out North Shore-LIJ; he has held this position since September 1, 2006;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Smith joined North Shore-LIJ in May of 2005 as
chief academic officer and senior vice president of academic affairs; in
this capacity, he strengthened the health system's graduate medical
education programs and expanded medical school affiliations, signif-
icantly enhancing North. Shore-LIP's ability to recruit medical students
and residents; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, before joining North Shore-LIJ, Dr. Lawrence Smith
was at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, where he served
as dean, chairman of medical education, founder and director of the
school's Institute for Medical Education, professor of medicine and an
attending physician; he joined the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of
Medicine in 1994 as vice chairman of the Department of Medicine and
residency program director; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his career at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
Dr. Lawrence Smith practiced general medicine at the State University
of New York's Stony Brook University Hospital, where he became a full-
time faculty member, director of education and program director of the
hospital's residency program in internal medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Smith is a former president of the Association
of Program Directors in Internal Medicine and a Regent of the American
College of Physicians; he began his career practicing general internal
medicine in Huntington, New York, and then serving as residency program
director in the Department of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical
Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Smith has held senior leadership positions in
national societies for medical education and residency training,
authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in the area of medical
education, and has received awards and honors from national and interna-
tional organizations; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Smith earned his Bachelors of Science degree in
Physics from Fordham University and a M.D. from the New York University
School of Medicine; his residency in Internal Medicine at Strong Memori-
al Hospital was followed by military service as Captain in the United
States Army Medical Corps, at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver,
Colorado; and
WHEREAS, Individuals such as Dr. Lawrence Smith, who have given so
selflessly of their skills and dedication in performing vital medical

research, are worthy and due the highest commendation for their contrib-
utions to all of humanity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Lawrence G. Smith for receiving the Physician of Distinction
Award from the Nassau Physicians Foundation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Lawrence G. Smith.