About Barbara Smith, MD, PhD

Barbara L. Smith, MD, PhD. is the Director of the Breast Program and Co-Director of the Women's Cancers Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and at the MGH. Dr. Smith received her undergraduate training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MD. from Harvard Medical School's Harvard/MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and a PhD from Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Smith's research activities have focused on reducing the extent of surgery and radiation required to treat breast cancer, diagnosis and treatment issues in young women with breast cancer, and three dimensional breast anatomy as it relates to breast surgery and pathologic analysis of specimens. She has been a Visiting Professor at Sun Yat-sen University in China since 2006 where she has assisted in development of multidisciplinary breast cancer programs and clinical research activities.

Dr. Smith was named one of Boston Magazine's Top Docs for 2013 for Breast Cancer.

Departments, Centers, & Programs:

Clinical Interests:

Treats:

Locations

Mass General Surgery: Surgical Oncology
55 Fruit St.
Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care
7th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-4000

Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham
52 Second Ave.
Suite 1110
Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: 781-487-6100

Medical Education

  • MD, Harvard Medical School
  • Residency, Brigham and Women's Hospital

American Board Certifications

  • Surgery, American Board of Surgery

Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.


Research

Nipple sparing mastectomy

Margin assessment

High risk patients

Publications

  • Select Publications:

    • Learn more about Barbara Smith, MD, and how a nipple-sparing mastectomy can reduce breast cancer recurrence.
    • Nipple-sparing mastectomy. Rusby JE, Smith BL, Gui GP. Br J Surg 2010 Mar;97(3);305-16.
    • An inferolateral approach to nipple-sparing mastectomy: optimizing mastectomy and reconstruction. Colwell AS, Gadd M, Smith BL, Austen WG Jr. Ann Plast Surg. 2010 Aug;65(2):140-3.
    • Occult nipple involvement in breast cancer: clinicopathologic findings in 316 consecutive mastectomy specimens. Brachte EF, Rusby Je, Michaelson JS, Chen LL, Muzikansky A, Smith BL, Koerner FC. J Clin Oncol 2009 Oct 20;27(30):4930-2
    • Development and validation of a model predictive of occult nipple involvement in women undergoing mastectomy. Rusby JE, Bracte EF, Othus M, Michaelson JS, Koerner FC, Smith, BL Br J Surg: 2008 Nov;95(11):1356-61

Reviews: Comments and Ratings

5.0out of 5(246 Ratings, 109 Comments)

February 2025

Dr. Smith is outstanding in every way- thorough, thoughtful and compassionate.


February 2025

I told Dr. Smith that she made such an impression on me at our first appointment 15 months ago. I had met with 3 Dr.'s at Mass Gen and 3 at Dana Farber and she was the only one that began our appointment by telling me she was very sorry that I was in the situation. That made such an impression on me because in the early days of a cancer diagnosis, ... Read More


February 2025

Hi, Dr. Smith is fabulous and I think she's great and she's a great surgeon, great doctor, great person. Thanks.


February 2025

The best!


February 2025

Barbara Smith is wonderful. She is kind, and very professional. She is very knowledgeable and reassuring


February 2025

Dr. Smith is a wonderful physician/surgeon who takes great care in explaining everything. Dr. Smith is very clear on next steps and who would be the primary caregiver. I feel extremely fortunate to have her as a surgeon and physician.


February 2025

Dr. Smith takes the time to address any concerns and questions I have. I always leave my appt. feeling very positive and thankful to have her as my doctor. The best!


February 2025

Dr. Smith is just outstanding. I always have full confidence in her, and would gladly recommend her to family and friends.


February 2025

Dr Smith was knowledgeable, caring, understanding. I feel so fortunate to have Dr Smith as my surgeon.


February 2025

She was very comforting and clear with all of her explanations with us about my planned surgery and treatment.

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