Monica Smith

President  
Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Saint Luke’s South Hospital 

Monica Smith is president of Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Saint Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas. Monica also has responsibility for the Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute and Saint Luke’s Community Hospitals. All are part of BJC Health’s West Region.

Monica is a seasoned health care executive with 35 years of experience leading hospital operations and clinical service lines. Before taking her current role in 2026, Monica served as vice president and chief operating officer at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, overseeing daily operations for the 489-bed Magnet-designated hospital and multiple ambulatory locations in St. Louis, Missouri.

Prior to joining Missouri Baptist, Monica served as chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Boone Health Inc. in Columbia, Missouri, following various leadership roles of increasing responsibility at the hospital for 18 years. Before that, she spent 15 combined years as a staff nurse, advanced practice provider, and in leadership roles in various departments at University of Missouri Health Care and Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

Monica earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Missouri–Columbia. She is a member and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization of Nurse Leaders, and Missouri Organization for Nurse Leaders.