The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Institute for Evidence, Innovation, and Policy launched on September 30th, 2026, and is comprised of several new research centers. Each center will pursue a distinct scientific mission within the Smith Institute, which provides shared strategic leadership, infrastructure, expertise, and opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. We are proud to introduce them here.
Center for Medical Device Evaluation
The Center for Medical Device Evaluation at the Smith Institute is led by Dr. Eric Secemsky, Dr. Daniel Kramer, and Dr. Robert Yeh. This Center applies rigorous methodology and expertise in regulatory science, clinical outcomes, and bioethics to study novel and established medical devices from early development to real-world utilization. Key areas of interest include comparative analyses utilizing real-world data, regulatory science and methods, bioethics of the use of medical devices, remote monitoring and digital health, and medical device registry development and evaluation.
Center for Clinical Outcomes Research
The Center for Clinical Outcomes Research at the Smith Institute is led by Dr. Jordan Strom and Dr. Jenica Upshaw as Co-Directors. The Center applies the highest methodologic rigor and standards of evidence generation across a diversity of data types (real-world registries, claims, and trials) to answer important questions in clinical care with the goal of optimizing patient health.
Center for Health Policy
The Center for Health Policy at the Smith Institute generates evidence on how health policies and reforms, public health measures, and health system changes shape access, affordability, care quality, and health outcomes for patients and populations. It is led by Dr. Rishi Wadhera, who is also Director of the Smith Institute. Using causal inference methods, its multidisciplinary investigators study everything from insurance design and the cost of care to payment reform and the safety net. Their research on landmark policies, including the Affordable Care Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and H.R. 1, has informed CMS, HHS, Congress, and national clinical guidelines. The Center’s mission is to move evidence into clinical practice and policy at scale, and train clinician-investigators who will use that evidence to improve the policies that shape care for millions of patients.
Center for Health Research Methods
The Center for Health Research Methods at the Smith Institute brings together expertise in epidemiology, statistics, and economics to develop and advance the methods used to generate evidence in health care. It is led by Co-Directors Dr. Dhruv Kazi and Dr. Issa Dahabreh. The Center develops and applies innovative approaches to understanding which treatments and interventions work, for whom, under what circumstances, and at what cost. It also partners with investigators across the Smith Institute, providing methodological expertise throughout the research process, from study design through analysis and interpretation. Through methodological innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and education, the Center advances the science of health research, trains the next generation of investigators, and contributes to better health for individuals and populations.
Center for Innovation in Invasive Cardiology
The Center for Innovation in Invasive Cardiology at the Smith Institute is led by Dr. James McCabe. This center advances the development and early testing of cardiovascular devices, applying clinical insight to create new technologies and refine existing devices. Its goal is to turn promising ideas and scientific innovations into safer, more effective tools for cardiovascular care.
Center for Surgical and Medical Intelligence
The Center for Surgical and Medical Intelligence at the Smith Institute is led by Co-Directors Dr. Adam Rodman and Dr. Gabriel Brat. This BILH-wide center will focus on advancing the science and capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and surgery. By building unified data systems drawn from the clinic to the operating room, the Center will generate insights across the entire patient journey. This infrastructure will provide the benchmarks and tools for collaboration across industry, academia, and government.
These centers bring together evidence, clinical insight, technological innovation, and policy expertise to tackle consequential challenges in health care and improve care for patients and populations.
About the Smith Institute of Innovation, Evaluation, and Policy
Founded in 2015 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Smith Institute’s mission is to improve people’s lives by bringing bold ideas, rigorous science, and clinical expertise to the most important questions in health care. The Smith Institute brings together multidisciplinary expertise in medical device innovation and evaluation, clinical outcomes and trials research, health policy, quantitative methods, and artificial intelligence to transform how evidence is generated and applied, while training the next generation of leaders and investigators. To get news as soon as it happens, follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.
