Paul Smith joined Covenant Health in April 2025 as vice president of behavioral health. He leads behavioral health initiatives across the health system, including inpatient and outpatient services offered through Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center.  

Prior to joining Covenant Health, Smith was vice president of behavioral services for HCA Healthcare: Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. He directed behavioral health services for a multi-campus hospital and led a stand-alone acute psychiatric hospital with full inpatient and outpatient programs. During his tenure, he improved financial performance and implemented strategic growth and expansion activities. He helped the medical center receive a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for clinical excellence, patient and physician experience, and employee engagement.   

Smith previously was regional CEO and assistant vice president of Perimeter Healthcare, which operates free-standing psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric residential treatment facilities in six states. He was a group facilitator at Davita, a leading independent medical group, and opened/managed facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) area. Smith also was a behavioral healthcare administrator in Oklahoma, where he had consultative roles in grant writing, business development and contract negotiations. He has 20+ years of progressive leadership roles in behavioral organizations and has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Smith earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of South Dakota and a bachelor’s degree in social science from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a recipient of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award, and speaks on behavioral health and community service management at regional and national conferences.  

Why I Work at Covenant Health:

I am committed to service to the community, and Covenant Health takes community very seriously. I am proud to be a part of that effort for the people of our region and the community as a whole. When we work together, great things happen.