Dr. Smith, who is certified by the American Board of Surgery, grew up in Demopolis, Alabama. He completed his B.S. degree in Chemistry at the University of Alabama and obtained his M.D. degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Following an Internship in General Surgery, Dr. Smith completed his Surgery Residency at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham.

During his training, Dr. Smith was active in nutrition research, presenting his results at the Southern Medical Association annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas and the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. He was also active in development of the Trauma Service and "Life Saver" helicopter transport system at Carraway Methodist Medical Center where he served as Chief Surgery Resident.

In addition to Board Certification in Surgery, Dr. Smith is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. As a member of its State Committee on Trauma and Committee on Applicants, Dr. Smith is active at the state level in the American College of Surgeons. He was named to the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1986 and 1983 and elected Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans in 1992. Dr. Smith is a Fellow of the Southeastern Surgical Congress, and member of the American Society of General Surgeons, Carraway Surgical Society, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery, Southern Medical Association, Medical Association of the State of Alabama and Cullman County Medical Society. Dr. Smith has served as Chief of Staff at both Cullmam Regional Medical Center and Woodland Medical Center and currently serves as Chief of Surgery and immediate part President of the Medical Staff of Cullman Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Smith is especially interested in surgical education. As a leader in the field of Thoracoscopic Chest Surgery, performing the first such videoscopic lung procedure in North Alabama in early 1991, Dr. Smith has been active in taking this technology to surgeons across the country. He has traveled to various major cities including Chicago, New York and Houston teaching other Chest Surgeons the technique of videoscopic lung surgery. In addition to advanced V.A.T.S. (Videoscopic Assisted Thoracic Surgery) procedures, Dr. Smith has extensive experience in other advanced videoscopic procedures including laparoscopic colon resections, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity, laparoscopic gallbladder and anti-reflux procedures, hernia repair and appendectomy.

Dr. Smith and his wife Sherrie reside in Cullman and attend Grace Episcopal Church. They enjoy the many leisure activities available in Cullman. Dr. Smith has four children, Morgan, Hillary, Sage and Jim. During his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and playing the guitar. Dr. Smith and his family have been in Cullman since 1987.