The West Wireless Health Institute has named a former Johnson & Johnson executive its new chief medical and scientific officer.
Dr. Joseph Smith, a cardiologist trained in engineering, will immediately assume responsibilities for the institute’s medical research and clinical activities. Dr. Eric Topol, the institute’s first chief medical officer, will now serve as vice chairman of the board and chief innovation officer.
Before joining the newly formed San Diego medical institute, Smith spent two years at Johnson & Johnson, where he most recently served as vice president of emerging technologies in the corporate office of science and technology, or COSAT. For three years prior to joining J&J, he served as senior vice president and chief medical officer in the cardiac rhythm management division of Guidant Corp., which later became Boston Scientific Corp., where he provided senior scientific and medical leadership in the areas of research and development, new product planning, clinical trial design and conduct, health care and reimbursement policy and medical education.
Smith’s appointment follows the institute’s hiring of another J&J executive, Donald Casey, who assumed the role of CEO of West Wireless after serving as worldwide chairman for the pharmaceutical company’s comprehensive care group.
The nonprofit West Wireless formed in March with a $45 million gift from the Gary and Mary West Foundation.
— Heather Chambers
