Saturday, May 24th

Local Couple to be Honored at Cancer Support Team Event

Jennifer and DanSmithJennifer and Dan Smith willbe honored at the Cancer Support Team dinner on May 8 at Scarsdale Golf Club(Written by Bill Doescher)
A lot of people honored in Scarsdale by various organizations over the years, or for that matter, any other city, town or village in America, no doubt would have preferred if it were somebody else getting the honor, praise, and the press. Stardom and community recognition were never in their minds while helping others in need. The same holds true for the Scarsdale couple being honored at Cancer Support Team’s “Celebrate Spring” event at the Scarsdale Golf Club on Thursday evening, May 8, 2025, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

For Jennifer and Dan Smith, described by many of all ages as most caring volunteers, it was never, ever, about fame. It was always just about helping others improve their lives. Many of the members in the congregation at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, where The Smiths have been active members and volunteers for years, know first-hand about their good deeds. Now those involved as a patient, volunteer or board member at Cancer Support Team (CST) know first-hand about that same personal penchant for helping others, some who could be identified as underserved.

Never Interested in Recognition

“Getting recognition at an event or notice in the press, was never our intention when helping others in need,” both Smiths will tell you. “It’s just not who we are.” Then along came Bonnie Gould, also of Scarsdale, a CST board member and the former chair, and also the host of “Celebrate Spring,” and her persuasive powers. She wouldn’t let them say no to being honored at the upcoming event, and the rest is history. Their involvement with CST over the last five years helped Bonnie make the sale.

According to Tania Weiss, executive director at CST, “Jennifer and Dan Smith are both very involved with CST. Dan has been a board member since 2020, and Jennifer a volunteer driver, taking patients to and from life-saving cancer treatments multiple times every week for the same five years. Many people talk the talk, but this couple actually walks the walk.”

Giving back comes naturally to them because they both are from the health-care field. Dan is a retired surgeon of gynecologic oncology, and Jennifer began her education by becoming a registered nurse, later obtaining a master’s in public health (MPH) and in business administration (MBA), and finally becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Together, they have used their healthcare knowledge and resources both locally to help newly settled refugees and abroad, traveling to Haiti on medical missions.

Both Studied Health Care

Raised in Oklahoma, Dan came east to Harvard for both his undergraduate degree and for medical school. Jennifer is originally from Pittsburgh and began her education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Dan completed two residencies: one at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in general surgery, and another in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Los Angeles County, USC Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Jennifer practiced nursing at Mass General, UCLA Hospital and the Bay State PSRO, before going back to school to obtain an MBA, an MPH as well as a DNP, all from Columbia University.
Dan taught Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cornell University Medical College and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Jennifer taught numerous courses at Columbia School of Nursing on such topics as Adult Diagnosis and Management as well as Legal and Ethical Issues.