Zachary Smith, DO, MSC

Dr. Smith did his gastroenterology and hepatology training at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After pursuing subspecialty training in interventional endoscopy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and spending three years on faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, he returned to MCW in 2020 to join the faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His clinical expertise is interventional endoscopy and pancreaticobiliary disorders. Dr. Smith has extensive research interests in many fields of gastrointestinal endoscopy and his primary research focus at MCW is to design and conduct clinical trials and other high-impact studies that will help shape best practices of gastrointestinal endoscopy in the future.I pride myself on establishing a meaningful relationship with all patients I care for. As an interventional endoscopist, I often see patients that are referred from other gastroenterologists and physicians for …complex endoscopic problems. This occasionally results in meeting the patient for the first time right before his/her procedure. I make every effort to explain the problem, and the treatment plan to the patient and his/her loved one(s) so that they understand what we propose to do and what the next steps will be. Additionally, I place a high value on multidisciplinary care and collaboration. Many patients I treat are also cared for by other specialists and in these circumstances, input from the entire treatment team is imperative to optimize patient outcomes. Further, some conditions such as pancreatic fluid collections have various treatment options that span disciplines such as hepato-pancreaticobiliary surgery and interventional radiology. Only when we discuss and plan treatment strategies in a collaborative manner, are we able to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.