Brigitte K. Smith

Brigitte K. Smith, MD, MHPE, FACS, FSVS

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Adjunct - Surgery

Divisions: Vascular Surgery

Brigitte Smith, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, Program Director for the Vascular Surgery Fellowship and Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Surgery. She grew up in Wisconsin and received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin. She continued her training there as the first resident in the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Program. During her residency she developed an interest in surgical education and completed a Surgical Education Research Fellowship through the Association for Surgical Education. She has continued to focus her academic interests on surgical education and is currently enrolled in the Master of Health Professions Education program at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Smith has a broad clinical practice focused on the open and endovascular treatment of aortic, visceral, carotid, and lower extremity arterial disease, dialysis vascular access, and open and catheter-based treatment of lower extremity venous insufficiency. She has specific clinical interests in pelvic venous insufficiency, Nutcracker syndrome and a variety of arterial insufficiency syndromes that affect high-performance athletes. In addition to clinical responsibilities, Dr. Smith also leads the Section of Education, including surgical education research efforts in the University of Utah's Department of Surgery. Her research is focused on improving clinical assessment of surgical competence and the ability of current assessment tools to predict future performance in clinical practice. Her research has been supported by collaborations with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and Association for Surgical Education.

Research Statement

Dr. Smith is interested in:

1. Utilization of team-based experiential learning to teach value-driven health care to residents and medical students

2. Development of sub-specialty traing paradigms in graduate surgical education

3. Integrated vascular surgery residency program development and assessment.

Education History

Undergraduate University of Wisconsin ¿ La Crosse
 BS
Professional Medical University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
 MD
Internship University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics
 Intern
Residency University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics
 Resident
Research Fellow Association for Surgical Education
 Research Fellow
Graduate Training University of Illinois at Chicago
 MHPE

