Researcher profile

Christopher Smith

Commander (CDR), Christopher S. Smith, M.D., is an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon, Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Orthopaedic Trauma and Deputy Director of the Healthcare Simulation and Bioskills Training Center at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Virginia, (NMCP). His clinical and research interests include non-unions, mal-unions, post-traumatic reconstruction, and peri-articular fractures. Dr. Smith began his naval service in 1993, spending the first part of his career as a Navy SEAL. After graduating Old Dominion University Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Biology, he completed his medical training at the Medical College of Virginia and then received his Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at the University of Florida. He went on to complete a fellowship in Orthopaedic Traumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell in New York, as well as an international AO Trauma fellowship at the University of Tubingen BG Unfallklinik in Germany. He is a graduate of the US Naval War College Joint Professional Military Education, Phase 1 and received his MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California in 2022. CDR Smith has deployed as a Navy SEAL assigned to SEAL Team FOUR to South America (SOUTHCOM) in 1997 and later as an Orthopaedic Surgery Department Head assigned to Role II Combat Outpost Shukvani, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2013. He has authored multiple scientific articles and has presented at several national and international meetings. Dr. Smith is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS). CDR Smith’s professional appointments include serving as the NMCP military site Principle Investigator for the METRC Consortium, serving on the Military Committee of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) and the Trauma Committee of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS). He also serves as faculty for AO Trauma North America, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and the Combat Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Course. CDR Smith’s military decorations include the Naval Special Warfare designator, (SEAL), Navy and Marine Corps Expert Parachutists wings, Army Military Free fall Parachutists wings, Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer designator, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Afghanistan Campaign Medal with FMF Combat Operation Insignia with One Bronze Campaign Star, International Security Force (ISAF) NATO Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Battle “E”, Good Conduct Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal (2), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2), Navy Expert Rifle Award, and the Navy Expert Pistol Award.