It is heartbreaking to inform you that Craig Smallwood died suddenly at home in the very early morning hours of today. The cause of his death is unknown at this time; he had been in good health through yesterday.
Dr. Craig Smallwood started his career at Boston Children’s Hospital as a respiratory therapist (2007-2010), where he soon won the admiration and respect of all of his peers and clinicians throughout the intensive care units. Over the years his interests continued to evolve and he earned a bachelors degree in cardiopulmonary science with a concentration in respiratory therapy in 2007, followed by his PhD in bioengineering in 2018, both degrees awarded at Northeastern University.
Since 2010 Dr. Smallwood has held the position of Respiratory Research Associate in the Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and, since 2019, Assistant Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School. Craig’s academic work was nationally recognized for his expertise in the optimal utilization of existing healthcare data and the development of bedside decision support tools.
Craig was 36 years old, and leaves behind his beloved wife Erica, and their two children, 5 year old Sadie and 18 month old Max.
This tragic news comes at the most difficult time each of us has ever experienced. Yet, the memory of Craig’s extraordinary talent, and his ever-present smile and optimism, reminds us that our greatest strength during this very difficult time is that we have each other as colleagues and that together we will work our way back to better times.
Written by Lauren Perlman