Michael Smith Named Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of Apple Valley Medical Clinic.

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. -- Michael B. Smith was named Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of the Apple Valley Medical Clinic, located at the Apple Valley Medical Center. He replaces Doug Shaw, who will retire in December. Smith had been owner of Michael Smith Healthcare Consulting, LLC, since 2002, designing and implementing business solutions for health care businesses, physicians and hospitals. He also was involved in analyzing and debugging operational issues to improve physician and patient satisfaction.

From 1995 to 2002, he was chief executive officer of WestHealth, Inc., a full-service ambulatory care campus in Plymouth, Minn. He directed all strategic business initiatives to ensure the growth, expansion and financial viability of WestHealth, working with the board of directors and independent medical practices. From 1988 to 1995, Smith was clinic administrator and program manager for Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.

"Mike Smith's background is a perfect fit for the Apple Valley Medical Clinic as we expand and grow in the South Metro area," said John English, M.D., one of the founders of the clinic. "His rich knowledge of the health care industry, coupled with his ability to guide a variety of practices at the same time, will be invaluable on our campus."

"Everything I have learned about Apple Valley Medical Center tells me that this is a medical facility poised for some exciting growth in the years ahead," said Smith. "I'm ready to contribute to that growth."

Smith holds a B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota and attended the Healthcare Executive Program of the Harvard School of Public Health.

Apple Valley Medical Center includes an independent clinic of 14 family practice physicians and 20 board certified specialty physicians seeing patients through the United Specialty Center. Specialists on the campus provide services in allergy; cardiology; colon and rectal surgery; dermatology; ear, nose and throat; general surgery; low back & neck care; neurology; ob/gyn; ophthalmology; orthopedics; plastic surgery; podiatry and urology. The center also houses medical imaging, a full-service pharmacy, occupational health services, and physical medicine and rehabilitation care.

Growth over the last few years demanded an $8.5 million expansion of the center at 14655 Galaxie Avenue in Apple Valley, bringing the facility to 60,000 square feet in 2007. More room was added to family practice, urgent care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and the specialty center. The pharmacy doubled in size, and a new medical imaging center was added to provide on-site digital mammography, ultrasound, MRI and CT scanning.