The Danville News
DANVILLE — Geisinger physician Robert Smith, M.D., has achieved "triple board certification" by adding board certification in Transplant Hepatology to his existing Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology certifications.
Smith is part of a multidisciplinary team at Geisinger that includes surgery, gastroenterology, psychiatry, cardiology and nutrition.
"I can provide further advanced care to my patients now that I am certified in Transplant Hepatology," said Smith. "I couldn't be more proud."
Smith is one of about 300 in the United States certified in this specialty. To become board-certified, physicians must prove and certify they had been significantly involved in the pre-, peri- and post-transplant care of 25 liver transplant recipients. Gastroenterologists specialize in treating diseases of the digestive system. Management of liver diseases and transplantation is complex. To advance excellence in patient care, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) began offering further certification in Transplant Hepatology for candidates specially trained in liver diseases and transplantation in 2006.
The purpose of a subspecialty certification in Transplant Hepatology is to provide care to pre-operative liver transplant patients and to long-term liver transplant recipients.
Smith received his doctorate from Temple University, School of Medicine, in 1982. He completed his residency from Geisinger Medical Center in 1985 and then his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in 1987.
