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Del Smith, PhD
CEO & Cofounder @ Acclinate - Empowering Communities to Take Actions for Better Health
Del Smith, PhD is the CEO and Cofounder of Acclinate, a healthcare technology company focused on improving diversity in clinical trials and healthcare research.12 He founded Acclinate in 2017 with Tiffany Whitlow, who serves as the Chief Development Officer.2
Dr. Smith has a diverse background spanning healthcare, IT, higher education, and business. He holds a PhD in Business from the University of Alabama, an MS in Management from Troy University, and a BBA from Faulkner University.1 Prior to founding Acclinate, he spent nearly 15 years in higher education as a business professor and dean.1
Career Highlights
- CEO & Cofounder of Acclinate (February 2020 - Present)1
- Dean and Professor of Management at Alabama A&M University (2015 - 2021)3
- Commissioner of Neighborhood & Business Development for the City of Rochester (2014 - 2015)3
- Associate Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology (2007 - 2014)3
- Founder & CEO of FoxWise Technologies USA (2008 - 2013)3
Acclinate's Mission
Under Dr. Smith's leadership, Acclinate aims to increase representation and diversity in clinical trials and genomic research.2 The company uses a combination of sustained community engagement and AI/ML technology to connect with communities of color and improve their participation in healthcare research.4
Personal Connection
Dr. Smith's motivation for founding Acclinate stems from a personal tragedy. As a teenager, he lost his mother to tuberculosis, only to discover months later that there had been a clinical trial in the area that they were unaware of.4 This experience drove him to work towards improving awareness and access to clinical trials for underrepresented communities.
Highlights
The industrial jobs that sparked the creation of Labor Day may be less common today, but the dedication and long hours put in by our Acclinate team to make an impact are no less significant. Every day, they push boundaries, challenge norms, and strive for excellence.
Take a moment today to relax, recharge, and celebrate your contributions. Your hard work is truly appreciated.
In an interview with Health Rounds over a year ago, I was asked what's next for Acclinate.
"We are growing and scaling, and we're trying to make sure that growth and scale is smart."
"We wake up every single day and it's almost like the very first day we started the company, in terms of our drive and our passion..."
Still remains true today!
[Partial Interview Link]
