Building on Strength for Biotech and Business
Dr. David Smith, President, SUNY Upstate Medical University
ABSTRACT
Dr. Smith will discuss the latest plans regarding the former Kennedy Square site, now renamed Loguen's
Crossing. The mixed use site will also be the home to the region's newest bio incubator, a joint project
between SUNY ESF and SUNY Upstate, due to open in late 2012. Dr. Smith will also discuss the
significance of the new development for business growth, including potential regional collaborations and
partnerships, as well as the particular strengths and research expertise of the three nearby universities
and private biotech companies.
BIOGRAPHY
David R. Smith, MD, is the sixth president of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University.
He is an accomplished heath care professional and academic administrator with an impressive record of
public service. During his tenure, Dr. Smith has reenergized the Upstate campus, promoting growth in all
its missions — education, research and patient care.
Located in Syracuse, NY, SUNY Upstate is only academic medical university in Central New York. It is
comprised of four colleges, a clinical campus in Binghamton, NY, its own University Hospital with dozens
of specialty clinics, a dedicated children’s hospital, and the newly acquired Upstate University Hospital at
Community General. Upstate also has a robust biomedical research enterprise, which is one of the
fastest-growing in the SUNY system, with all investigations aimed at benefitting human health.
Upstate Medical University is the leading employer in the region with 9,200 jobs, generating an economic
impact of more than $3 billion statewide. Its operating budget is $1 billion, and it efficiently runs a newlyextended public hospital with approximately 2% in State support.
SUNY Upstate’s dedication to its immediate community has resulted in a revitalization of downtown
Syracuse with building projects that repurpose abandoned properties. Upstate is also a committed
partner for urban Syracuse and has won the “Spirit of Caring” award for employee volunteer efforts in the
community.
Prior to his appointment at SUNY Upstate, Dr. Smith served as Chancellor of Texas Tech University and
before that as President of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Dean of the School of
Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
In the mid-1990s, Dr. Smith served as the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Health, an agency
with a $7 billion annual operating budget.
Today, Dr. Smith is a member of virtually every leadership board in the Central New York region and is a
member National Board of Trustees for the March of Dimes and the oversight board for the National
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.