About me
Hedy Smith, MD, PhD, is a hematologist and member of the American Society of Hematology who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hemoglobin disorders, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease; bleeding and thrombotic disorders; cytopenias; immune disorders, such as immune thrombocytopenic (or ITP), autoimmune hemolytic anemias, and common variable immune deficiency; and myeloproliferative neoplasms and other malignant blood diseases. As part of the diagnostic process, Dr. Smith performs bone marrow biopsies to identify myelodysplastic syndrome, leukemias, and lymphomas.
Dr. Smith earned a PhD in immunology from the University of New Mexico before receiving her medical degree from the University of Tennessee. She then joined Tufts Medical Center, School of Medicine for residency training in internal medicine before completing a three-year fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Tufts Medical Center. She stayed at the Hematology/Oncology Division at Tufts Medical Center where she practiced for 11 years as an attending physician. Dr. Smith has a passion for teaching and mentorship of residents and fellows and, in recognition of her dedication to this aspect of academic medicine, she was awarded “The Career Award for Excellence in Housestaff Teaching” in 2016.
Her clinical interest is in non-malignant hematologic disorders including bleeding and thrombotic disorders such as hemophilias, von Willebrand disease, ITP, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), paroxysymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and Myeloproliferative disorders (Polycythemia Vera, Essential thrombocythemia, hyerp-eosinophilic disorders, myelofibrosis). Much of her research has been on comprehensive care models for the treatment of individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), as well as novel therapies for SCD. Dr. Smith most recently served as Principal Investigator in the Phase III clinical trial being conducted by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, which evaluates the efficacy and safety of a novel therapy for sickle cell disease. She was also co-investigator of a large national trial exploring bone marrow transplantation as a curative approach in young adults with severe sickle cell disease.
Currently, there is a wide therapeutic landscape in development for sickle cell disease and Dr. Smith is passionate about her role as a clinical leader in this area of Hematology. She has also been heavily involved in community efforts aimed at improving the lives of patients and families affected by sickle cell disease. For this, she was honored by the Boston City Council and the Boston Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association “For Excellence in Medicine and advocacy on Behalf of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.”
Dr. Smith has been the recipient of US News and World Report’s “Top Doctors” and “Boston Top Doctors” distinctions. She was nominated for and received honorable mention for the “Schwartz Compassionate Award in Medicine” in 2005.
Philosophy of Care
“The right plan of care for all patients should be comprehensive, holistic, and must acknowledge that there is a person and a story behind the disease with which the patient is diagnosed. Patients under my care will always be treated with respect and will be invited to be a partner in their care".
“Partnering in your care involves developing some sort of literacy about your medical condition. I strongly emphasize my role and responsibility for educating the patient and bringing them to an understanding of their disease. When patients gain an understanding of their diagnosis, they make more rational decisions about treatment, including issues related to end of life. I believe that my job is to help the patient make reasonable choices - one that preserves their dignity".
“My practice is built on compassion, trustworthiness, and making the patient feel safe. It is important to me that my patients feel that I am approachable and accessibi
Clinical areas of focus
- Autoimmune Hepatitis Diagnosis
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Disorder Diagnosis
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Magnesium Imbalance Treatment
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
Procedures I perform
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy
- Antineoplastic Injection
- Ascites Drainage
- Autoimmune Hepatitis Diagnosis
- Blood Banking
- Blood Cancer Diagnosis
- Blood Cancer Treatment
- Blood Clotting Disorder Diagnosis
- Blood Clotting Disorder Screening
- Blood Clotting Disorder Treatment
- Blood Disorder Diagnosis
- Blood Transfusion
- Bone Marrow Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Biopsy And Aspiration
- Bone Marrow Failure Treatment
- Coagulopathy Management
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Growth Hormone Screening
- Hemophilia Treatment
- Iliac Bone Marrow Extraction
- Insertion Infusion Device
- Leukemia Treatment
- Leukopenia Treatment
- Lymphoma Diagnosis
- Lymphoma Treatment
- Magnesium Imbalance Treatment
- Multiple Myeloma Treatment
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment
- Myeloma Diagnosis
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Treatment
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Nonautologous Globulin Transfusion
- Nonautologous Platelets Transfusion
- Nonautologous Red Blood Cells Transfusion
- Nonautologous Whole Blood Transfusion
- Pancreas Transplant Malignancy Screening
- Removal Of Central Venous Access Device
- Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment
- Thrombocytapheresis
- Venous Access Device Removal
- Vitamin Deficiency Screening
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
110 Irving St NW
Cancer Institute Rm 2149
Washington, DC, 20010
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Medicare Direct
- IH-POS
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- TRICARE East Select
- OA Plus
- POS OA
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Medicare FFS
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-Open HMO Option
- IH-Open POS II
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- First Health PPO
- MultiPlan, Inc
- IH-HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- HighMark
- Aetna HMO
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Navigate
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-Indemnity
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Administrators
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Network OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- IH-PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA Indemnity
- United Healthcare Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- IH-Open HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Choice POS
- CIGNA EPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Hematology
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center (2003)
Residency: Tufts Medical Center (2000)
Medical School: University of Tennessee-Memphis (1997)