Dee Anna Smith

Seaver College | 1986
Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Cannon

Dee Anna Smith is the CEO of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare. Since 2006 she has been unifying a workforce of specialists across the US and UK who are actively changing the way cancer care is delivered to hundreds of thousands of patients annually. By focusing on advancing cancer treatments, Smith's organization has contributed to the research efforts of more than 80 percent of the approved cancer therapies over the past 10 years.

Guided by her faith, Smith has always had a passion for helping those in need. In 2017 she was recognized by Nashville-based Operation Andrew as a Rodgers Award recipient for her commitment to creating connections and removing barriers within faith communities. In 2013 she was named a Health Care Hero by the Nashville Business Journal and received the Heroes of Business Award from Lipscomb University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and American Society of Clinical Oncology, serves the Nashville Health Care Council, and is board chair of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. In August 2019 Smith became the first Pepperdine graduate and woman to be named chair of the Pepperdine Board of Regents.