Surgery department’s Charlotte Smith receives service award

Charlotte Smith, an administrator in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Surgery, received the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators’ 2024 Meritorious Service Award.

The award, which honors those who demonstrate outstanding service to their local community or their academic institution as well as the AASA, was presented to Smith at the association’s annual conference in October.

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Smith, who’s been with the U of A since 1996 and recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary with the Department of Surgery, said the honor took her by surprise.

“I had no idea I was nominated or even being considered for it,” said Smith, who is on the AASA board of directors and serves as chair of the education committee. “It was an incredible honor to be recognized by the AASA, especially among a group of peers whom I greatly respect. Through the AASA, I’ve had the opportunity to network with and learn from some of the top surgical administrators at leading national academic medical centers.”

Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD, FACS, chair and professor in the Department of Surgery, said the award is well-deserved.

“Charlotte is a tireless advocate for our department and has been instrumental to our success,” he said. “I am thrilled that she is being recognized for this at the national level.”

Smith, who began her U of A career in Financial Services, said the job itself is reward enough.

“Working with surgeons can be one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of all,” she said. “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about how incredibly blessed I am to work alongside them. I’m very grateful to my chair, Dr. Gurtner, vice chairs and division chiefs for their continued leadership and support.

“One of the things that keeps me here is the administrative staff who work day in and day out to support their surgeons and patients. Supporting and leading this team in surgery is the greatest award of all.”