Dr. Smith joined NeoStem, Inc., as chairman of its Advisory Board in September 2005 and, effective June 2, 2006, became the chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Smith, who received a medical degree from Yale University in 1992 and a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, brings to NeoStem extensive experience in medical enterprises and business development. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Smith served as president and chief executive officer of IP2M, a multi-platform media company specializing in healthcare. During her term, the company was selected as being one of the 10 fastest growing technology companies in Houston, Texas. IP2M was sold to a publicly traded company in February 2003. Previously, from 1998 to 2000, she was executive vice president and chief medical officer for HealthHelp, Inc., a national radiology management company that managed 14 percent of the health care dollars spent by large insurance companies.
Dr. Smith has acted as a senior advisor to, and investor in, both publicly traded and privately held companies including, but not limited to, China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., the Madelin Fund, HC Innovations, Inc., Navstar Media Holdings, Strike Force, Health Quest, Red Lion Partners and All American Pet, where she played a significant role in restructuring and/or growing the companies. Dr. Smith served on the Board of Directors of two privately held companies, Talon Air and Biomega, and also served on the Chemotherapy Foundation Board of Trustees and The New York Theatre Ballet. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the New York University Medical Center, is past chairman of the Board of Directors for the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases where she headed up new development efforts and board member recruitment, and served on the Board of Choose Living. Dr. Smith is the president and serves on the Board of Directors of The Stem for Life Foundation.