Benjamin M Smith, MD, MS

  • Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

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Overview

Dr. Benjamin Smith is a clinician-scientist and pulmonary physician. He received clinical and research training at McGill and Columbia Universities and maintains research appointments at both institutions. His clinical and academic interests include improving the quality of lung cancer diagnosis and staging, and medical education. His research uses translational epidemiology methods to identify, understand, and ultimately target novel COPD endotypes. His research expertise includes thoracic image analysis, respiratory physiology, and epidemiology.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • MD, 2005 McGill University
  • MS, 2012 Epidemiology - Emphysema and lung cancer, McGill University
  • Residency: 2008 McGill University
  • Residency: 2010 McGill University
  • Fellowship: 2014 Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Research

Dr. Smith's research focuses on investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of obstructive lung diseases in order to improve clinically meaningful outcomes. Specific axes of his research program include:

  1. Defining resilient lung structure and function in the 21st century
  2. Identifying modifiable etiologic factors in order to promote resilient lung development and maintenance across the lifespan
  3. Understanding the mechanisms of increased disease susceptibility
  4. Establishing clinical utility of such knowledge.

Obstructive lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma) represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and in Canada. His research integrates methods of population-based epidemiology, state-of-the-art-imaging, and physiology in order to understand disease pathogenesis and expose targetable mechanisms of functional impairment. His specific areas of interest include airway structure and developmental susceptibility to obstructive lung disease; the personalization of obstructive lung disease prevention and treatment based on airway anatomy; and the cardiotoxic effects of breathing mechanics in obstructive lung disease.

Selected Publications

  1. Vameghestahbanati M, Sack C, Wysoczanski A, Hoffman EA, et al. Association of dysanapsis with mortality among older adults Eur Resp J 2023 in press (PMID forthcoming)
  2. Smith BM, Kirby M, Hoffman EA, et al. Association of Dysanapsis With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Older Adults. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2268-2280. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.6918
  3. Christenson SA, Smith BM, Bafadhel M, Putcha N. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lancet. 2022;399(10342):2227-2242. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00470-6
  4. Vameghestahbanati M, Kirby M, Tanabe N, et al. Central Airway Tree Dysanapsis Extends to the Peripheral Airways. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;203(3):378-381. doi:10.1164/rccm.202007-3025LE
  5. Vameghestahbanati M, Kirby M, Maltais F, et al. Dysanapsis and the Spirometric Response to Inhaled Bronchodilators. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;204(8):997-1001. doi:10.1164/rccm.202107-1574LE
  6. Vameghestahbanati M, Hiura GT, Barr RG, Sieren JC, Smith BM, Hoffman EA. CT-Assessed Dysanapsis and Airflow Obstruction in Early and Mid Adulthood. Chest. 2022;161(2):389-391. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2021.08.038
  7. Smith BM, Traboulsi H, Austin JHM, et al. Human airway branch variation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018;115(5):E974-E981. doi:10.1073/pnas.1715564115
  8. Smith BM, Hoffman EA, Rabinowitz D, et al. Comparison of spatially matched airways reveals thinner airway walls in COPD. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study and the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcomes in COPD Study (SPIROMICS). Thorax. 2014;69(11):987-996. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-205160
  9. Kesimer M*, Smith BM*, Ceppe A, Ford AA, et al. Mucin concentration and peripheral airways obstruction in COPD. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2018 doi: 10.1164/rccm.201806-1016LE.
  10. Abdallah SJ, Wilkinson-Maitland C, Saad N, Li PZ, Smith BM, Bourbeau J, Jensen D. Effect of morphine on breathlessness and exercise endurance in advanced COPD: a randomised crossover trial. Eur Respir J 2017 Oct 19;50(4)
  11. Smith BM, Austin JH, Newell JD, D’Souza B, et al Pulmonary Emphysema Subtypes on Computed Tomography in Smokers. Am J Med 2014 127(1):e7-e23.
  12. Smith BM, Bluemke DA, Hoffman E, Basner RC, et al. Pulmonary hyperinflation and left ventricular mass: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis COPD Study. Circulation 2013; 127:1503-11.
  13. Smith BM, Pinto L, Ezer N, Sverzellati N, et al. Emphysema detected on computed tomography and risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lung Cancer 2012; 77: 58-63.

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov