Candice Smith, CEO, Deaf Smith County Hospital District Receives Statewide Rural Hospital Leadership Award

Candice Smith, MSN, RHCNOC, CCRN, RACR, CEO, Deaf Smith County Hospital District, is the 2026 recipient of the Texas Hospital Association’s Pioneer Award recognizing her innovative leadership of a rural hospital. The award was presented today at a luncheon during the annual conference of the THA membership.

“Candice embodies the very best of rural hospital leadership, said Kevin Bunch, chair, Deaf Smith County Hospital District board of directors. “She consistently seeks new opportunities to improve the health of our community and challenges staff to embrace innovation in their pursuit of delivering the highest quality care for every patient.”

“The Pioneer Award is a meaningful validation of the commitment of our entire team to ensure that our patients and community have access to the high-quality care they need, when they need it, right here at home,” said Smith. “Rural healthcare is not without its challenges, but our Deaf Smith County Hospital District team embraces the pioneer spirit to continuously improve and innovate, and I’m honored to receive this award that recognizes their collective commitment.”

Prior to becoming CEO in 2024, Smith served as the system’s chief nursing officer. With 25 years of healthcare experience, including 14 in leadership, she has a master’s degree in nursing administration from the University of Phoenix and a BSN from WTAMU. Her career spans roles in pediatric, trauma, and intensive care, as well as serving as a clinical nursing instructor. A 2023 Rural Health Chief Nursing Officer certificate recipient, Candice is active in community organizations, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Texas Disaster Preparedness Committee. Governor Greg Abbott selected Smith in 2025 to serve on the state’s Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council where she serves as the co-chair for the Nursing Advisory Committee.

Under Candice’s leadership at DSCHD, the health system has expanded outpatient and inpatient specialty services, including cardiology, pain management, and inpatient dialysis, providing critical care locally and reducing the need for patients to travel outside the community. Her leadership has brought significant recognition to the hospital. DSCHD shared the 2024 National Rural Health Association Outstanding Rural Health Program Award for its role in the Rural Nursing Education Consortium (RNEC), a collaboration with regional hospitals and academic institutions to educate and retain rural nurses. The hospital also received the THA Bill Aston Award for Quality for its community paramedicine program, and the EMS team was named the 2025 EMS Provider of the Year by the Panhandle Regional Advisory Council.

The THA Pioneer Award is given to a CEO/administrator of a rural hospital or health care system in the state who demonstrates creative and innovative management achievements and leadership within the organization and community. THA is the state’s largest hospital association, representing more than 450 of the state’s hospitals.