Dr. Tina M Smith, MD

Welcome to my home page

About me

I began work with Kaiser Permanente as a plastic surgeon in the Division of Plastic Surgery in 1988, immediately following completion of my residency in plastic surgery at Stanford University. I was the first plastic surgeon partner in the Diablo Service Area. In 1999, plastic surgery became a department and I became chief of the department.

My original professional goals back then have remained consistent with our departmental goals today. They are:

1. To perform reconstructive plastic surgery procedures to the very best of our abilites
2. To attain consistently good outcomes, and to significantly improve the quality of life of our patients, and
3. To provide advice, education, and integration of other services whenever needed.

Although our department manages a wide spectrum of reconstructive surgery challenges, a significant part of my practice is devoted to breast reconstruction.

I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. and grew up in the …surrounding communities. Although biology was always my favorite academic subject, I pursued art and music throughout high school and graduated in 1974. I worked a multitude of jobs while pursuing art and science studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There I received my bachelor's of science degree in molecular biology and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1978. I studied and traveled throughout Australia for one year on a Rotary Undergraduate Scholarship before beginning medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Before the end of my first month's externship in plastic surgery, I knew it was what I would do-pursue art and science thru plastic surgery.

I received my medical degree in 1982 from Thomas Jefferson University, and immediately began my plastic surgery training at Stanford University, which brought me here to California. I completed my chief year at Stanford in 1988. In the interim I had the opportunity to complete fellowships with a variety of surgeons in Los Angeles, New York City, as well as throughout Western Europe, and all of whom contributed greatly to my education and experiences as a plastic surgeon. My residency at Stanford also provided me with an introduction to, and long term involvement with, Interplast - a volunteer plastic surgery organization which provides plastic surgery services in developing countries. I have participated as a plastic surgeon on many trips throughout the world, and hope to continue this life long commitment.

I live with my husband, Ynze, who was born and raised in Holland, and who works as a video producer (but who would really rather direct)...as well as our two beautiful children, Teo (the artist) and Zoe (the athlete). I bike, run, swim, snowboard, and surf whenever possible, but I usually must resort to being in the gym before 6 a.m. We travel the world for family, friends, work and adventure. On occasion I enjoy artistic endeavors such as photography, painting, singing, and dancing, but they are often painful for my audience and victims (ask my kids!). At the end of the day, my artistic endeavors usually make me grateful for my day job, and vice versa.

My Credentials

Medical school Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Residency Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Residency Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Board certification Plastic Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery