Craig Smithmd's Online Review Report Card

Very clean office, support staff was efficient and polite. Doctor Smith was prompt, confident, offering details and I found him very likable.

North South East West This surgeon is the very best. Brilliant. Awesome. Compassionate.

Dr. Smith’s rudeness made us decide against his performing my wife’s surgery. He questioned my presence in the exam room, as if I were a random stranger who’d somehow managed access. Even if folks aren’t married (I explained we were), shouldn’t anyone accompanying a patient for support be encouraged to do so if not interfering? During the visit, Smith was either disinterested or downright rude. For example, in requesting to use the chair I was sitting in, he alluded to how he was the one who’d been up since 6 AM... As I took notes with pen/pad as he spoke, he demanded I stop writing and pay attention to him. “Look this way--up here at me,” he said. It was over-the-top and inappropriate. He examined my wife without bothering to put on exam gloves. That didn’t seem like proper protocol. (The Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research seems to agree.) Once done explaining the proposed surgical procedure, he simply left the room, no “goodbye” or “nice meeting you all” or anything.

Dr. Smith may indeed be a top-notch surgeon, but we'll never know; we couldn't get past his rude and dismissive bedside manner before deciding that he would not be performing my wife's surgery.Upon entering, he questioned my presence in the exam room as if I were some random stranger who'd somehow managed to enter the space. Let's say we were not married, as I explained to him, shouldn't anyone who accompanies a potential patient for support be welcomed and encouraged to do so if they're not interfering in any way?Throughout the visit, he was either ostensibly disinterested or downright rude. For example, in requesting to use the chair I was sitting in, he alluded to how he was the one who'd been up since 6 AM...Also, as I took notes as he spoke, recording with pen and pad the details of the proposed surgery, he abruptly suggested I stop writing and pay attention to him. "Look this way--up here at me," he demanded. I initially thought he was joking (because it seemed so over-the-top, so pouty child-like); his seriousness and ongoing condescension revealed that he wasn't.He examined my wife without bothering to put on exam gloves. I don't claim to have a medical background, but that didn't seem like proper protocol. (The Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research seems to agree.)Once done, after describing what the surgical procedure would entail, he simply left the room, no "goodbye" or "nice meeting you all" or anything. Plain rude. And we were left wondering why he'd been so cold.A week later, I read an article online from USA Today (01/05/22), it's heading: "Women Operated on By Male Surgeons More Likely to Die or Have Complications, Study Finds."The article cited how "females patients treated by male surgeons had 15% greater odds of worse outcomes than female patients treated by female surgeons."Additionally, the article described how women "operated on by male surgeons had a 32% increased risk of death, 16% increase in major complications and 11% increase in readmission to the hospital within a 30-day window post-surgery..." (The study, published on 12/08/21 appears in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Surgery.)We wondered, my wife and I, if the statistics cited were possibly higher when considering outcomes for women of color. Then, we immediately took action to ensure that (despite arrival of surgical authorization docs that very day) Dr. Craig M. Smith would not be performing my beloved wife's surgery.And, seeing how our encounter with Dr. Smith was so unpleasant, we probably would've made such a decision even had we not read that USA Today article.We see that Dr. Smith has a few positive reviews elsewhere. We couldn't help wondering how many of them are from patients of color.

Dr.Smith did a great job, the only thing I never figure out was how long does it take to adapt to eat anything without feeling pain, anything I eat causes gas and the gas goes all the way to my left rib. It’s painful when I breathe in sharply I feel the gas moving. I have trouble digesting food, maybe it takes months to digest food properly. He didn’t harm any other organs. I hope he didn’t left gallstones after he removed my gallbladder. I can’t eat processed or fried foods yet my system is not use to it yet.

Just had surgery with Dr. Smith. He did a great job no pain or swelling doing normal activity just 24 hours later. Thank you for your knowledge and experience.

Dr Craig Smith repaired a hernia and removed a ~tumor thing for me. He was referred by my orthopedic surgeon who had his hernia repaired by Dr Smith. I would not to hesitate to consult Dr. Smith if I need surgery. Top shelf surgeon......with lots of experience.

I scheduled minimally invasive mitral valve repair. Day if surgery he was planning to open my chest. He didn't remember me our our conversation I should have left then. He did minimally invasive procedure-needed a 2 unit transfusion, had a partially collapsed lung and 2 months later my ball was worse than when I went in. I had to have it repaired again by a real doctor- this time successfully

Dr Smith is one of the best heart surgeons in the US. If you are going to undergo open heart surgery, why not seek out the best surgeon you can find. He is straight to the point and covers all the risks and expected outcomes prior to surgery. His staff is attentive and will go the extra mile to ensure your outcome is optimal. The other doctors and nurses at Columbia NYP hospital rave about his ability. After heart surgery, patients spend time in the ICU and then on the cardiac floor. Dr Smith was the only doctor that I saw visiting all of his patients daily to make sure you are healing as expected.

I won’t give details, but for a man who replaces hearts for a living, he should find a kinder one to place in his own chest.