In April 2007, Richard J. (Rick) Smith became associate administrator of HRSA's new Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS), heading a staff of 162 civilian and Commissioned Corps personnel.

HRSA works to fill in the health care gaps for people who live outside the economic and medical mainstream. The agency uses its $7 billion annual budget (FY 2007) to expand access to quality health care through an array of grants to state and local governments, health care providers and health professions training programs.

BCRS' largest single program responsibility is the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), with a budget of $126 million and field strength of 4,100 clinicians. Smith will continue as director of the NHSC, the position he held upon being named to head BCRS. The new agency also has responsibility for administering the Nursing Scholarship and Nursing Education Loan Repayment Programs, the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program, the Ready Responder Program, and the J-1 Visa Program.

Prior to directing the NHSC, Smith served as deputy associate administrator for HRSA's Healthcare Systems Bureau. He was the first director of HRSA's Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness from 2003-2005 and served as chief of the Injury-Emergency Medical Services Branch in HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau from 2000-2003.

Before coming to HRSA, Smith worked for 30 years on behalf of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Indian Health Service.

Smith received his master of science degree from West Virginia University and a bachelor of science degree from the University of South Alabama.

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