Nova Southeastern University Appoints Linda Smelser Vice President for Clinical Operations

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla., July 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Linda Smelser has been appointed vice president for clinical operations at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The announcement was made by NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. Smelser assumes her role on August 19.

Smelser comes to NSU from the University of Central Florida's (UCF) College of Medicine where she was director of clinical operations responsible for the development and operation of Pegasus Health—UCF's first multi-specialty faculty practice. She spent the majority of her career as the administrator for the ambulatory services division of Yale-New Haven Hospital that includes three surgery centers, two endoscopy centers, seven radiology satellites and a 20-bed Recovery Care Center, the only state-licensed and AAAHC-accredited sub-acute care facility in Connecticut. While at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Smelser opened the Yale-New Haven Gamma Knife Center, the only radiosurgery unit in Connecticut dedicated to the treatment of head and neck conditions; and the Yale-New Haven Eye Laser Center, the first joint venture between Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale University School of Medicine. 

"Ms. Smelser's experience with the overall management and positioning of ambulatory and specialty clinic and physician group practices will further enhance NSU's commitment to the health and well-being of the communities we serve," Hanbury said.

In her role as NSU's vice president for clinical operations, Smelser will report directly to Jacqueline Travisano, M.B.A., CPA, NSU's executive vice president and chief operating officer. She will be responsible for the oversight and centralization of NSU's division of clinical operations, which consists of 25 healthcare centers in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. With nearly 300,000 patient visits annually, the centers offer dental, vision, medical, speech, behavioral health and physical and occupational therapy services. Smelser will also be responsible for the full revenue cycle, from pre-registration through collection, contracting, credentialing, marketing and communications. In addition, she will be responsible for ensuring that training needs of academic programs are met and that research opportunities are made readily available for all academic centers.

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is a not-for-profit independent institution with more than 27,000 students. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie's Community Engagement Classification. For more information visit www.nova.edu.

SOURCE Nova Southeastern University