MEET THE DOCTOR

A pain-free future is
within your grasp with
Dr. Jeremy Smith

Dr Jeremy Smith@2x

“We believe our patients benefit from our expertise, our robust evaluations, and our dedication to personalized care - and we also believe in positive outcomes. Living without chronic pain is possible, and we put it within your grasp.”

Take the first step towards a better tomorrow

Injury diagnosis by an expert who knows how to listen

As a fellowship trained Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon, Dr. Smith’s robust assessment is an opinion backed by years of dedicated study and continued research into the newest technologies available. Through decades of treating spinal conditions and traumas, Dr. Smith has become a leading surgeon in an elite medical field. 

Dr. Smith served as chief resident his final year of medical school, and continues to give back to the medical community through his many publications, lectures, and studies – some of which have led to impressive advancements in the field. His desire to share his expertise with others brought Dr. Smith to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Southern California as an Assistant Professor, where he became co-director of the USC Center for Spinal Surgery and was heavily involved in research and resident education.  

Dr. Jeremy Smith has been a part of the Orange County community for several years after his practice relocated to Orthopaedic Specialty Institute in 2013, and has earned the love and respect of patients and fellow physicians alike. Dr. Smith’s recent work has brought new insights to his practice, as he and his staff continue to gain both knowledge and experience in the ever-advancing field of spinal treatment.

Appointments

2021 - Present
Division Chief, Spine Surgery

Hoag Orthopedic Institute • Irvine, CA

2021 - Present
Chief of Staff

Hoag Orthopedic Institute • Irvine, CA

2020 - Present
Chairman, Patient Safety Committee

Hoag Orthopedic Institute • Irvine, CA

2018 - 2020
Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Hoag Orthopedic Institute • Irvine, CA

2013 - Present
Fellowship Director

Hoag Orthopaedic Institute Spine Fellowship • Irvine, CA

2013 - Present
Partner

Orthopaedic Specialty Institute • Orange, CA

2011 - 2014
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Spine Surgery

University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine • Los Angeles, CA

Specializing in disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine: degenerative disorders, spinal trauma, minimally invasive surgery, spinal oncology, complex spinal deformity, and computer-assisted surgery

Education and Training

Group 9289@2x
Group 9288@2x

Memberships

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Education and Training

2010 - 2011
Fellow in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery

Directors: Alex Vaccaro, MD, Todd Albert MD
Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University • Philadelphia, PA

2005 - 2010
Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery

University of California, Irvine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery • Irvine, CA

2001 - 2005
Doctor of Medicine

New York Medical College School of Medicine • Valhalla, NY

1995 - 1999
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

University of California, Los Angeles • Los Angeles, CA

Awards & Honors

Oct 2014
Becker Spine: “36 Spine Surgeons Under 40 To Know”
May 2014
Pasadena Magazine- Top doctor
May 2013
Pasadena Magazine- Top doctor
June 2010
First place abstract/presentation competition: University of California Irvine, Graduate Research
Sept 2009
Russell Hibbs Award Finalist, Basic Science: Scoliosis Research Society
June 2009
First place abstract/presentation competition: American College of Spine Surgery Annual Meeting
Dec 2008
First place resident/fellow research award: Cervical Spine Research Society 36th Annual Meeting
June 2005
Valedictorian, New York Medical College
June 2005
The New York Medical College Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Award: Presented to the member of the graduating class demonstrating the greatest interest and proficiency in orthopaedics
June 2005
The Dr. & Mrs. David Harrison Scholarship Award New York Medical College: Presented to the member of the graduating class who has achieved the highest academic standing
June 2005
The Eileen H. Pike Ph.D. Memorial Award in Microbiology: Presented to a member of the graduating class for academic excellence, aptitude and interest in microbiology
April 2004
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA): Elected during the junior academic year
June 2003
American Society for Clinical Pathology Award for Academic Excellence and Achievement
Mar 2002
New York Medical College 6th Annual Medical Student Research Forum: 2nd prize presentation
June 1999
Magna Cum Laude Graduate: University of California, Los Angeles