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Jacobs AC, Malhotra NR, Purnell SM, Lee YJ, Wolf L, Millar MM, Cartwright PC, Smith B (2021). Quality improvement education in surgical specialty training: A comparison of Vascular Surgery resident and Urology Resident experiences and attitudes. American journal of surgery, 221(5), 993-999.
  2. Malhotra NR, Smith JD, Jacobs AC, Johnson CE, Khan US, Ellison HB, Brintz BJ, Millar MM, Cloud WG, Nahmias J, Hendershot KM, Smith B (2021). High value care education in general surgery residency programs: A multi-institutional needs assessment. American journal of surgery, 221(2), 291-297.
  3. Hayek S, Woo B, Darelli-Anderson A, Dove J, Fluck M, Stefanidis D, Shabahang MM, Smith B (2021). Disparate opinions on the value of Vice Chairs of education in Departments of Surgery: A national survey of Department Chairs and other surgical education stakeholders. American journal of surgery, 221(2), 381-387.
  4. Nguyen S, Johnston T, McCrary HC, Chow C, Babcock C, Richards B, Smith B (2021). Medical student attitudes and actions that encourage teaching on surgery clerkships. American journal of surgery, 222(6), 1066-1071.
  5. Chow CJ, Richards BF, Babcock C, Christensen T, Buchmann L, Smith BK, Weber T, Lamb Two sides of the same coin: Factors that can make or break clinical learning encounters. Global Surgical Education - Journal of the Association for Surgical Education,
  6. McCrary HC, Luman A, O'Sullivan P, Smith B, Cannon R (2021). A national survey to assess robotic surgery training among otolaryngology - head and neck surgery residency programs. [3489421996968 Epub ahead of print]. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology,
  7. Smith BK, Yamazaki K, Tekian A, Holmboe E, Hamstra SJ, Mitchell EL, Park Y The predictive probability value of the ACGME Vascular Surgery Milestones. Annals of surgery,
  8. Smith BK, Finlayson SRG, Perler BA, Presson AP, Allen CM, Brooke B (2020). Comparison of Patient Outcomes Among Integrated Residency Versus Fellowship-Trained Vascular Surgeons. (Epub ahead of Print). Annals of surgery,
  9. Smith BK, Sheahan MG 3rd, Sgroi M, Weis T, Singh N, Rigberg D, Coleman DM, Lee JT, Shames ML, Mitchell E (2021). Addressing Contemporary Management of Vascular Trauma: Optimization of Patient Care Through Collaboration. Annals of surgery, 273(5), e171-e172.
  10. Christiansen J, Holeman T, Peistetter J, Katz M, Slager S, Murphy R, Smith B Faculty attitudes toward "value" influence the learning environment for teaching and delivering high value care. Academic medicine,
  11. Smith BK, Greenberg JA, Mitchell E (2014). The evolving integrated vascular surgery residency curriculum. Annals of vascular surgery, 28(7), 1761-8.
  12. Mirabelli LG, Cosker RM, Kraiss LW, Griffin CL, Smith BK, Sarfati MR, Al-Dulaimi R, Brooke B (2018). Rapid Methods for Routine Frailty Assessment during Vascular Surgery Clinic Visits. Annals of vascular surgery, 46, 134-141.
  13. Gilbertson EA, Bailey TR, Kraiss LW, Griffin CL, Smith BK, Sarfati M, Beckstrom J, Brooke B (2021). Long-Term Impact of Vascular Surgery Stress on Frail Older Patients. Annals of vascular surgery, 70, 9-19.
  14. Smith BK, Luman A, Yamazaki K, Tekian A, Hamstra SJ, Holmboe E, Mitchell EL, Park Y (2021). Using Learning Analytics to Examine Achievement of Graduation Targets for Systems-Based Practice and Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: A National Cohort of Vascular Surgery Fellows. Annals of vascular surgery, 76, 463-471.
  15. Zemela MS, Malgor RD, Smith BK, Smeds M (2021). Feasibility and acceptability of virtual mock oral examinations for senior vascular surgery trainees and implications for the certifying exam. Annals of vascular surgery, 76, 28-37.
  16. Smith BK, Engelbert T, Turnipseed W (2013). Foot claudication with plantar flexion as a result of dorsalis pedis artery impingement in an Irish dancer. Journal of vascular surgery, 58(1), 212-4.
  17. Donald GW, Ghaffarian AA, Isaac F, Kraiss LW, Griffin CL, Smith BK, Sarfati MR, Beckstrom JL, Brooke B (2018). Preoperative frailty assessment predicts loss of independence after vascular surgery. Journal of vascular surgery, 68(5), 1382-1389.
  18. Ghaffarian AA, Al-Dulaimi R, Kraiss LW, Sarfati M, Griffin CL, Smith BK, Donald G, Brooke B (2018). Clinical effectiveness of open thrombectomy for thrombosed autogenous arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. Journal of vascular surgery, 68(1), 189-196.
  19. Ghaffarian AA, Foss WT, Donald G, Kraiss LW, Sarfati M, Griffin CL, Smith BK, Brooke B (2019). Prognostic implications of diagnosing frailty and sarcopenia in vascular surgery practice. Journal of vascular surgery, 70(3), 892-900.
