Russell Smith, MBA, Dba
About Russell Smith, MBA, Dba
Russell Smith, MBA, Dba, serves as the Director of Payor Relations at Cala Health and has extensive experience in healthcare market access and policy. He has held various leadership roles in prominent pharmaceutical companies and currently contributes to academia as a Corporate Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown.
Work at Cala Health
Russell Smith serves as the Director of Payor Relations at Cala Health, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he focuses on establishing and maintaining relationships with payors to enhance access to Cala Health's innovative therapies. His responsibilities include negotiating contracts and ensuring that the company's products are covered by insurance plans. This position builds on his extensive experience in market access and reimbursement strategies within the healthcare sector.
Current Academic Involvement
In addition to his role at Cala Health, Russell Smith is a Corporate Fellow at the University of Houston-Downtown, a position he has held since 2021. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the same institution, where he shares his expertise in healthcare reimbursement and policy with students. His academic involvement reflects his commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Previous Experience in Pharmaceuticals
Russell Smith has a diverse background in the pharmaceutical industry, having held various positions over the years. He worked as a Market Access National Account Manager at Azurity Pharmaceuticals for 8 months in 2021 and as Director of Corporate Accounts at King Pharmaceuticals from 2008 to 2011. His experience also includes roles at Medela, Bioventus, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Akorn, Inc., where he developed skills in market access, advocacy relationship development, and healthcare policy influence.
Education and Expertise
Russell Smith holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Houston and an MBA from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas. He further advanced his education by earning a Doctor of Business Administration from The University of Dallas. His academic background supports his expertise in healthcare reimbursement, coding, health economics outcomes research, and value proposition development.
Professional Skills and Specializations
Russell Smith possesses a strong skill set in healthcare reimbursement and coding, which includes navigating complex billing processes and ensuring compliance with regulations. He specializes in health economics outcomes research, focusing on the economic impact of healthcare interventions. Additionally, he has developed skills in advocacy relationship development, enabling him to build partnerships with key stakeholders to influence healthcare policy and access.