With a career spanning clinical care, research, education, and innovation, Susan D. Smith, PhD, RN has made transformative contributions to healthcare and nursing. As the Director of Technology Research & Education at ChristianaCare, Dr. Smith leads and supports interprofessional research mentorship and serves as the Principal Investigator for the robotics research program. She is the architect of the nation’s first nursing research fellowship in robotics and innovation. This groundbreaking program not only empowers clinical nurses to serve as co-investigators but also fosters a culture of inquiry, innovation, and workforce retention. Across Delaware, Dr. Smith serves as the ChristianaCare site lead for the Delaware INBRE program and as the ChristianaCare representative for CTR-ACCEL’s Professional Development Core. In 2025, Dr. Smith was honored as the Seema S. Sonnad Mentor of the Year for her exemplary work inspiring, guiding, and supporting colleagues as they learn to conduct research.