  20. Griffin CL, Sharma V, Sarfati MR, Smith BK, Kraiss LW McKeller ST, Koliopoulou A, Brooke BS, Selzman CH, Glotzbach J (2020). Aortic surgery decision making in the time of COVID-19. Journal of vascular surgery, 72(2), 408-413.
  21. Sarfati MR, Griffin CL, Kraiss LW, Smith BK, Brooke B (2021). Vascular surgery triage during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Journal of vascular surgery, 73(6), 1858-1868.
  22. Chun TT, Judelson DR, Rigberg D, Lawrence PF, Cuff R, Shalhub S, Wohlauer M, Abularrage CJ, Anastasios P, Arya S, Aulivola B, Baldwin M, Baril D, Bechara CF, Beckerman WE, Behrendt CA, Benedetto F, Bennett LF, Charlton-Ouw KM, Chawla A, Chia MC, Cho S, Choong AMTL, Chou EL, Christiana A, Coscas R, De Caridi G, Ellozy S, Etkin Y, Faries P, Fung AT, Gonzalez A, Griffin CL, Guidry L, Gunawansa N, Gwertzman G, Han DK, Hicks CW, Hinojosa CA, Hsiang Y, Ilonzo N, Jayakumar L, Joh JH, Johnson AP, Kabbani LS, Keller MR, Khashram M, Koleilat I, Krueger B, Kumar A, Lee CJ, Lee A, Levy MM, Lewis CT, Lind B, Lopez-Pena G, Mohebali J, Molnar RG, Morrissey NJ, Motaganahalli RL, Mouawad NJ, Newton DH, Ng JJ, O'Banion LA, Phair J, Rancic Z, Rao A, Ray HM, Rivera AG, Rodriguez L, Sales CM, Salzman G, Sarfati M, Savlania A, Schanzer A, Sharafuddin MJ, Sheahan M, Siada S, Siracuse JJ, Smith BK, Smith M, Soh I, Sorber R, Sundaram V, Sundick S, Tomita TM, Trinidad B, Tsai S, Vouyouka AG, Westin GG, Williams MS Jr, Wren SM, Yang JK, Yi J, Zhou W, Zia S, Woo (2020). Managing central venous access during a health care crisis. Journal of vascular surgery, 72(4), 1184-1195.e3.
  23. Griffin CL, Sharma V, Sarfati MR, Smith BK, Kraiss LW, McKellar SH, Koliopoulou A, Brooke BS, Selzman CH, Glotzbach J (2020). Aortic disease in the time of COVID-19 and repercussions on patient care at an academic aortic center. Journal of vascular surgery, 72(2), 408-413.
  24. Smith BK, Yamazaki K, Luman A, Holmboe E, Mitchell EL, Park YS, Hamstra S Predicting performance at graduation from early ACGME Milestone ratings: Longitudinal learning analytics in professionalism and communication in vascular surgery. . Journal of surgical education,
  25. Johnson A, Smith B Vascular surgery trainee involvement and education in QI: A health system imperative. Journal of vascular surgery cases and innovative techniques,
  26. Smith BK, Mitchell E Vascular Surgery Milestones 2.0. Journal of vascular surgery,
  27. Gupta PK, Smith BK, Yamanouchi (2015). Case Report of Percutaneous Retrograde Transcollateral Recanalization of the Superior Mesenteric Artery via the Celiac Artery for Acute Mesenteric Ischemia. Medicine, 94(50), e2036.
  28. Robbins R, Sullivan S, Smith (2018). Implementation of an academic half day in a vascular surgery residency program improves trainee and faculty satisfaction with surgical indications conference. Surgery, 163(6), 1197-1200.
  29. Malhotra NR, Lee YJ, Millar MM, Cartwright PC, Smith B (2020). Experiences With Quality Improvement in Training: A National Survey of Urology Residents. Urology, 145, 83-89.
  30. Pender T, Boi L, Urbik VM, Glasgow R, Smith B (2021). Implementation and Evaluation of a Novel High-Value Care Curriculum in a Single Academic Surgery Department. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 232(1), 81-90.
  31. Dull BZ, Smith B, Tefera G, Weber (2013). Surgical management of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma arising from the inferior vena cava. Journal of gastrointestinal surgery, 17(12), 2166-71.
  32. Smith BK, Kang PC, McAninch C, Leverson G, Sullivan S, Mitchell E (2016). 0 + 5 Vascular Surgery Residents' Operative Experience in General Surgery: An Analysis of Operative Logs from 12 Integrated Programs. Journal of surgical education, 73(3), 536-41.
  33. Smith BK, Davies MG, Harris I (2019). The Current State of the 0+5 Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Training Paradigm: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Journal of surgical education, 76(4), 990-1004.
  34. Purnell SM, Wolf L, Millar MM, Smith B (2020). A National Survey of Integrated Vascular Surgery Residents' Experiences With and Attitudes About Quality Improvement During Residency. Journal of surgical education, 77(1), 158-165.
  35. Huffman EM, Anderson TN, Choi JN, Smith B (2020). Why the Lab? What is Really Motivating General Surgery Residents to Take Time for Dedicated Research. Journal of surgical education, 77(6), e39-e46.
  36. McCrary HC, Colbert-Getz JM, Poss WB, Smith B (2021). A systematic review of the relationship between in-training examination scores and specialty board examination scores. Journal of graduate medical education, 13(1), 43-57.
