Since joining USF Health in 2010, Shirley Smith has been single-minded in her determination to improve patient outcomes by changing how health care professionals learn and practice.
As a faculty instructor at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Smith has spent the past 15 years building innovative, cross-disciplinary educational programs and community partnerships that cultivate early interest in the health care professions, deepen interprofessional collaboration, and create transformative learning experiences for students and providers across USF Health.
Her work has helped shape a more comprehensive approach to health professions education that emphasizes teamwork, empathy and an understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence patient health.
One area where Smith has had a particularly significant impact is health care simulation, a foundational part of modern clinical training. Through realistic and interactive learning scenarios, students, staff and faculty can practice decision-making, communication and teamwork in a safe environment before applying those skills in real patient care settings.
Inspired by a simulation conducted by Central Missouri Community Action, she organized USF Health鈥檚 first-ever poverty simulation, an immersive experience designed to challenge health care learners and professionals to look beyond the examination room and better understand how patients鈥� life circumstances affect their health and access to care.
During the poverty simulation, participants are assigned roles within families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Over four simulated weeks, they must navigate limited finances, transportation barriers and competing demands such as food, housing, child care and health care. The experience aims to deepen understanding of the determinants of health, strengthen empathy and enhance clinical decision-making.
Smith was also instrumental in implementing culinary medicine as a core component of the medical school curriculum. In June 2025, Smith leveraged community partnerships to host a culinary medicine session at a local Tampa Bay-area kitchen, where students learned about the importance of nutrition science and how it can empower patients to improve their health.
Haru Okuda, MD, chief executive officer and executive director of the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation and associate vice president of the Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice, praised Smith for the impact her training programs are making across USF Health鈥檚 four colleges.
鈥淪hirley鈥檚 poverty simulation was truly eye-opening,鈥� Dr. Okuda said. 鈥淪he has an exceptional ability to create and facilitate training experiences that are both meaningful and transformative. Her level of giving, caring, and collaboration is remarkable, and we are grateful to work with such an incredible colleague.鈥�
Bryan Bognar, MD, MPH, senior associate vice president of student success at USF Health and vice dean for medical education in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, also praised Smith鈥檚 outstanding commitment to student learning and cross-disciplinary patient care.
鈥淪hirley exemplifies the spirit and mission of USF Health through her visionary leadership, sustained commitment to interprofessional education, and transformative community engagement,鈥� Dr. Bognar said. 鈥淗er initiatives have consistently built pathways for future health care leaders, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and enhanced team-based learning across USF Health.鈥�
In recognition of her extensive and innovative contributions, Smith was presented with the 2025 USF Health IPE Impact Award during USF Health鈥檚 8th Annual IPE Day.
For Smith, success has been a testament to a culture at USF Health that supports creativity and new approaches to education.
鈥淚 appreciate the support I receive from USF leadership to bring new visions and ideas forward to enhance the student experience,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to keep finding new ways to connect learning with community engagement and help shape how future health care professionals learn and work together.鈥