Michael L. Smith, MD

As a spine surgeon in the NYU Langone Department of Orthopedics and NYU Langone Spine Center, I treat a wide array of adult spinal conditions, including degenerative diseases of the discs and joints, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis. I care for patients with neck and low back pain, spinal cord compression (myelopathy), and nerve root compression (radiculopathy).

I treat all areas of the spine, including problems in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral regions. I have extensive experience with benign spinal tumors, including schwannomas and meningiomas as well as spinal deformity problems such as adult degenerative scoliosis, kyphosis, flat-back syndrome, and dropped-head syndrome.

I have been a spine surgeon in New York City since starting my practice at Montefiore Medical Center in 2008. I transitioned to NYU Langone Health in 2009, where I was on faculty until 2019. I joined the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in New York in 2019, continuing my spinal surgical practice concurrently with my leadership duties as managing director for Rothman Orthopedics Greater New York. I’ve been practicing in the NYU Langone Orthopedic department since 2022, which provides a world-class working environment, including specialty staff and latest technology.

Throughout my career in New York City, I have worked closely with my colleagues in orthopedic and neurosurgery, including multidisciplinary conferences and operating together on more complex surgical problems. I believe that combining the skills and experience of the fields of orthopedics and neurosurgery gives the broadest and deepest perspective on patients’ spinal conditions and optimal operative and non-operative care.

At NYU Langone, I work in close collaboration with my non-surgical colleagues to ensure that the best treatment is determined for each individual patient. These include pain management, rehabilitation medicine, neurology, and rheumatology.

I graduated from University of Virginia with a bachelor’s in chemistry with Highest Honors in 1996. I earned my medical degree from the UVA School of Medicine in 2000. I was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and completed my neurosurgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2007 and spine surgery fellowship at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, England from 2007 to 2008.

My dedication to education and clinical excellence has been recognized in Super Doctor as a “New York Super Doctor” and for teaching excellence with awards such as the Neurosurgery Residents' Teacher of the Year award.