  37. Smith BK, Rectenwald J, Yudkowsky R, Hirshfield L (2021). A Framework for Understanding the Association Between Training Paradigm and Trainee Preparedness for Independent Surgical Practice. JAMA surgery, 156(6), 535-540.
  38. Smith BK, Adsit RT, Jorenby DE, Matsumura JS, Fiore M (2015). Utilization of the Electronic Health Record to Improve Provision of Smoking Cessation Resources for Vascular Surgery Inpatients. International journal of cardiovascular research, 4(5),
  39. Glasgow RE, Mulvihill SJ, Pettit JC, Young J, Smith BK, Vargo DJ, Ray DM, Finlayson SR (2021). Value Analysis of Methods of Inguinal Hernia Repair. Annals of surgery, 274(4), 572-580.
  40. Lynch KA Jr, Brown RF, Steinhagen E, Jacobson DL, Malhotra N, Hendershot K, Brownson KE, Bialowas C, Abdou H, Smith BK, Miller (2021). Transition from trainee to educator in the operating room: A needs assessment and framework to support junior faculty. American journal of surgery, 223, 1112-1119.
  41. Shaw RD, Eid MA, Bleicher J, Broecker J, Caesar B, Chin R, Meyer C, Mitsakos A, Stolarksi AE, Theiss L, Smith BK, Ivatury S (2021). Current Barriers in Robotic Surgery Training for General Surgery Residents. Journal of surgical education, 79, 606-613.
  42. Neuberger K, McCrary H, Beckstrom J, Darelli-Anderson AM, Farrell TW, Brooke BS, Smith BK, Brownson K (2022). Improving healthcare transitions of surgical care through an interprofessional education elective. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(3), E11-E14.
  43. DeAngelo M, Hakim A, Darelli-Anderson AM, Harding JP, Smith B (2021). Medical Student Perspectives on Choosing a Career in Vascular Surgery. Annals of vascular surgery,
  44. He J, Smith BK, Griffin CL, Kraiss L, Sarfati M, Brooke B High-intensity statin therapy reduces risk of amputation and reintervention among patients undergoing lower extremity bypass for chronic limb threatening ischemia. Journal of vascular surgery,
  45. Williamson AJH, Jensen RM, Smith B (2022). Educational Safety for the Surgical Learner. Journal of surgical education,
  46. Johnson CE, Smith B (2022). My Brother's/Sister's Keeper: Collective responsibility for the professional identity of surgeons. American journal of surgery, 224(1 Pt B), 282-283.
  47. Smith BK, Yamazaki K, Tekian A, Holmboe E, Hamstra SJ, Mitchell EL, Park Y (2021). The Use of Learning Analytics to Enable Detection of Underperforming Trainees: An Analysis of National Vascular Surgery Trainee ACGME Milestones Assessment Data. Annals of surgery,
  48. Smith BK, Hamstra SJ, Yamazaki K, Tekian A, Brooke BS, Holmboe E, Mitchell EL, Park Y Alignment of ACGME competencies with surgical outcomes in the Vascular Quality Initiative registry. Journal of vascular surgery,
  49. DeAngelo MM, Holeman TA, Peacock J, Smith BK, Brooke B Impact of frailty on long-term functional decline following vascular surgery. Journal of vascular surgery,
  50. Moore E, Wohlauer MV, Dorosh J, Kabeil M, Malgor RD, O'Banion LA , . . . Smith BK, Lin JC. On behalf of the Vascular Surgery COVID-19 Collaborative Impact of COVID-19 on patients undergoing scheduled operations for venous disease. Journal of vascular surgery,
  51. Smith BK, Yamazaki K, Tekian A, Brooke BS, Mitchell EL, Holmboe E, Park YS, Hamstra S ACGME Milestones predict patient care outcomes after aortic aneurysm repair. The New England journal of medicine,
  52. Dorsey C, Paz M, McKenzie N, Bath J, Kabbani L, Ochoa Chaar CI, Kokkosis A, shames M, Malinowski M, Aulivola B, Smith BK, Kempe K, Coleman The value of a vascular surgery curriculum for clinical medical students: Results of a national survey of non-vascular educators. Global Surgical Education - Journal of the Association for Surgical Education,
  53. Sorour AA, Kirksey L, Caputo FJ, Dehaini H, Rowe V, Colglaizer JJ, Smith BK, Shames ML, Lyden S Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Selection Criteria: National Program Director Survey. Journal of vascular surgery,
  54. Fereydooni A, Fisher AT, Mullis DM, Smith BK, Sgroi M Impact of integrated vascular residency training pathway and professional development time on career choice and research productivity. Journal of vascular surgery,
  55. Cox ML, Weaver ML, Chen X, Coleman D, Sgroi MD, George BC, Smith B Implementation of a workplace-based assessment tool among vascular surgery residency and fellowship programs. Journal of vascular surgery,
  56. Smith BK, Wilson TW, Perler BA, Allen CM, Presson AP, Brooke B (2022). Does training paradigm matter? A comparison of outcomes of frail patients treated by integrated vascular surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship-trained surgeons. American journal of surgery, 224(3), 881-887.