Licensure and Certifications

2013
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II oral exam, pass
2010
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part I exam, pass 96th percentile
2011
Physician and Surgeon License, State of New Jersey
2006
Physician and Surgeon License, Medical Board of California
2007
Radiology and Fluoroscopy Supervisor Permit Dept of Health, California

Book Chapters

Hah R, Smith JS.
“Vascular Complications of Posterior Cervical Procedures”

In Kim D, Vaccaro AR. Complications of Spinal Instrumentation. In press

Smith JS, Spoonamore M.
“Laminoplasty”

In Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ. Spine Surgery: Tricks of the Trade. 3rd edition. In Press

Smith JS, Spoonamore M.
“Costotransversectomy”

In Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ. Spine Surgery: Tricks of the Trade. 3rd edition. In Press

Smith JS, Bhatia N.
“Postoperative Spinal Infections”

In Herkowitz HN, Garfin SR, Eismont FJ, Bell GR, Balderston RA (ed) Rothman-Simone.
The Spine. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, PA. 6th Edition.

Smith JS, Bhatia N.
“Thoracic Spinal Stability: Decision Making”

In Patel V, Burger E, Brown C. Spine Trauma: Surgical Techniques.
Springer, Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2010. 213-228.

Radcliff K, Kepler C,
Smith JS, Vacarro A.
“Thoracolumbar Fractures”

In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 4: Spine. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL.

Smith JS, Hilibrand A.
“Cervical Spine Surgery: Anterior Microsurgery”

AAOS: Instructional Course Lectures 2012;61:451-9. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rosemont, IL.

Smith JS, Spiker WR,
Gruskay J, Vaccaro A.
“Fundamentals Of Spinal Approaches”

The Neurosurgeons Operative Techniques. Oxford University Press.
Section 3, Chapters 20-25. In Press

Smith HE, Hwang RW,
Smith JS, Vaccaro AR.
“Odontoid Fractures”

Cervical Spine Trauma. Chapter 7. In Press

Presentations and Abstracts

2020 Annual Meeting
“Long Term Radiographic Outcomes Following Adult Spinal DeformitySurgery”

North American Spine Society. Podium Presentation.

2020
“Gender Differencees in Return to Work After Spine Surgery”

American Acadamy of Orthopaedic Surgerons. Poster Presentation.

2019 Summer Meeting
“Examining Gender Differences in Return to Work After Spine Surgery.”

North American Spine Society E-Poster.

2019 Annual Meeting
“Gender Differencees in Return to Work After Spine Surgery.”

North American Spine Society. Podium Presentation.

May 2019
“Degerative Spinal Deformity: The Sagittal Planee”

California Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting.

June 2017
“Predicting Sagittal Alignment Restoration Using Modern Interbody Technique”

Society of Lateral Access Surgery Annual Meeting.

June 2017
“The Practitioner’s Guide to Recognizing and Managing Spine Surgery Complicaitons”

Hoag Orthopaedic Institute 3rd Annual Research Day.

September 2014
“Lumbar Spine: Cutting Edge Surgical Techniques.. Proximal Extent of Fusion: Decision Making and How to Avoid PJK”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons/ Lumbar Spine Research Society.

September, 2014
“Latest Advancements in Spine surgery”

St Joseph Hospital Physician Education Symposium.

February 2014
“Spinal Sagital Balance and Pelvic Parameters”

Hoag Orthopaedic Institute Grand Rounds.

November 2013
“Anterior Cervical Decompression”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Spine Surgery: State-of-the Art Techniques and Science.

February 2012
“The Correlation Between Frequency of Surgical Site Infections and Surgery Case Order”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting. Podium Presentation.

February 2012
“The Seasonality of Postoperative Infection in Spine Surgery”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting. Podium Presentation.

July 2011
“The Argument Against Surgery for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease”

11th Annual Thomas Jefferson Spine Fellows Alumni Symposium. Podium Presentation.

May 2011
“The Correlation Between Frequency of Surgical Site Infection and Time of Day That Surgery is Performed”

The Spine Study Group 22nd Annual Symposium. Podium Presentation.

