Saint Luke’s Names New President of Saint Luke’s East and South Hospitals

Saint Luke’s today announced Monica Smith, MSN, RN, FACHE, has been named president of Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Saint Luke’s South Hospital, effective April 13, 2026. 

Smith previously served as chief operating officer at Missouri Baptist Medical Center—also part of BJC Health—leading daily operations of the 449-bed hospital in St. Louis since 2024. During her tenure, the hospital was ranked among the top three hospitals in Missouri by U.S. News & World Report and was a top-ranked hospital by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

As part of her new role, Smith will also provide leadership and oversight to Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute and Saint Luke’s Community Hospitals. She succeeds Bobby Olm-Shipman, who began serving as president of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City in February.

“Throughout her career, Monica has fostered a strong patient-centric environment and a collaborative organizational culture,” said Julie Quirin, president of Saint Luke’s, the West Region of BJC Health. “Her experience and dedication to building great teams while providing exceptional care will help us continue to build on the momentum and legacy of Saint Luke’s East Hospital and Saint Luke’s South Hospital as the best places to deliver and receive care in our communities.”

Prior to joining Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Smith 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 and in advanced practice nursing and leadership roles in various departments at University of Missouri Health Care and Harry S. Truman Hospital.

Smith is a member and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization of Nurse Leaders, and Missouri Organization for Nurse Leaders.

About Saint Luke's

Saint Luke’s serves the West Region of BJC Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. Through its 10 hospitals and campuses, multiple health service organizations, and more than 100 primary and specialty care offices, Saint Luke’s provides the highest levels of quality and compassionate health care and health-related services for patients in urban, suburban, and rural communities in 65 specialty services across 67 counties in Missouri and Kansas. Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report and is one of the elite hospitals in the region. Saint Luke’s is committed to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education.

BJC Health is one of the largest employers in Missouri and comprises 24 hospitals and hundreds of clinics and service organizations, operating in two distinct regions, serving patients in its East Region as BJC HealthCare.