Her Story
About Alexandra
Alexandra Smith, MBA, is a healthcare operations leader with approximately 20 years of experience in practice management, clinical operations, and healthcare administration. She currently serves as an Operations Manager at MD Anderson Cancer Center, supporting the Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery departments. Her responsibilities include departmental operations, budgeting, inventory, financial approvals, space planning, standard operating procedures, recruiting and onboarding, and management of administrative teams supporting faculty. Her broader expertise includes process improvement, change management, strategic planning, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration.
Prior to joining MD Anderson, Alexandra served as a Senior Practice Manager at Houston Methodist, following earlier leadership roles with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Managerial Economics from the State University of New York College at Potsdam and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is working toward achieving fellow status. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish and has more than 20 years of experience providing medical interpretation.
Alexandra is particularly passionate about leadership development, continuous improvement, and creating collaborative professional communities. She founded the Leadership League at MD Anderson, a networking and knowledge-sharing group for operations managers and other leaders that has grown to more than 200 members and meets monthly. She has also shared her expertise publicly as a panelist discussing clinical operations, patient flow, and digital care. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she contributes to faith formation by teaching catechism to elementary students and sixth-grade girls.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alexandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my career path to my lifelong passion for healthcare and the people who influenced me early in my career. My father was a doctor, which gave me an early connection to the healthcare field. When I began working as a hospital registration representative, an administrator took the time to show me different aspects of the organization. I admired her role and leadership so much that I knew I wanted to pursue a similar path. Throughout my career, I have continued to learn, build relationships, and seek opportunities to grow.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering healthcare is to find a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and help them navigate the field. Educate yourself as much as possible and continue learning because healthcare is constantly changing. Stay current with developments in the industry, ask questions, and do not hesitate to apply for the roles and opportunities you want.
I also encourage women to make themselves known professionally, particularly in remote and hybrid environments. Building relationships and maintaining visibility can help ensure that people recognize your skills and consider you when opportunities arise. Most importantly, be proactive about your development and continue pursuing the goals you have set for yourself.
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