Book Chapter

  1. Smith B, Kent K (2014). Selection of Patients with Aortic Aneurysms for Open Surgical or Endovascular Repair.
  2. Sweeney J, Dimich J, Ko CY, Moffatt-Bruce S, Smith BK (2022). Chapter 9: Curriculum: Quality and Safety: Evaluation, Management, and Improvement. 155-167.
  3. Mitchell EL, Alabi O, Heisler CA, Temkin SM, Stephens EH, Smith BK, Miller P (2021). Section 11: Practice Issues: 19. Contemporary topics focused on the experience of women in the United States surgical workforce. 441-52.
  4. Harding JP, Smith B Venous Insufficiency.

Book Review

  1. Smith B, Matsumura (2015). Carotid Endarterectomy: Principles and Technique. Ann Vasc Surg. April, 2015;29(3):617. Annals of vascular surgery, 29(3), 617.
  2. Smith B, Tefera (2011). Review of the book Rutherford's Vascular Surgery, 7th Edition. 166, 45.
  3. Smith BK, Matsumura J (2015). Vascular Disease: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. Ann Vasc Surg. April, 2015;29(3):616. 29, 616.

Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

  1. Griffin CL, Smith B (2019). Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
  2. Richards BF, Babcock CL, Buchmann L, Chow CJ, Christensen T, Smith BK, Weber T, Lamb (2021). Personal, social, and organizational components of the learning environment: Variations in their perceived influence in the clinical setting.
  3. Smith BK, Pei K. (2022). Education research and scholarship.
  4. Smith B, Timmie (2021). Careers in surgical education research.
  5. Smith B, Timmie (2021). Meet the Educator.
  6. Smith BK, Johnson A (2020). Vascular surgery education and training in quality improvement. .
  7. Smith B, Ransco M, Mahoney K (2017). Making Value Work Visible.
  8. Smith B, Pendleton R. (2016). A Generation Away from Value.
  9. Smith B (2022). Conceptual Frameworks and How to Use Them.
  10. Koleilat I, Smith BK, Edgar L (2021). ACGME Vascular Milestones 2.0.