April 2011
“Dural Repair Techniques and Technologies”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

March 2011
“Healthcare Reform: An Update”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

February 2011
“Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease- An Update on Basic Science”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

November 2010
“Medical Errors, Negligence and Malpractice: How to Avoid a Lawsuit”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

October 2010
“Sacral Tumors: Operative Management”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

July 2010
“Spinal Cord Injury: An Update on Translational Studies”

Thomas Jefferson University Grand Rounds.

June 2009
“The Role of Decompression With Either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model”

American College of Spine Surgery 2009 Annual Meeting.
Podium Presentation.

September 2009
“The Role of Decompression With Either Durotomy or Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury”

North American Spine Society 2009 Annual Meeting. Podium Presentation.

December 2008
“The Role of Durotomy and Duraplasty Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.”

Cervical Spine Research Society 36th Annual Meeting. Podium Presentation.

July 2004
“Congenital Spinal Deformities”

Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College Department of Orthopaedics Research Forum.

August 2002
“Early Experience with Shaped Beam Radiosurgery (SBRS) and Intensity Modulated Radiosurgery (IMRS) in the Management of Spinal Metastases”

Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College Department of Neurosurgery Annual Research Forum.

March 2002
“Cerebral Spinal Fluid Pressure: Effects of Body Position and Lumbar Subarachnoid Drainage”

New York Medical College 6th Annual Medical Student Research Forum.

December 2001
“Cervical Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Pressure: Effects of Body Position and Lumbar Drainage.”

Cervical Spine Research Society 29th Annual Meeting. Abstract/Poster Presentation.

Research Appointments

Feb 2008 – June 2010
Researcher

UC Irvine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery/
Reeve-Irvine Research Center under Ranjan Gupta, MD and
Oswald Steward, PhD. Our studies focused on spinal cord
injury and secondary responses in small animal models.

Jul 2008 – June 2010
Researcher

UC Irvine, Department of Neurosurgery/Reeve-
Irvine Research Center under Kim Anderson, PhD. 
Research focused on carbohydrate metabolism in the
spinal cord injured individual and the
epidemiology of spinal cord injury.

June 2002 – Mar 2004
Researcher

Westchester Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery
under Deborah Benzil, MD. Evaluated the use of stereotactic
radiosurgery in patients with spinal metastatic disease.

June 1999 – Jul 2001
Researcher

UC Irvine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery under Gregory
Carlson, MD. Studies focused on evaluating spinal cord
compression and subarachnoid CSF pressures in a dog model.

Sept 1998 – Dec 1999
Undergraduate Researcher

UCLA, Department of Hematology/Oncology, under
Richard Pietras, MD. Researched tamoxifen-estrogen receptor
interactions and subsequent intracellular signaling cascades.

Memberships

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FROM OUR PATIENTS

    CATHERINE JOHNSON • LAGUNA BEACH, CA​

    “Dr. Smith is not only <em>extremely compassionate</em> and caring, but a <em>talented and skilled surgeon</em>. He performed my second cervical fusion and will now do a posterior cervical fusion. <em>I am truly grateful</em> to have been referred to him with all of the pain I’ve suffered. I am certain that working together we will find the pain relief I so desperately need. <em>Thank you Dr. Smith!</em>”

      CATHERINE JOHNSON • LAGUNA BEACH, CA​

      “Dr. Smith is not only <em>extremely compassionate</em> and caring, but a <em>talented and skilled surgeon</em>. He performed my second cervical fusion and will now do a posterior cervical fusion. <em>I am truly grateful</em> to have been referred to him with all of the pain I’ve suffered. I am certain that working together we will find the pain relief I so desperately need. <em>Thank you Dr. Smith!</em>”

        CATHERINE JOHNSON • LAGUNA BEACH, CA​

        “Dr. Smith is not only <em>extremely compassionate</em> and caring, but a <em>talented and skilled surgeon</em>. He performed my second cervical fusion and will now do a posterior cervical fusion. <em>I am truly grateful</em> to have been referred to him with all of the pain I’ve suffered. I am certain that working together we will find the pain relief I so desperately need. <em>Thank you Dr. Smith!</em>”

        IN THE PRESS

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