Candice Smith

Candice Smith

CEO, Deaf Smith County Hospital District

Candice Smith, MSN, RN, RHCNOC, CCRN RACR is recognized with the Pioneer Award for her transformative leadership at Deaf Smith County Hospital District, where she has expanded access to care, improved patient outcomes and helped position the organization as a model of rural healthcare excellence.

Smith joined DSCHD in 2016 and served as chief nursing officer and interim CEO before becoming CEO in 2023. Drawing on her clinical background and executive experience, she has strengthened organizational culture, operational efficiency and patient satisfaction while building strong relationships with physicians, staff and the community.

Her leadership reflects a deep understanding of the challenges rural communities face, from limited access to specialty care to persistent workforce shortages. By developing innovative programs and partnerships, Smith has helped ensure that residents can receive high-quality care closer to home.

Expanding Access to Rural Healthcare

Under Smith’s leadership, DSCHD expanded its outpatient and inpatient specialty services to include cardiology, pain management and inpatient dialysis. These additions allow patients to access critical services locally, reducing the time, expense and disruption associated with traveling outside the community for care.

Smith also advanced the hospital’s community paramedicine program, which connects patients with additional support after they leave the hospital. Through proactive follow-up and care coordination, the program reduced hospital readmissions from 33% to 5%, achieving the lowest rate across the Texas Panhandle
and neighboring regions.

The program’s success earned DSCHD the Texas Hospital Association’s Bill Aston Award for Quality. The hospital’s EMS team was also named the Panhandle Regional Advisory Council’s 2025 EMS Provider of the Year, reflecting its continued commitment to responsive, patient-centered care.

Building the Rural Healthcare Workforce

Recognizing that a strong workforce is essential to sustaining rural healthcare, Smith has supported partnerships that educate, recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural communities.

DSCHD was part of the Rural Nursing Education Consortium, a collaboration among regional hospitals and academic institutions designed to strengthen the rural nursing pipeline. The consortium received the National Rural Health Association’s 2024 Outstanding Rural Health Program Award for its innovative approach to
addressing rural workforce needs.

Smith’s own professional development reflects that same commitment. She earned certification as a Rural Health Chief Nursing Officer from the National Rural Hospital Association in 2023 and was selected as a 2025 THA Leadership Fellow.

Leadership Beyond the Hospital

Smith’s influence extends throughout the region and across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed her to the Texas Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council, where she ontributes to statewide strategies for building and sustaining the healthcare workforce.

She also supports healthcare and emergency preparedness through her service with the Panhandle Regional Advisory Council, Amarillo College Advisory Council, Texas Disaster Preparedness Committee and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force. Locally, she serves organizations including CASA, the Hereford Day Care Board, L’Allegra Study Club and Lions Club International.

Through her leadership, Smith has combined measurable operational results, innovative program development and a deep commitment to professional and community service.

Congratulations to Candice Smith, the 2026 Pioneer Award recipient, for her transformative leadership, dedication to rural healthcare and commitment to improving the health of the patients and communities she serves.

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