Although Sheila Robertson Smith didn’t intend to pursue hematology, she is thrilled with how her career ended up. Having received an associate’s degree, she transferred to the University of Miami, but she did not find herself thrilled with the program. Shortly after leaving there, while visiting a friend in North Carolina, she visited the Duke University Medical Center employment office. A position in a hematology laboratory was offered and she accepted, remaining there for six years. She then took a position at North Arundel Hospital, and then worked in the hematology department at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland, for almost 20 years.
One of the highlights of Ms. Smith’s career occurred when she worked at the Anne Arundel Medical Center. She was looking over a patient’s blood work when she realized it matched a slide of a newly-diagnosed leukemia cell she had recently received from a friend. She brought her discovery to the patient’s doctor, and he confirmed the diagnosis and complimented her on her findings.
When Ms. Smith eventually retired in 1993, she decided to dedicate herself to civic work. Her parents were philanthropic, which inspired her to want to give back, too. A member of the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco since 1974, she was appointed to the board of directors of the society in 1997, serving until 2017. She then became involved with organizations such as the Charles County Historical Society, the Charles County Garden Club and the Smallwood Foundation. Her efforts led her to receive the Mrs. Frank J. Fletcher Award from the Charles Country Garden Club and the Charles County Historic Trust Preservation Award in 2007. Today, Ms. Smith continues her efforts on the board of directors of the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco since 1997. She first joined the group in 1969.
Ms. Smith’s hobbies include gardening, traveling and needlepoint. Her needlepoint creations have won blue ribbons and best-in-show awards.
