Front and Center: Wesley Smith

For Wesley Smith, leadership has never been about a title.

It is about people.

Throughout his career at Children's of Mississippi, Smith has focused on supporting patients, families and the health care professionals who care for them. That commitment has guided him from his first role as a respiratory therapist to his current position as chief nursing officer, where he now leads the nursing organization he once served as a bedside caregiver.

"It is both an incredible honor and a tremendous responsibility," Smith said of his new role. "I have spent many years growing professionally at Children's of Mississippi, and to be entrusted with leading our nursing organization is humbling. More than anything, it represents an opportunity to serve our nurses, support our teams and continue advancing the care we provide to Mississippi's children and families."

Smith's path to nursing leadership began at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he started his health care career as a respiratory therapist caring for adult patients before transitioning to Children's of Mississippi.

Through those early experiences, Smith developed a deeper appreciation for the role health care professionals play during some of the most difficult moments in patients and families lives.

"My health care career actually began as a respiratory therapist," Smith said. "Through that experience, I developed a deep appreciation for the impact health care professionals have on patients and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. As my career evolved, nursing provided an opportunity to expand my ability to influence patient care, advocate for others and lead teams dedicated to improving outcomes."

After returning to school, Smith earned his Associate Degree in Nursing from Hinds Community College before completing both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing at UMMC. He returned to the children’s hospital as a bedside nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit before advancing into leadership roles on 2 Children's and later serving as director of nursing overseeing critical care, emergency services, patient transport and hospital operations.

"My journey to the children’s hospital has truly come full circle," Smith said. "What has kept me here throughout each stage of my career is the people and the purpose. Children's of Mississippi is more than a hospital. It is a place where compassionate professionals come together every day to care for our state's most vulnerable patients while supporting one another as colleagues and teammates."

Smith's growth from frontline caregiver to chief nursing officer reflects both his dedication and Children's commitment to developing leaders from within, said Dr. Mary Taylor, Suzan B. Thames Chair and CEO of Children's of Mississippi.

"Watching Wesley grow from a frontline caregiver into chief nursing officer has been a reflection of his dedication and the culture of leadership development," Taylor said. "He leads with integrity, humility and an unwavering commitment to our patients, families and nursing team. Throughout his career, he has invested in people, fostered collaboration and led by example. I am confident his vision and dedication will continue to strengthen our culture of nursing excellence as we build on the momentum of our recent Magnet recognition."

As Smith moved through various leadership roles, he said each experience shaped his approach to leading others.

"Success is never achieved by one individual," Smith said. "It comes from investing in people, removing barriers, fostering collaboration and creating an environment where every team member has the opportunity to grow, lead and thrive.

"My priorities center around supporting our people, advancing professional nursing practice, maintaining our focus on quality and safety and developing future nursing leaders," Smith said. "I also want to ensure that our nurses have the resources, support and opportunities they need to provide exceptional care while continuing to grow professionally."

Kristin Hardy, director of Children's quality, Magnet and transition to practice, worked closely with Smith throughout Children's journey to achieve its first . She said Smith's leadership helped support the organization's years-long pursuit of nursing excellence.

"While earning Magnet designation was the result of years of dedication from nurses, leaders and interprofessional teams across the organization, Wesley played an important role in several ways," Hardy said.

Hardy said Smith contributed to the development of professional development programming for frontline leaders, served as director facilitator for the Evidence-Based Practice and Research Interprofessional Governance Council and helped lead portions of the Magnet document submission process.

"He worked with his teams on writing stories and ensuring we had the required evidence to meet those standards," Hardy said.

As the children’s hospital continues building on its Magnet recognition, Hardy said Smith's focus on collaboration and empowerment will help strengthen the organization's nursing culture.

"He has the opportunity to build on an already strong foundation of nursing excellence by continuing to invest in interprofessional governance, nurse development, innovation, quality outcomes and an exceptional patient and family experience," Hardy said. "By listening to frontline teams, supporting shared decision-making and empowering nurses to lead improvements, he can help ensure that Magnet principles remain embedded in our culture for years to come."

Smith said Magnet designation represents the dedication of every nurse and team member who contributed to the achievement.

"Magnet designation represents years of dedication, collaboration and commitment to excellence," Smith said. "It validates what we have always known about our nurses and teams: that they provide extraordinary care and continually strive to improve. While Magnet is a tremendous accomplishment, it is also a commitment to continue pursuing excellence and innovation in everything we do."

For Gordon Gartrell, nurse manager of the PICU, Smith's leadership is defined by the way he shows up for others.

"What stands out most about Wesley is that he leads with both vision and humility," Gartrell said. "He sets high expectations while giving people the trust and support they need to succeed. He's approachable, authentic and genuinely invested in the people around him. That combination builds trust and creates a culture where people feel empowered to do their best work."

Gartrell saw that leadership firsthand during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the PICU faced significant staffing shortages, high vacancy rates and unprecedented turnover.

"As a new nurse manager, I was still developing in my role and quickly realized I couldn't navigate those challenges alone," Gartrell said. "Wesley stepped in wherever he was needed."

Whether helping cover bedside staffing, working night shifts, attending meetings or simply being present on the unit, Gartrell said Smith consistently demonstrated his willingness to serve alongside the team.

"He doesn't lead from behind a desk," Gartrell said. "He stays connected to the people providing care, remains visible during the most difficult moments and leads by example."

Looking ahead, Smith said he is excited about the future of nursing at Children's.

"The people," Smith said. "We have incredibly talented nurses, leaders, educators and support staff. I am excited about continuing to invest in professional development, advancing nursing science, strengthening shared governance and creating opportunities for nurses to shape the future of health care for children across our state."

Although Smith is proud of many accomplishments throughout his career, he said the one that means the most is seeing others succeed.

"Watching leaders develop, nurses advance their careers and teams achieve things they once thought were impossible has been the most rewarding part of my journey," Smith said.

Gartrell said that investment in people will be one of Smith's greatest legacies.

"Wesley has always believed that an organization's greatest asset is its people," Gartrell said. "He intentionally creates opportunities for others to grow, whether by encouraging advanced education, supporting work-life harmony, promoting involvement in quality improvement and research, or challenging leaders to take on new responsibilities."

"When I reflect on his leadership, I don't think his greatest accomplishment will be any single initiative or achievement," Gartrell said. "It will be the leaders he invested in, mentored and inspired along the way."

A native of Raymond, Smith said building his career in Mississippi and caring for children and families in his home state has made his work especially meaningful.

Outside the hospital, Smith enjoys spending time with his family and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a passion he shares with his two daughters. The sport, he said, has reinforced lessons that also guide his leadership style, including humility, perseverance and continuous learning.

"Leadership is not about position; it's about creating opportunities for others to succeed," Smith said. "That philosophy has guided me throughout my career and continues to influence how I approach leadership today."