Bob has been a family nurse practitioner since he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in December 1981. Being part computer geek he conceived of NP Central in 1994 and like any good nurse, set about developing it. Bob co-owned and ran a NP-owned practice from 1985 to 1996 before selling it and merging the practice with Valley Medical Center's Kent Clinic. In 2000, he and his partner, Maddy Wiley, MSN, NP were recruited to open the first of a network of nurse managed family practices. Their practice, FamilyCare of Kent, opened it's doors in March 2000. Besides consulting on practice development he continues to work clinically 2 days a week. Along, with his interest in almost anything technical his clinical interests include asthma, suturing and biopsies and using the Internet and computers in clinic care.

He is a member of several professional organizations including the American College of Nurse Practitioners, the American Nurses Association, ARNPs United of Washington State and the Washington State Nurses Association. He is a Past-President of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and ARNPs United of Washington. He was a member of the founding board of the American College of Nurse Practitioners.

Bob is the recipient of the Sharp Cutting Edge Leadership Award for 2000. This award given once a year by the American College of Nurse Practitioners is bestowed upon an outstanding nurse leader who has demonstrated leadership above and beyond. In his case Bob was honored for his work with Nurse Practitioners and the Internet. He is also the 1989 recipient of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Washington State Outstanding Nurse Practitioner award.

He is on the Editorial Board of the Nurse Practitioner Journal, Clinician News and The Source. Along with Maddy Wiley, MSN, ARNP he has been the co-editor of ARNP Care since 1989. He is editor of FYI-Clinical a weekly ezine of breaking clinical news. He is the founder and Editor of website NP Central which has been providing information to NPs since 1994. He is a clinical faculty member for the University of Washington. Several times a year he can be found teaching classes on suturing, biopsies and dermatologic procedures. He also presents on the Internet and handheld computers. He is rumored to have built his first computer while he was still in high school.

Email: bsmithing@nurse.net